Backup Multiple Hard Drives

Windows 7 (x64)

The Windows 7 backup capability only provides for backing up my C-drive.
I use my C-drive for software; but I also have a D-drive, where I have
all my data. Actually, my data is more important than my software.

How can I backup each of these two to the other?

I did this weekly with Windows XP. Then, I would encrypt the resulting
backup files with PGP and move them to a removable hard drive that I
stored away from my PC. I want to do the same with Windows 7.

--
David E. Ross
http://www.rossde.com/

Where does your elected official stand? Which
politicians refuse to tell us where they stand?
See the non-partisan Project Vote Smart at
http://votesmart.org/.

On Sun, 27 Oct 2013 14:44:02 -0700, David E. Ross wrote:

Windows 7 (x64)

The Windows 7 backup capability only provides for backing up my C-drive.
I use my C-drive for software; but I also have a D-drive, where I have
all my data. Actually, my data is more important than my software.

How can I backup each of these two to the other?

I did this weekly with Windows XP. Then, I would encrypt the resulting
backup files with PGP and move them to a removable hard drive that I
stored away from my PC. I want to do the same with Windows 7.

I don't know the answer to your stated problem, but you have an unstated
problem as well.

Backing up two internal drives or partitions, each to the other, is a
formula for disaster. Backing up to a totally separate internal drive is
bad enough.

It is much (i.e., *much*) safer to back up to external drives. Plural.
One drive today, the other tomorrow or next week, and alternating
thereafter.

There are scenarios that can fry both internal drives at the same time
(or the only internal drive, if you are talking partitions).

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

David E. Ross wrote:
Windows 7 (x64)

The Windows 7 backup capability only provides for backing up my C-drive.
I use my C-drive for software; but I also have a D-drive, where I have
all my data. Actually, my data is more important than my software.

How can I backup each of these two to the other?

I did this weekly with Windows XP. Then, I would encrypt the resulting
backup files with PGP and move them to a removable hard drive that I
stored away from my PC. I want to do the same with Windows 7.


Windows 7 has two kinds of backups built in.

You can do complete "System Images".

Or, you can do something similar to a file by file backup,
which are kept in sets.

Sites like this one, provide tutorials.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...tem-files.html

*******

Another option, is Macrium Reflect Free, which does a pretty
good job. I can image a hard drive with that program, without
breaking a sweat. Download link is near the lower left corner.

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

The only problem with the download now, is the downloader
site offered, will include the usual "tool bar" in the
download. So you have to be "careful" during the installation.
I don't think there is a "direct link" on the CNET site for
that one.

The last time I needed to install Macrium, I used an older
download which lacked any toolbars, then once the tool was
installed, did an "update" from within the tool, to get the
latest version. Thus avoiding any toolbars.

Macrium has a recovery CD image (ISO9660) included with it. That
is Linux based, but when you use the recovery CD to do a
hard drive restoration, you can't really tell it's Linux
underneath (the OS type doesn't matter). Macrium also has an
option to use WAIK to build a WinPE-like disc for recovery,
but that's a huge download and normally unnecessary. The
built-in CD image should be good enough.

This is the Macrium boot CD, when you're doing a
recovery. This is what you see when it starts up,
when you're doing a restore.

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/1...mlinuxboot.gif

And this picture, is an entire backup and restore tutorial.
Blame the screwy colors in the pictures, on my usage of GIF.

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/451...iumrestore.gif

Paul

On 10/27/2013 4:35 PM, Gene E. Bloch wrote:
On Sun, 27 Oct 2013 14:44:02 -0700, David E. Ross wrote:

Windows 7 (x64)

The Windows 7 backup capability only provides for backing up my C-drive.
I use my C-drive for software; but I also have a D-drive, where I have
all my data. Actually, my data is more important than my software.

How can I backup each of these two to the other?

I did this weekly with Windows XP. Then, I would encrypt the resulting
backup files with PGP and move them to a removable hard drive that I
stored away from my PC. I want to do the same with Windows 7.

