Automated File Backups -Seeking explantion

[Guest]

Any advice appreciated
Seeking info about how MS Backup Files works --

ISSUE 1: too many daily automated File Backup copies filling up external
hard drive

Upon seeing my daily automated File Backups filling up my whole external
backup drive, and looking at strange variations in file sizes day-to-day -- I
went in search of a basic explanation about how MS Backup Files works.

Another needle in a haystack in Vista Help!

I am trying to find a source of information about:

1. How Backup Files works in Home Premium --
- In a Backup Set, is each backup a full or incremental?

2. Depending upon answer to #1, what can I delete when to delete old backups
that are filling my hard drive?

3. RE: if backups are full or incremental --

Trying to figure out how daily backup works is complicated by file size
variations in a way that makes it hard to determine.

Looks like incremental -- but my daily changes are not that large

Example:
- First backup in Backup Set = 11 GB
- Day 2: 125 MB
- Day 3: 1 GB
- Days 4-7: 420-460 MB
- Days 8 & 9: 800, 990 MB
- Day 10-13: 432-517 MB
Daily backups fluctuate wildly -- from 400 to 900 MB -- which

ISSUE 2
Given the MS backup limitations in Home Premium, would it not make sense for
me to scrap MS backups and do all backing up in Acronis

Thanks

 

[John Hanley]

Any advice appreciated
Seeking info about how MS Backup Files works --

ISSUE 1: too many daily automated File Backup copies filling up external
hard drive

Upon seeing my daily automated File Backups filling up my whole external
backup drive, and looking at strange variations in file sizes
day-to-day -- I
went in search of a basic explanation about how MS Backup Files works.

Another needle in a haystack in Vista Help!

I am trying to find a source of information about:

1. How Backup Files works in Home Premium --
- In a Backup Set, is each backup a full or incremental?

2. Depending upon answer to #1, what can I delete when to delete old
backups
that are filling my hard drive?

3. RE: if backups are full or incremental --

Trying to figure out how daily backup works is complicated by file size
variations in a way that makes it hard to determine.

Looks like incremental -- but my daily changes are not that large

Example:
- First backup in Backup Set = 11 GB
- Day 2: 125 MB
- Day 3: 1 GB
- Days 4-7: 420-460 MB
- Days 8 & 9: 800, 990 MB
- Day 10-13: 432-517 MB
Daily backups fluctuate wildly -- from 400 to 900 MB -- which

ISSUE 2
Given the MS backup limitations in Home Premium, would it not make sense
for
me to scrap MS backups and do all backing up in Acronis

Thanks

I also have an external USB drive for backup. The backed up files & folders
are in (for me) K:\ComputerName\Backup Set date\Backup Files date\Backup
files No.\etc. There will be a series of these folders. Periodically
(once a month or so) I go in and manually delete the oldest Backup Set(s) to
maintain ample freeboard on the drive. It has not been a problem.

As I understand it, there are many kinds of (non-obvious) changes that occur
to files all the time; one example that is given is that the anti-virus
program leaves a trail that subtly modifies files. So, anytime there is a
new backup there will be much larger backups than I would have estimated
from my activity. So, even when Automatic Backup is making incremental
changes, the incremental changes can be almost as large as a full backup.
Anyway, I have a weekly Automatic Backup scheduled and so far that has been
fine for me.

 

[AJR]

Aaron - some info - if you selected the Vista default file listing for
backups they will be "big" (Huge is a better word) and files will be
duplicated if you have several copies in different locations - contrary to
belief you can "cherry pick" which files (by type) to back up.

As you probably know - the files are "Zipped" - if you have problems
restoring via Backup and Restore you can manually unzip the files.

You only have a file backup in Premium - no "Complete PC" backup - Acronis
is great! It can create a restore partiton (Secure) and you can also back up
to an external location and schedule backups.

 

[Rgdemond]

Aaron,

I don't know about your issues or the program that you're referring to but I
use a free, very easy to use backup program from http://www.karenware.com/
Hope you like it.

Roger