Complete PC backup

[Prozac]

Hi!

I have a question related to the new Vista facility "Complete PC backup".
Lets say I made such a backup of my fresh system HDD and stored this backup
on my second drive. And then after a few months I want to make another PC
backup and store it on the same second drive since I installed some new
programs. Will my old PC backup be replaced by the new one? Or I will have
two restore points available in the Recovery Environment?

Thank you for your help.
Regards,
Prozac

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Yes, two. If the backups are less than a month old, an 'incremental backup
is made. You will see two dated 'backup set' folders, each with incremental
backup folders, as created.

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Mark L. Ferguson

..

 

[Prozac]

Thank you, Mark.
I’ve just done one complete PC backup of my “C:†system drive at 5:30 pm and
another one (after installing some new applications) at 6:30. Both stored on
the same second “D:†HDD.
Then I rebooted my PC using my Vista DVD and run the Recovery Environment.
And what I can see is only one item on the list of available backups. Its
date refers to 6:30 pm. Why? Do you think I’ve lost my first backup? Was it
replaced or what? Or the interval between backups was too short?

Regards,
Prozac

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Yes, lost. You could elect to make independent backups. When you go into
'change backup settings' in the backup dialog, there is a checkbox on the
last screen to create a full backup.

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Mark L. Ferguson

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[Prozac]

Thanks Mark.
Hmm.. I Can't see the 'change backup settings' option in my 'Backup and
Restore Center'. Really strange as it is also described in Vista Help. I'm
using Vista Ultimate so I guess everything should be available.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

I make it :
start/all programs/maintenance/backup and restore center/"change settings"
link below button for "Backup Files"/ click "Change Backup Settings"
item/click Next, then Next/ see checkbox for 'create a new/full backup...'
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[Prozac]

Thank you Mark.
I searched the Web vista related screenshots and I see where this option
should be visible.
Unfortunately, I have no such an option in there. Really strange. Maybe the
option was available before I started creating my first backup? Maybe after
making a backup it becomes invisible. I have no idea.
Running Vista Ultimate 64-bit Polish version on my WD Raptor HDD. Really
strange.

P.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Strange it is. I would think Ultimate had everything the same as my V.
Business version. I don't know, I would grasp at the straw that some Policy
was in effect (GPEdit.msc)

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[Prozac]

Hi and thank you Brink!
Exactly. It looks the same as on your screenshots. I can access settings
only for “Back up files†facility. And there is no such option for “Back up
Computer†function.
I am using only the second feature. That was the main reason I bought Vista
Ultimate edition. I’d like to create my system backups (images) the same as
using i.e. Norton Ghost. My goal is to create two images, two backups. One
for my fresh Vista (after format + all necessary drivers) and second one
(with all my favorite applications). I want to be able to restore one of them
using my Vista DVD.
Is this possible?
As I described in my second post – I was able to make one backup and then
after one hour time I run the “Back up Computer†feature once again. Finally
I can see only the latest backup in my Vista Recovery Environment.

 

[Prozac]

Thank you Brink.
I have just red your guide. Really nice tutorials in there.
Seems older backups are always replaced with new ones. So the best solution
is to separate every backup as you suggested in your guide.

 

[Prozac]

I made some additional tests and now I know everything. Last time I thought
there was only one backup available in the Restore list. This time I noticed
that indeed - the first list includes only one item (last backup) but when
you click Next you should see all your backups listed. It means that older
backups are not replaced with new ones. But of course we are not able to
separate them as they are built by increment. To make two separate backups we
have to move the first one and create the new one. Everything clear now
One more thing. Lets say I made a backup and I decided to delete its
directory coz I don't need this backup. But when I go to "Backup and restore
center" I still see the date of the latest backup. Where are this info stored
(saved) and how can I remove it? Somewhere in a registry?

Regards,
P.