I don't know the answer to your stated problem, but you have an unstated
problem as well.

Backing up two internal drives or partitions, each to the other, is a
formula for disaster. Backing up to a totally separate internal drive is
bad enough.

It is much (i.e., *much*) safer to back up to external drives. Plural.
One drive today, the other tomorrow or next week, and alternating
thereafter.

There are scenarios that can fry both internal drives at the same time
(or the only internal drive, if you are talking partitions).


Backing up each hard drive to the other does not end my process. As I
indicated earlier in this thread, after the backup files are generated,
I encrypt them. All this works quicker with my internal drives. But
then I move the encrypted files to a removable drive that I store away
from my PC.

I do leave the unencrypted backup files on my internal hard drives in
case I merely want to recover a file that I clobbered.

--
David E. Ross
http://www.rossde.com/

Where does your elected official stand? Which
politicians refuse to tell us where they stand?
See the non-partisan Project Vote Smart at
http://votesmart.org/.

On 10/27/2013 4:41 PM, Paul wrote [in part]:
David E. Ross wrote:
Windows 7 (x64)

The Windows 7 backup capability only provides for backing up my C-drive.
I use my C-drive for software; but I also have a D-drive, where I have
all my data. Actually, my data is more important than my software.

How can I backup each of these two to the other?

I did this weekly with Windows XP. Then, I would encrypt the resulting
backup files with PGP and move them to a removable hard drive that I
stored away from my PC. I want to do the same with Windows 7.


Windows 7 has two kinds of backups built in.

You can do complete "System Images".

Or, you can do something similar to a file by file backup,
which are kept in sets.

Sites like this one, provide tutorials.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...tem-files.html


[snipped]

That SevenForums link only provides for backing up drive C, possibly to
drive D. I also want to backup drive D to drive C.

--
David E. Ross
http://www.rossde.com/

Where does your elected official stand? Which
politicians refuse to tell us where they stand?
See the non-partisan Project Vote Smart at
http://votesmart.org/.

You don't have to be BLACK to buy Western Digital black hard drives. These
****ers rarely fail.

"David E. Ross" wrote:

Windows 7 (x64)

The Windows 7 backup capability only provides for backing up my C-drive.
I use my C-drive for software; but I also have a D-drive, where I have
all my data. Actually, my data is more important than my software.

How can I backup each of these two to the other?

I did this weekly with Windows XP. Then, I would encrypt the resulting
backup files with PGP and move them to a removable hard drive that I
stored away from my PC. I want to do the same with Windows 7.

--
David E. Ross
http://www.rossde.com/

Where does your elected official stand? Which
politicians refuse to tell us where they stand?
See the non-partisan Project Vote Smart at
http://votesmart.org/.

--
The Grandmaster of the CyberFROG

Come get your ticket to CyberFROG city

Nay, Art thou decideth playeth ye simpleton games. *Some* of us know proper
manners

Very few. I used to take calls from *rank* noobs but got fired the first day
on the job for potty mouth,

Bur-ring, i'll get this one: WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM JERK!!? We're here to help
you dickweed, ok, ok give the power cord the jiggily piggily wiggily all the
while pushing the power button repeatedly now take everything out of your
computer except the power supply and *one* stick of ram. Subscriber asks
will that ****in' work? I guaranDAMtee it. Ok get the next sucker on the
phone.

Deirdre Straughan (Roxio) is a LIAR (Deirdre McFibber)

There's the employer and the employee and the FROGGER and the FROGEE, which
one are you?

Hamster isn't a newsreader it's a mistake!

El-Gonzo Jackson FROGS both me and Chuckcar (I just got EL-FROG-OED!!)

All hail Chuckcar the CZAR!! Or in F-R-O-Gland Chuckcar laFROG laCZAR,
ChuckZar!!

