I'm using W7 Backup. I do not use system image backup, only backing up files to an external hard drive. As I see, it starts a new backup set after every 8 incremental backup. I'm pleased with it, but I have one question. May I delete the previous backup sets, without any drawbacks?

As I see, it starts a new backup set after every 8 incremental backup. Do you mean, it starts a normal backup (full backup)? If yes, there is no problem to delete old normal backups once you created a new one. Also, you can delete all the incremental backups performed before the new normal backup. If you have a problem and you want to restore your system state and files from a performed backup, it will be sufficient to restore from the latest normal backup and the incremental backups that have been created after it. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.

Yes, there is a new backup set after every 8 backups, as you can see it in the attached picture http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/4960703075_44a0f8ef7a_b.jpg

Based on the link you gave me, each backup set should be completely independent from the previous ones. According to that, deleting the old backup sets should not affect your last backup sets. For more information, please contact your backup solution Technical Support. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.

All backups are incremental backups. They are based on the first backup. You can prove it via the size of the whole backup sets. Please do not remove anyone if you would like to make any of them works properly.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

The size of the folder "backup files 2010-05-23-194952" is about 22GB. The other folders in the backup set are incremental backups, of course with different sizes, some hundred Mbytes to 1-2GB The 2010-07-11 backup set is 22-23G again. So, it looks like, it is a full backup again, followed by 6 incremental backups. the 2010-09-05 is a full, 22-23G full backup again. I will try to restore the files onto a virtual machine.

The 2010-07-11 backup set is 22-23G again. So, it looks like, it is a full backup again, followed by 6 incremental backups. the 2010-09-05 is a full, 22-23G full backup again. They are full backups and there will be no problem to delete the previous ones like I told you before. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.

I have created a Virtual Machine, installed Win7 on it, and tried to restore the second full backup set (which was created on july 11th, and was used for backups until august 29) As I see, everything was restored. I have checked some pictures, and my emails, all look fine. But, I have a question. What happens with deleted files? For example, if I deleted something in august, and I do a full restore to the august 29 state, this deleted file will be there, or not? I think it should not be there.

But, I have a question. What happens with deleted files? For example, if I deleted something in august, and I do a full restore to the august 29 state, this deleted file will be there, or not? I think it should not be there. If you have deleted a file after performing a backup then restoring this backup will let back this file. If you have deleted a file before performing a backup then restoring this backup will not let back this files. In this case, if you want to let back this file you should restore a backup performed before its delete. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.

In this case, you can delete previous backup sets. However, by design all backups should be incremental backups. I suspect that some programs change the status of the files per several days so Windows Backup would recognize that the files were changed and fully backed up these files.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.