Backup and automatic backup in Windows Vista

                  Whether it's from maintaining the security of user data or ensuring that the system recovers from a disaster, such as hardware damage or various viruses and malware attacks, backups are important, but in previous Windows systems, integrated backups The tools are quite rudimentary. For example, the backup in Windows XP is only a reduced version of the corresponding commercial software of VERITAS (now SYmantec). It can only achieve the most basic functions, and many people have to resort to third-party professional software.
In Windows Vista, perhaps the user's strong demand for data and system security finally made Microsoft realize the importance of providing a complete system backup tool, providing a name called "Windows Backup". Tools, through which users can ensure data security in case of hardware or software failures, viruses and malware attacks or even accidental deletion of files. The new Windows backup is not only powerful, but also easy to operate, allowing Windows Vista users to access anytime, anywhere. It's easy to back up PC settings, files, and applications, while the Windows Backup feature gives you more options for storing backup information. You can choose to back up to a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, an external hard drive on your PC via USB or IEEE 1394, another hard drive on your PC, or another PC or server connected to your network.
In Windows Vista, backups are divided into two levels: Among them, all Windows Vista versions support File and Folder Backup. In addition, Windows Vista's Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate versions also support CompletePC. Backup. Entering Windows Backup
To open Windows Backup, there are several ways: 1. Click Start Menu => All Programs=> Attachments=> System Tools=> Backup; 2. Open Control Panel in turn => System Maintenance => Backup and Recovery Center; or enter "backup" directly in the search box. CompletePC Backup (CompletePC Backup) and Recovery (CompletePC Restore)
CompletePC Backup in Windows Vista is similar in some kind of program to the familiar Symantec Ghost, which can back up the entire hard disk or partition into an image file. The backup of the hard disk or partition will include all system files, hidden files, etc., instead of just backing up the data files, so that in the event of a system failure, the image file can be directly used to restore the previous normal operating system. On the other hand, this feature brings a greater convenience to enterprise users: like Ghost, enterprise administrators can install a system, create an image file through CompletePC backup, and then distribute it to many computer installations. To a large extent, the efficiency of IT management can be improved.

To use CompletePC backup, just click "Back up Computer" in the above image

The system will ask you to choose where to back up, such as Hard disk or CD/DVD burner, etc. It's important to note that if you use CD/DVD backup, be sure to prepare enough platters. Many times, even if you only back up the system partition, a double-sided DVD platter is not enough.

After selecting the backup source disk and the target storage location, a window to be confirmed will appear, and the backup will only start after the user confirms.
Depending on the number of hard disks or partitions to be backed up and the amount of data on them, backup times range from a few minutes to tens of minutes.
After the backup is completed, you can see the corresponding backup image file in the "WindowsImagebackup \\COMPUTERNAME \\Backup YYYY-MM-DD" directory under the backup target disk.

If you need to recover from backup, you need to use the Windows Vista installation disk to reboot the system and enter the Windows Recovery Envrionment (CompletePC Restore).
File backup in Vista
Complete PC Backup is only integrated with the high-end and commercial versions of Windows Vista. All Windows Vista versions support file backup. However, note that file backup is only For user data files, not including system files, system settings, etc. Through the File Backup Wizard, users can select the type of files to be backed up, such as pictures, music, videos, E-mail, etc., as well as back up the entire directory or multiple directories.
After the first backup is completed, the subsequent backups will be in the format of incremental backup. That is, the new backup will only back up the files and data added or changed after the last backup, instead of re-backing up all of them. The earth saves the storage space required for backup.

At the same time, after multiple backups, Windows Vista will also provide details of different copies of the same file in the backup so that the user can select the correct one from the time of recovery.
Automatic Backup in Vista
First of all, it should be noted that the Windows Vista entry version, including Windows Vista Starter and Windows Vista Home Basic, does not support automatic backup. Another point is that automatic backup is only an enhancement of file backup, not CompletePC Backup, which means you cannot back up system files, system settings and applications.
The option for automatic backup can be set in the Backup and Recovery Center.

The first step is to choose where to back up. As with the previous settings, users can choose to back up to a local hard drive, CD/DVD burner or a network share. Once the setting is completed, the step of setting the backup source disk is entered. Care should be taken that if the backup file is previously stored to the local hard disk/partition, the hard disk/partition should not be added to the backup source. Of course, this is also easy to understand.

Next, the user needs to select the files that he wants to back up, including photos, music, videos, etc., similar to the settings in the file backup process described on the previous page. Of course, the system files and program files are not. Its column.

The setting of the backup plan is not much to say, the user can set the frequency of automatic backup according to their own needs, such as monthly or weekly, and set the backup to run in idle time, such as setting At night and the like.

Although the automatic backup in Windows Vista is still relatively simple compared to the professional backup tool, it is still enough for the average user and has the advantage of simple setup.