I need to have a copy of my images and file backups stored off site on a regular basis. Can I just copy the: 1) Backup set for the computer, 2) the Media ID, and 3) WindowsImageBackup made by Windows Backup and Restore to another external drive for that purpose and be able to recover. From what I'm reading, Win 7 seems to 1) create a first image and then keep updating it, 2) create a file backup and the keep adding document changes. What do people do if you lose the computer and your backup drive (internal or external)? Can one force a new complete image or file backup for separate archival/disaster purposes? Regards Jim

I'm not completely sure I understand what you want, but I get the drift that you'd like to be able to fully restore your system in the case of a hard disaster that destroys all local data, as well as having a local backup copy that can be used to recover from a lesser disaster.If you use the Windows backup and provide an external removable drive (I use Western Digital MyBook) your systemcan make a full backup that can be used to restore everything.You could rotate your external drives offsite occasionally and when you plug ina "new" drive format it so it is clean (thus ensuring a full backup). This would also help with another problem that is being seen in that full Windows backups start failing with "not enough space" errors because the incremental nature causes the drive to fill.I don't know the direct answer to your question -whether you could just copy the backup drive and be able to restore from it.With the ridiculously low cost of MyBook or similar terabyte storage drives, it's pretty silly not to have good backups nowadays!-Noel

Yes, you can do the one time full backup (separate from your scheduled backups). Like Noel suggested, that would be a good time to plug in a new drive (I use hard drive docking units - sata based, allows me to plug in any sata drive up to 2 terabytes in size, it'll automatically be seen and ready to use in under a minute). By doing this, I can then direct the backup to this drive, I can then store it off site. However keep in mind that any data added after that time would negate this full backup you just did but as long as you have access to this incremental backup, you can certainly restore from the incrementals. So it would be just a matter of plugging in that full backup drive, then your incremental drive to select the incremental backups you want restored. I haven't done this myself, as we use a tape/storage array for our backups. I would probably make it a habit to do a full one time backup once a month (we do it once a week), but I don't know what type of environment you're in (home network or business/work network).MCSE, MCSA, MCDST

Hello Seemaxgo, There are three different types of backups: Full, Incremental and Differential If you use Full, you can completely recover your data from the backup file. If you use differential or Incremental, you will need the first complete backup plus the other backup sets to properly restore. If you want to keep your off site backup simple, use a full backup even though it takes more time. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc938473.aspx Miguel Miguel Fra / Falcon ITS Computer and Network Service and Support, Miami, Fl

I will try this out. I already use a WD external for my daily scheduled file backup. I will flip in a clean external disk in as both of you suggest, point Windows Backup to it and create the archive: image and complete file backup. Then bring my daily incremental disk back on line. It also makes sense to me that if Windows Backup sees a clean drive it will make a new complete set. Regards Jim

Having a new clean drive for backup will make no difference if it makes a new complete set, you have to tell it to make a complete backup with an image for restoring. Backup marks your files if they have been archived or not. Making a full backup ignores the archived bit.MCSE, MCSA, MCDST

When you say "complete backup with an image for restoring" I interpret that to mean the "create a system image" option in the backup and restore center. I understand and have made a complete image of all our disks. How do you tell the backup center to take a full backup (not image) of all my data, regardless if its been archived before? I need a complete/full original set. I want to create that full set monthly and any other time I need a point in time copy. I also want to do a regular daily incremental file backup, which I do have going right now in backup and restore. I can see the set building day by day. With my Raid 1 data drives, shadow files, daily incremental file backups, monthly images and full file backups, along with off site storage rotation. I have a backup and recovery strategy. I can recover my systems/applications but most importantly our data. Today on my Vista machines I do all that but have to use a third party package to do all the scheduled images and file backups. I'd prefer to use the Windows product if the robustness is there. Really appreciate all the comments/suggestions/feedback. Regards Jim

Jim, I found someone had linked a couple of very interesting articles that you might find nice reading about Windows 7 backup (even I enjoyed it).Windows 7 backup part 1 http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/First-Look-Windows-7-Backup-Part1.htmlWindows 7 backup part 2 http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/First-Look-Windows-7-Backup-Part2.htmlMCSE, MCSA, MCDST

Hi, Regarding Windows Backup: 1) create a first image and then keep updating it. (Correct)2) create a file backup and the keep adding document changes. (Correct) Regarding your last concern, you can copy the image backup files to anywhere. They are stored in the folder WindowsImageBackup. If you would like to deploy a image onto a completely different computer, you may refer the following article. Step-by-Step: Basic Windows Deployment for IT Professionals Arthur Xie - MSFT