I hate them both, With useless bogus bull**** you need at least *three*
fulltime jobs to afford either one of them

I'm a fulltime text *only* man on usenet now. The rest of the world
downloads the binary files not me i can't afford thousands of dollars a
month

VBB = Volume based billing. How many bytes can we shove down your throat and
out your arse sir?

The only "fix" for the CellPig modem is a sledgehammer.

UBB = User based bullFROGGING

Colonel Debeers refuses to wrestle a black man
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3-o_dPhbGI)

Master Juba was a black man imitating a white man imitating a black man

Always do incremental backups of your data or you'll end up like the A-Holes
at DSL Reports. Justin says i made a boo-boo. Yeah boo-who.

Updates are for idiots. As long as the thing works there's no reason to turn

schizophrenic and develop a lifelong complex over such a silly issue.

You don't have to be "stinkbottomed" to post on this newsgroup

Anyone who disagrees with me gets FROG tape over their yapper

Adrian "jackpot" Lewis is a mama's boy!

Jimmy Fricke is good for the game of poker

Using my technical prowess and computer abilities to answer questions beyond
the realm of understandability

Regards Tony... Making usenet better for everyone everyday

This sig file was compiled via my journeys through usenet

David E. Ross wrote:
On 10/27/2013 4:41 PM, Paul wrote [in part]:
David E. Ross wrote:
Windows 7 (x64)

The Windows 7 backup capability only provides for backing up my C-drive.
I use my C-drive for software; but I also have a D-drive, where I have
all my data. Actually, my data is more important than my software.

How can I backup each of these two to the other?

I did this weekly with Windows XP. Then, I would encrypt the resulting
backup files with PGP and move them to a removable hard drive that I
stored away from my PC. I want to do the same with Windows 7.

Windows 7 has two kinds of backups built in.

You can do complete "System Images".

Or, you can do something similar to a file by file backup,
which are kept in sets.

Sites like this one, provide tutorials.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...tem-files.html


[snipped]

That SevenForums link only provides for backing up drive C, possibly to
drive D. I also want to backup drive D to drive C.


OK, I have another option. There is a picture here,
of my backup session, so you can see how this
command line invocation works. I did this in a VM.

http://imageshack.us/a/img855/6051/fb5.gif

The first invocation example here, backs up C: and SYSTEM RESERVED.
Since SYSTEM RESERVED has no drive letter, a clumsy \\?\Volume is
needed instead.

Wbadmin start backup -backupTarget:F: -include:\\?\Volume{C38A95FE-9261-11E1-92E9-806E6F6E6963}\,C: -quiet

The "AllCritical" option in the next one, is shorthand for
"backup my C: and backup my SYSTEM RESERVED, if I'm using one of those".
It backs up any partitions critical to booting the OS. Notice
this command has some redundant specification in it, as the
"-include" source specification also mentions C:. So
this one actual backs up four partitions, C,D,F,SYSTEM RESERVED.

wbAdmin start backup -backupTarget:E: -include:C:,D:,F: -allCritical -quiet

Here, I copy C: and SYSTEM RESERVED, to my N: partition.

wbAdmin start backup -backupTarget:N: -allCritical

This technique was popularized on Windows 8, which attempts
to make the System Image feature less prominent. The command
has apparently been around for a while, just with no
fanfare.

And Macrium can do this too.

*******

If using System Image as a feature, don't forget to
have a boot CD or DVD handy for a cold metal restore.

The installer DVD for Windows 7, can be booted, and you can
do an image restore from there. I've had to repair my laptop
that way once, after one of my experiments ran amok.

The System Image control panel, also has an option to burn
a 200MB recovery CD. That's for people with a Dell or HP,
and no installer DVD.

