What did I Backup?

[Frank]

I ran backup last night for the first time. I don't remember what options I
chose.
I now think from reading here that I should have made sure that the "system
state" was backed up?
How do I know what I did.
I backed up to an external Hd and all that shows is a file named "Backup"
(Windows backup file).

 

[Jim]

I ran backup last night for the first time. I don't remember what options I
chose.
I now think from reading here that I should have made sure that the
"system
state" was backed up?
How do I know what I did.
I backed up to an external Hd and all that shows is a file named "Backup"
(Windows backup file).

The size of the file may give some help...

A backup of system state is rather small. Backup of an OS will be much much
larger.

Jim

 

[Don Phillipson]

I ran backup last night for the first time. I don't remember what options I
chose.
I now think from reading here that I should have made sure that the "system
state" was backed up?
How do I know what I did.
I backed up to an external Hd and all that shows is a file named "Backup"
(Windows backup file).

(Assuming your PC is running OK) you may find it
faster simply to delete yesterday's backup and make
a new one, this time writing down all options selected.

 

[Twayne]

I ran backup last night for the first time. I

don't
remember what options I chose.
I now think from reading here that I should have
made
sure that the "system state" was backed up?
How do I know what I did.
I backed up to an external Hd and all that shows
is a
file named "Backup" (Windows backup file).

Use the Restore option, as though you were going
to restore it. You should be able to see what
files are there and whether it included everything
or not. If it's a system state it'll be a much
smaller file than a complete backup, also and none
of your pics, letters, files, etc, will be part of
it.
A system state backup only takes a few minutes
to do, a full backup more like half an hour or so,
depending on what you're using to back upwith.
Maybe longer with ntbackup.exe; depends on how
much there is to back up with.

Or, just delete it and do another backup. Doing a
system state backup separately is a duplication of
efforts, but ... makes it a lot quicker and easier
to find what you need should you ever want it.

Regards,

Twayne