XP vs Vista Backups

[marx404]

While setting up my brother's new Vista laptop, we decided that after we got
everything set just so to do our first backup. I was shocked that it seems
that you are restricted to only a FULL backup in Vista (the equivalent to
using XP's Backup Utility as opposed to XP having that OR System Restore
which is a lot faster. In other words, seems that Vista has eliminated
System Restore and provides only a full backup utility. On a brand new high
speed laptop, Vista took almost an hour!

Looks like unless I want to return to using Ghost (or any 3rd party quick
backup), I will be staying with XP for a long time.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

System Restore and backup are different with different purposes.
windows vista has System Restore.

But as in Windows XP, system Restore is not intended to nor will it
protect your personal data.
As the name implies, it protects system files.
Hopefully you are not relying on System Restore to protect your
personal data.
You need another plan to back up essential data for all your personal
data.

Many feel 3rd party options meet their need better for backing up
personal data.

 

[marx404]

It seems that System Restore for Vista is quite confusing then. Why is there
no named Backup Utility in Vista (incidentally which I DO use along with
System Restore on my XP machine)?

It just seemed ludicrous that in Vista, (and maybe I didn't know whatever
tricks to perform), that the so called System Restore which in Vista is the
equivalent to the larger and lengthier XP BU which is apparent when one can
only invoke a lengthy backup procedure no matter what one clicks on. (is
there perhaps a problem with my OS?)

Ergo, System Restore for Vista does not carry over the same exact
functionality as SR in XP, it is more equivalent to the Backup Utility in XP
and there does not seem to be any other option, while in XP one can either
choose to quickly and efficiently backup and restore system files via SR or
perform any number of full or incremental backups to any drive via BU.
Again, in Vista, one only has the option in SR to perform the tasks of the
BU which is very time consuming.

Please physically compare the two OS and their prospective utils side by
side and you will clearly observe what I am speaking of. TIA.

 

[Poprivet`]

Here's a link that might help; Vista has an entire Backup & Control Center,
apparently:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/backup.mspx

Watch for line wraps in the URL