Also, if you neglected to make such a CD, the file
type of the files within WindowsImageBackup are .vhd files.
They're a kind of partition/disk image that is mountable.
They are normally used in virtual machines, to emulate disks.
So it's possible to extract just a file or two from there.
In WinXP, you can use VHDMount to do that. In Windows 8,
you can right-click a .vhd and mount it. If you check
around, there are going to be some options to do
random access. I also open those VHD files using
VPC2007 or Windows Virtual PC. I install an OS as
a guest OS, then make the second drive in the preferences,
the VHD that needs mounting. And then I can do random
access on the files from there.

If you need temporary virtual machines, you don't even need
to install an OS in Windows Virtual PC. You can download one
which is ready to go. It's just a big-ass download. These
are legit OSes, just without keys and not activated. You can
use slmgr /rearm or the like, to reset the whining about
activation, but eventually the VM will have to be decompressed
from the downloaded EXE again.

http://www.modern.ie/en-us/virtualiz...ools#downloads

So just because your "files are trapped in a WindowsImagebackup
folder", they're not lost, and there are plenty of ways to get
at them.

As you can see from my Imageshack photo above, I love VMs
for taking example photos.

Have fun,
Paul

On Sun, 27 Oct 2013 14:44:02 -0700, David E. Ross wrote:
I use my C-drive for software; but I also have a D-drive, where I have
all my data. Actually, my data is more important than my software.

How can I backup each of these two to the other?


The question is not how, but whether.

If C and D are partitions on the same disk, such a backup is
virtually worthless. If they are separate physical hardware in the
same computer, a backup is better than nothing but you still have the
issue that any destruction or theft of the computer loses both your
data and its backup.

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
Shikata ga nai...

Stan Brown wrote:
On Sun, 27 Oct 2013 14:44:02 -0700, David E. Ross wrote:
I use my C-drive for software; but I also have a D-drive, where I have
all my data. Actually, my data is more important than my software.

How can I backup each of these two to the other?


The question is not how, but whether.

If C and D are partitions on the same disk, such a backup is
virtually worthless. If they are separate physical hardware in the
same computer, a backup is better than nothing but you still have the
issue that any destruction or theft of the computer loses both your
data and its backup.


From his 7:47PM post.

"Backing up each hard drive to the other does not end my process. As I
indicated earlier in this thread, after the backup files are generated,
I encrypt them. All this works quicker with my internal drives. But
then I move the encrypted files to a removable drive that I store away
from my PC."

I do this too. On occasion, I do backups using internal drives for
staging, then when I've finished compressing with 7ZIP or
whatever, copy to something external.

Paul

********!!

Paul wrote:

Stan Brown wrote:
On Sun, 27 Oct 2013 14:44:02 -0700, David E. Ross wrote:
I use my C-drive for software; but I also have a D-drive, where I have
all my data. Actually, my data is more important than my software.

How can I backup each of these two to the other?


The question is not how, but whether.

If C and D are partitions on the same disk, such a backup is
virtually worthless. If they are separate physical hardware in the
same computer, a backup is better than nothing but you still have the
issue that any destruction or theft of the computer loses both your
data and its backup.


From his 7:47PM post.

"Backing up each hard drive to the other does not end my process. As I
indicated earlier in this thread, after the backup files are generated,
I encrypt them. All this works quicker with my internal drives. But
then I move the encrypted files to a removable drive that I store away
from my PC."

I do this too. On occasion, I do backups using internal drives for
staging, then when I've finished compressing with 7ZIP or
whatever, copy to something external.

Paul

--
The Grandmaster of the CyberFROG

Come get your ticket to CyberFROG city

Nay, Art thou decideth playeth ye simpleton games. *Some* of us know proper
manners

Very few. I used to take calls from *rank* noobs but got fired the first day on
the job for potty mouth,

Bur-ring, i'll get this one: WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM JERK!!? We're here to help you
dickweed, ok, ok give the power cord the jiggily piggily wiggily all the while
pushing the power button repeatedly now take everything out of your computer
except the power supply and *one* stick of ram. Subscriber asks will that
****in' work? I guaranDAMtee it. Ok get the next sucker on the phone.

