Talking about Windows 7 system backup and restore mechanism

The recent discussion about the feasibility of the Win 7 single-partition scheme is very hot, and data backup and restoration have been mentioned many times. It seems that there is a need to write something.

Why are we backing up? From a small point of view, it is convenient for us to quickly return to normal working conditions in an emergency; from a big point of view, data is invaluable—especially today as computers become more and more containers for our personal life. This is especially important.

What should we use to back up? I believe that many people will say without thinking: "Ghost." Indeed, GHOST is very successful as a partitioned data migration software. In China's software application environment, it also gets the end user's pole under the combined effect of many factors. Great acceptance and even deification, widely used in system deployment, system backup and other fields. But GHOST is based on the hard disk partitioning scheme, which means that it is just a part of the backup and restore system. From the current popular version of GHOST, the lack of online backup, incremental or differential backup, backup plans and other shortcomings make it practically compromised. I had to interrupt the existing work for GHOST backup, I had to restore the system state to a point in time (unless you keep multiple GHO files), I had to mark a lot of "Today GHOST" on the calendar. For the unskilled people, even if they are trying to simplify the operation of the "one-click GHOST", they can not effectively create a backup file that suits their own usage (and the backup from the user's usage is equal to nothing), while the misoperation is larger. The risk of data loss can be greatly increased. Therefore, in the past few years, I did not give them a "one-button GHOST" for the computers used by parents. Because I understand that Ghost is not effective for them to achieve emergency recovery, but will become a bomb to destroy data. For fathers with many press releases, this is an unimaginable disaster.

Backup is not only Ghost can be completed, many software is fighting in the field of backup and restore. The operating system we are using also provides us with a wealth of backup and restore functions. Why not take a look at what the system can do before making a decision?

Overview of the history of backup and restore functions of recent generations of Windows operating systems, it is not difficult to see that Microsoft has made considerable efforts in this regard. From the simple file backup based on shadow copy and the less reliable restore point under XP, to the restore point of Vista with greatly improved usability (I used the restore point of a machine several months ago to successfully take the system from the 瘫痪The state has been quickly restored, of course, the use of old restore points is not recommended.) The successful completion of the CompletePC system image backup and the introduction of the WIN RE environment, and the further improvement of the backup management and backup plan under 7 Introduced, users who have experienced this change process will certainly sigh: Windows backup function is more and more usable, and it is getting better and better.

This article will introduce, that is, the backup and restore mechanism of Windows7. In fact, the core of this backup and restore mechanism has been laid in the era of Vista, and I still pay tribute to Vista.

Overview, the backup and restore mechanism of Windows7 consists of three parts: system and file backup based on shadow copy (short shadow copy), file backup and restore, system image backup and restore.

First, the system based on shadow copy and file backup and restore

This function is what we often say "system restore" or "restore point". It uses shadow copy technology to create a shadow copy of a file in a partition that turns this feature on.

(1) How to backup?

By default, the shadow copy function is enabled in the partition where the system is located. Restore points are automatically created before a major system event occurs. Every seven days, if no restore points are created in the previous seven days, restore points are automatically created, but you can manually create restore points at any time. The entire backup process will be completed quickly without affecting the user's work. The maximum space occupied by shadow copy defaults to 3% of the partition size. After the limit is exceeded, the old restore points will be automatically cleaned up. This is one of the reasons why we see that the system partition space is floating in an interval. ). Under the System Protection tab of System Properties, we can manage and configure the shadow copy function.

(2) How to restore?

The benefits of shadow copying are three. One is to use the restore point to quickly recover the system files and settings. The other is to recover the files that were accidentally deleted and changed in the partition to the point where the restore point was created. State; third is to facilitate the rollback of the driver.

1. For the operation of restoring the system, you can either enter "Restore" in the start menu, enter the system restore interface and follow the wizard. You can also use the system installation CD to boot into WIN RE. Select Repair the computer and follow the wizard. This action does not affect the user's personal files.

2, for the operation of restoring any file to the previous version, you can view the properties of the file or its parent (grandfather, great-grandfather...) folder, select the "previous version" tab, open Copy the file after the corresponding time point.

3. For the operation of the driver to be rolled back, you can enter the device manager to view the properties of the corresponding device, and select "rollback driver" under the "Driver" tab.

(3) Evaluation of shadow copy

The shadow copy as the most basic and practical backup and restore mechanism of the system is probably the most unnoticed because some people will The hat that "swallows hard drive space" buckles over it. Can 3% be called "swallowing"? Do not agree. When you are saved by it, you will be grateful to the old servant for his hard work. On the other hand, I have seen a lot of tragedies caused by the closure of the shadow copy - such as a player on the full live, the team archived for dozens of seasons has been accidentally damaged, even though he is using Windows. 7, but the shutter copy function turned off makes him only come back from scratch. Maybe you said that the game doesn't matter, but what if you lose a contract about our future? Can you still "do not care"? Shadow copying is not only a bottle of regrets, but also a time machine that allows us to return to the past. I highly recommend keeping this feature working, and if necessary, you can turn on shadow copying on other local partitions.

