Why does Vista require two full backups?

[Roof Fiddler]

In case somebody steals my laptop I need to be able to automatically restore
all my data to a new machine without spending many hours manually
reinstalling the OS, reinstalling all my programs, reconfiguring and
customizing everything, and restoring all my personal files. Therefore I
made a "windows complete pc backup and restore image." It takes many DVDs
since I have so much data.
But then when I set up automatic backup in order to daily backups of changes
I make to my data, Vista insists on making a full backup of my data the
first time, even though it knows I just made a complete pc backup (which
includes all my data) just a few hours ago! This is a colossal waste of time
and DVDs.
The "create backup copies of your files and folders" function is right next
to "create a windows complete pc backup and restore image" in the backup and
restore center, yet the former is apparently totally unaware of the latter.
Some basic common sense in the design of these functions would be nice.

 

[Brian W]

Every backup program I've ever used always creates a full backup on first
use.

 

[philo]

In case somebody steals my laptop I need to be able to automatically restore
all my data to a new machine without spending many hours manually
reinstalling the OS, reinstalling all my programs, reconfiguring and
customizing everything, and restoring all my personal files. Therefore I
made a "windows complete pc backup and restore image." It takes many DVDs
since I have so much data.

<snip>

Although it's of course a good idea to make a full backup...
before you get too far into this...If someone stole your machine
you would probably not be able to use your backup.

Per Microsoft's licensing agreement...your OS can only be installed on one
machine!
So there's a good chance your system could not even be activated!

Additionally...even though it certainly can be PITA to reinstall an
operating system
and applications...It certainly is not that difficult to do...
To reconstruct your *data*...well that may be impossible.

What I'd probably do after you did a full backup was simply burn your data
direct to DVD's
as often as you think necessary...and not use any backup software at all.

 

[Dale]

You raised an interesting point I have not seen raised here and have not
thought of before. What happens when a PC is stolen? Even though you still
have your Vista disks and your Vista CD-Key, have they suddenly become
useless?

If that were the case, it would be profitable for Microsoft to have agents
out stealing laptops LOL. It sort of reminds me of the problem with stolen
cars. Car manufacturers have little interest in making an unstealable car.
Every car stolen is a new car purchased. So now is every PC stolen a new
Vista purchased?

Dale

 

[deebs]

Apple time machine?

You raised an interesting point I have not seen raised here and have not
thought of before. What happens when a PC is stolen? Even though you
still have your Vista disks and your Vista CD-Key, have they suddenly
become useless?

If that were the case, it would be profitable for Microsoft to have
agents out stealing laptops LOL. It sort of reminds me of the problem
with stolen cars. Car manufacturers have little interest in making an
unstealable car. Every car stolen is a new car purchased. So now is
every PC stolen a new Vista purchased?

Dale

 

[AJR]

Complete PC Backup and Restore does not "require" two backups - although you
can create as many for which you have space.

Selecting the option "Backup files" rather than "Complete PC Backup"
provides for only backing up files - immediately or on schedule.
Under some circumstances you can restore a complete backup of one co mputer
to another - although usually with a lot of problems.

Also keep in mind that to restore a "Complete PC Backup" requires use of the
Vista DVD.

 

[philo]

You raised an interesting point I have not seen raised here and have not
thought of before. What happens when a PC is stolen? Even though you still
have your Vista disks and your Vista CD-Key, have they suddenly become
useless?

If that were the case, it would be profitable for Microsoft to have agents
out stealing laptops LOL. It sort of reminds me of the problem with stolen
cars. Car manufacturers have little interest in making an unstealable car.
Every car stolen is a new car purchased. So now is every PC stolen a new
Vista purchased?

Well Microsoft seems to be doing OK financially...so I doubt if Bill Gates
goes around stealing more than
just a couple of laptops.

Anyway...even assuming the replacement laptop was identical to the stolen
one...
my guess is that due to the cpu id it could not be re-activated.
I have no idea what a call to Microsoft would do...but per the license
agreement...
it's one OS per PC.
If your Chevy was stolen GM is not going to just give you another car...so I
assume that if your OS was stolen
Microsoft is not going to just give you another one.

As to cars...my previous vehicle was a Ford...and it had a microchip in the
key...
so even if one duplicated the key...without the microchip in it...the
vehicle would not start...
Of course I'm sure there are plenty of thieves who know how to get by that

 

[Henry Jones]

I have my OS on my C: drive and my data on my D: drive. When I do a backup,
I just copy what I need to a CD or DVD, depending on how much data needs to
be backed up. If my PC gets stolen, then I call my insurance agent, get a
new PC with a new copy of the flavor of the day Operating System, who cares
what happend to the old one. (Unless you have financial data on it!)

I use Nero 7 and it works pretty well.

 

[Guest]

I first installed the last beta on a separate hard drive on a separate
computer. I ended up liking it so much that i simply took the vista hard
drive from the old computer and stuck it in the new one. Everything plugged
and played and there was no activating etc.
Just one mans' experience...
jf

 

[Gene fitzpatrick]

Complete PC Backup, and daily back-ups are different. The Daily backups are
like restore points, where as Complete PC Back-up, if you do it right should
only have to be done once.
Complete PC Back-up is where you set your computer up, get everything
working perfect, and take a snapshot of it. This way, when you screw it all
up, you can restore it to EXACTLY how it was when you did the complete PC
back-up.
Daily back-up only makes so that you can restore to an earlier time.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

If the laptop is stolen, or any other OEM computer for that matter, the
license is also stolen and should be included in the police report,
insurance claim etc. \
It is not always enough to have the CD and key.