Deirdre Straughan (Roxio) is a LIAR (Deirdre McFibber)

There's the employer and the employee and the FROGGER and the FROGEE, which one
are you?

Hamster isn't a newsreader it's a mistake!

El-Gonzo Jackson FROGS both me and Chuckcar (I just got EL-FROG-OED!!)

All hail Chuckcar the CZAR!! Or in F-R-O-Gland Chuckcar laFROG laCZAR,
ChuckZar!!

I hate them both, With useless bogus bull**** you need at least *three*
fulltime jobs to afford either one of them

I'm a fulltime text *only* man on usenet now. The rest of the world downloads
the binary files not me i can't afford thousands of dollars a month

VBB = Volume based billing. How many bytes can we shove down your throat and
out your arse sir?

The only "fix" for the CellPig modem is a sledgehammer.

UBB = User based bullFROGGING

Colonel Debeers refuses to wrestle a black man
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3-o_dPhbGI)

Master Juba was a black man imitating a white man imitating a black man

Always do incremental backups of your data or you'll end up like the A-Holes at
DSL Reports. Justin says i made a boo-boo. Yeah boo-who.

Updates are for idiots. As long as the thing works there's no reason to turn
schizophrenic and develop a lifelong complex over such a silly issue.

You don't have to be "stinkbottomed" to post on this newsgroup

Anyone who disagrees with me gets FROG tape over their yapper

Adrian "jackpot" Lewis is a mama's boy!

Jimmy Fricke is good for the game of poker

Using my technical prowess and computer abilities to answer questions beyond
the realm of understandability

Regards Tony... Making usenet better for everyone everyday

This sig file was compiled via my journeys through usenet

On 28/10/2013 04:14, Tony wrote:
********!!

Whose?
--
choro
*****

In message , Paul
writes:
Stan Brown wrote:
On Sun, 27 Oct 2013 14:44:02 -0700, David E. Ross wrote:
I use my C-drive for software; but I also have a D-drive, where I have
all my data. Actually, my data is more important than my software.

How can I backup each of these two to the other?

The question is not how, but whether.
If C and D are partitions on the same disk, such a backup is
virtually worthless. If they are separate physical hardware in the
same computer, a backup is better than nothing but you still have the
issue that any destruction or theft of the computer loses both your
data and its backup.


From his 7:47PM post.

"Backing up each hard drive to the other does not end my process. As I
indicated earlier in this thread, after the backup files are generated,
I encrypt them. All this works quicker with my internal drives. But
then I move the encrypted files to a removable drive that I store away
from my PC."

I do this too. On occasion, I do backups using internal drives for
staging, then when I've finished compressing with 7ZIP or
whatever, copy to something external.

Paul

It's no good, Paul: any mention of backing up (or similar phrase) from
one drive, or even worse partition, to another (which indeed _does_ have
its uses*) brings up a red mist for some people; reading the remainder
of the post is just one thing they are unable to do. It has even caught
out the usually-reliable Gene this time.

*IME, by far the commonest problem with Windows (any Windows) is that
one hoses the OS, but not the partitioning system. Under these
circumstances, a backup of C onto D (assuming your backup system has a
mwans of booting so you can do a recover) is valid. This is more common
than fire or theft or HD failure (YMMV). External (ideally off-site)
backups should certainly be done, but in-system ones - if you have the
space - have their place too for reasons such as you've mentioned (speed
mainly).

IME, _any_ backup is better than none, and should not be discouraged:
those who leap in and say "do external" are in danger of saying, even if
it is not their intention, "do only external".
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

_____
___ |[]|_n_n_I_c
|___||__|###|____)
O-O--O-O+++--O-O

Per Gene E. Bloch:
There are scenarios that can fry both internal drives at the same time
(or the only internal drive, if you are talking partitions).

I've experienced a bad USB card that fried drives as they were
connected. Killed two of my backup drives as I attempted to restore a
certain file before it dawned on me what was going on.