Of course, shadow copying that stores backup data in the same partition is not very robust. Once the storage device encounters a major disaster, shadow copying can't do anything. Don't worry, Microsoft has prepared the following two kinds of games for us.

Second, file backup and restore

This function allows us to back up and restore data in any folder on the hard disk. Incremental backup is supported on the backup policy. Local partitions (not recommended), optical storage, external storage devices, and networks are supported on the backup device.

(1) How to backup?

To use backup and restore of files, you must create a backup plan. The creation of a system image may be involved in the following process, and the contents of the system image are described in the next section.

Enter "Backup" in the start menu and go to "Backup and Restore". After entering the Create Backup Plan Wizard, first select the location where the backup is stored, and then select “Let me choose” to enter the custom selection interface. Windows will back up all files contained in the library, files on the desktop, and other data files by default, so you can choose as appropriate. Then select the backup time policy, review the options and save, the system will immediately back up the selected items. At the specified backup time, the system will also automatically back up (if the backup device is online) or remind the user to make a backup (if the backup device is offline). At the same time, you can perform manual backup at any time in Backup and Restore.

(2) How to restore?

Connect the backup device, and System and Restore will automatically detect the device. In the interface, select "Restore My Files" and add the files that need to be restored to the list. By default, only the most recently backed up files are displayed. If you need a file with a previous date, please remember to click "Select another date".

(3) Evaluation of file backup and restore

File backup and restore function provides users with a complete and easy-to-use personal file protection mechanism. Incremental backup brings huge benefits. Take my own backup as an example. It contains 6 different versions of music library and photo library from August to now, but it only takes up a little more space than 3G (the original folder is about 2.7G); regular backup plan makes me not make backups meaningless because of forgetting; backup folders are protected by NTFS permissions and UAC (only when stored in NTFS partitions), so that they are not subject to viruses or misuse Destruction; flexible restore method, so that I can easily restore on demand...

It is recommended that you enable this function for personal important folders.

Third, system image backup and restore

This feature will create a complete image of the system, which can be used to quickly restore the system's working state in the case of disaster recovery. Incremental backup is supported on the backup policy; local partitions (not recommended), optical storage, external storage devices, and networks are supported on the backup device.

(1) How to backup?

Go to "Backup and Restore", you can either click on "Create System Image" on the left to create a system image, or you can create a backup plan to achieve regular backup of the system image. The backup device and backup partition can be set in the wizard. Note that in order to ensure the reliability of the backup, in addition to the system partition, the system also forces the backup of partitions containing critical applications (currently known as anti-virus software).

(2) How to restore?

Through the Windows installation CD or other methods (such as F8) to boot into WIN RE, click on the repair computer to choose to repair with the system image. Of course, please don't forget to let the backup device come online. Note that the "Format and Repartition Disk" option will help to improve the success of the restore but will lose all the data on the existing hard disk, suitable for work such as system transfer. If you confirm that the partition information of the image record is consistent with the current disk partition information, you can leave it unchecked.

The entire restoration process takes about 15 minutes (21G data, USB2.0 mobile hard disk measured).

(3) Evaluation of system image backup and restore

This feature from Vista, called CompletePC, has suffered a lot of controversy - because of its The opponent is GHOST. Users who are accustomed to GHOST (again is habit? Hehe) may look down on the module that provides similar functions from the heart, and even more will dig into the problem and find "BUG". I don't think it's necessary to do this. I calm down and have a different world. From the system image backup function, online backup, network backup, incremental backup, backup plan, and protection of backup folders are not available in the popular version of Ghost, and the system is highly integrated and highly reliable. Sex is an innate advantage, and the VHD obtained after backup can be directly mounted as an unexpected surprise. Of course, no compression ratio is a deficiency.

It is recommended that users who want to further improve and improve the data resistance of the whole machine enable system image backup.

More than 3,000 words, how good it is to write a thesis so much (laughs). As usual, write something like a conclusion. The purpose of this article is to introduce, but because the spearhead inevitably points to GHOST, coupled with the habit of habitual contempt system function in some people, the situation of debate will not be possible. Still, I don't expect anyone to make any changes, but I think that when you analyze the entire backup mechanism of the system, you will find that using GHOST to back up is not enough (in fact, the latest version of GHOST 14.0 has evolved into A more comprehensive backup software, but the author of "one-click Ghost" software does not seem to buy it.) Hope: First, when you turn off the system's backup and restore mechanism, please clearly understand what you are doing; second, like TonyXiang's famous saying, "Thoughts are more important than techniques, and the meaning is more important than the appearance". This article also wants to convey such a thought.