Geek School: Learning Windows 7 - Backup and Recovery

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Backing Up Windows

Restoring Your Data

The Windows Recovery Environment

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In this installation of Geek School we take a look at our options for Backup and Recovery. This is an important one, so come on and join us.

Be sure to check out the previous articles in this Geek School series on Windows 7:

Note: Backup and Recovery is a fairly straight forward concept and thus there is not much theory to be covered. Rather, we take the approach of showing you how to get a backup plan in place, and point out things as we go.

Backing Up Windows

Windows 7 includes a utility that enables you to create and restore backups. For those uninitiated, backups protect your data in the event of a catastrophic failure by allowing you to store a copy of your data on another storage medium, such as a hard disk, CD, DVD, or network location. When a catastrophic event occurs, examples of which include corruption, deletion or media failure, you will be able to restore your data using one of your saved backups. In order to set up your backup plan you need to head into the Control Panel.

Then click on System and Security.

Here you will see a Backup and Restore link. Click on it.

Once you enter the backup section, you will need to click on the Set up backup link.

Now choose where you want to save the backup, then click next. We will opt to save our backup on a Hard Drive, however you always have the option of using a network location.

You also have the option of letting Windows choose what to back up or rolling your own backup strategy. We will roll our own.

Note: If you choose to let Windows pick out what to back up, it will basically include anything within common Windows folders, the contents of your libraries as well as a system image which can be used to restore your "C" drive should anything happen to your computer.

The advantage to rolling your own backup strategy is that you can choose individual folders that you want to back up, and the contents of these folders will be available for restoration without restoring a system image. If you let Windows choose what to backup and you suddenly need to restore a single folder, you would need to restore your entire "C" drive using the system image, losing any files you have created since the backup. Of course, we will include our libraries as well as a system image in our custom backup.

Once you have chosen what you want to be backed up, you will be given a nice overview. If you are not happy with the default schedule, you can change it by clicking on the change schedule link, however Sunday at 7PM suits us perfectly. After confirming everything you need is included, kick off the backup.

That's all there is to it.

Restoring Your Data

If you ever need to restore a single file from your backup, simply open the Control Panel.

Then click on System and Security.

Now click on the Restore my files button in the bottom right hand corner of the Window.

Then click the Browse for files button.

Now simply browse and select the file you want to restore, then click the add files button.

Then click next.

You can now restore the file to its original location or choose to restore it to an alternative location. This could be useful should you want to compare the files.

That's all there is to restoring a single file. Next, let's take a look at the Windows Recovery Environment, which can help you restore your PC from a system image following a system-wide failure.

The Windows Recovery Environment

Windows includes a set of tools that you can use to troubleshoot and revive your system should a serious error ever occur. Collectively, these tools form what is called the WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment). Since we already have a guide on creating a recovery disc, lets take a look tools the WinRE includes.

Note: You can also boot into the WinRE without creating a disc by holding the F8 key while your computer boots, then choosing repair your computer from the advanced boot options screen. Alternatively you could also access it using your installation DVD.

Startup Repair: Fixes certain problems that are preventing Windows from starting. For the most part it does this by verifying the integrity of core Windows files.
System Restore: Allows you to restore your computer's files to an earlier point in time.
System Image Recovery: This is the option we will use to restore a system image.
Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool: Scans your computer's memory for corruption.
Command Prompt: Opens a new command prompt Window from where you can run command line utilities.

In the event that your PC won't even boot, you will want to restore your data using the system image that is included in the Windows backup. To do that, select the System Image Recovery option.

You will then be asked which system image you want to restore to. By default, it will detect the latest system image on any valid backup medium. In our case this is in fact the image I want to use, however if you want to restore to an older image you can always choose the select a system image option.

Then you have the option of formatting your systems disks. Just be careful to exclude the disk which your backup is on should your backup be on an internal disk. Then click next.