Slow learner that I am, that makes one more reason why I keep a couple
or a few of my half-dozen backup drives in places where I cannot get to
them too easily or quickly.
--
Pete Cresswell

Goldilocks's

choro wrote:

On 28/10/2013 04:14, Tony wrote:
********!!

Whose?
--
choro
*****

--
The Grandmaster of the CyberFROG

Come get your ticket to CyberFROG city

Nay, Art thou decideth playeth ye simpleton games. *Some* of us know
proper manners

Very few. I used to take calls from *rank* noobs but got fired the first
day on the job for potty mouth,

Bur-ring, i'll get this one: WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM JERK!!? We're here to
help you dickweed, ok, ok give the power cord the jiggily piggily
wiggily all the while pushing the power button repeatedly now take
everything out of your computer except the power supply and *one* stick
of ram. Subscriber asks will that ****in' work? I guaranDAMtee it. Ok
get the next sucker on the phone.

Deirdre Straughan (Roxio) is a LIAR (Deirdre McFibber)

There's the employer and the employee and the FROGGER and the FROGEE,
which one are you?

Hamster isn't a newsreader it's a mistake!

El-Gonzo Jackson FROGS both me and Chuckcar (I just got EL-FROG-OED!!)

All hail Chuckcar the CZAR!! Or in F-R-O-Gland Chuckcar laFROG laCZAR,
ChuckZar!!

I hate them both, With useless bogus bull**** you need at least *three*
fulltime jobs to afford either one of them

I'm a fulltime text *only* man on usenet now. The rest of the world
downloads the binary files not me i can't afford thousands of dollars a
month

VBB = Volume based billing. How many bytes can we shove down your throat
and out your arse sir?

The only "fix" for the CellPig modem is a sledgehammer.

UBB = User based bullFROGGING

Colonel Debeers refuses to wrestle a black man
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3-o_dPhbGI)

Master Juba was a black man imitating a white man imitating a black man

Always do incremental backups of your data or you'll end up like the
A-Holes at DSL Reports. Justin says i made a boo-boo. Yeah boo-who.

Updates are for idiots. As long as the thing works there's no reason to
turn
schizophrenic and develop a lifelong complex over such a silly issue.

You don't have to be "stinkbottomed" to post on this newsgroup

Anyone who disagrees with me gets FROG tape over their yapper

Adrian "jackpot" Lewis is a mama's boy!

Jimmy Fricke is good for the game of poker

Using my technical prowess and computer abilities to answer questions
beyond the realm of understandability

Regards Tony... Making usenet better for everyone everyday

This sig file was compiled via my journeys through usenet

In message , Wolf K
writes:
On 2013-10-27 7:35 PM, Gene E. Bloch wrote:
On Sun, 27 Oct 2013 14:44:02 -0700, David E. Ross wrote:

Windows 7 (x64)

The Windows 7 backup capability only provides for backing up my C-drive.
I use my C-drive for software; but I also have a D-drive, where I have
all my data. Actually, my data is more important than my software.

How can I backup each of these two to the other?

I did this weekly with Windows XP. Then, I would encrypt the resulting
backup files with PGP and move them to a removable hard drive that I
--------------------------***^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
stored away from my PC. I want to do the same with Windows 7.
-***^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^***

I don't know the answer to your stated problem, but you have an unstated
problem as well.

Backing up two internal drives or partitions, each to the other, is a
formula for disaster. Backing up to a totally separate internal drive is
bad enough.

It is much (i.e., *much*) safer to back up to external drives. Plural.
One drive today, the other tomorrow or next week, and alternating
thereafter.

There are scenarios that can fry both internal drives at the same time
(or the only internal drive, if you are talking partitions).

+1.

Yes, +1 who gets the "red mist" when someone mentions backing/copying to
another local disc/partition, which stops them reading the rest of his
post.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Santa's elves are just a bunch of subordinate Clauses.