software backup

[Far]

I've just bought an external drive, and need to backup all my data.

I want to create a backup image which can be restored if something goes wrong, but also use it as a place to hold all my data normally as a backup and to free up space on my computer.

Is windows backup manager capable of this?

Its a seagate hard drive, but i dont like using third party programs if possible.

 

[Karl]

Windows backup will do exactly this.

info on it here: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/1838/using-backup-and-restore-in-windows-7/

 

[Far]

i've created a backup of all my documents/music/videos and several other folders. If i format my computer can i then restore them to the new user, or will it only restore to the current user?

 

[Karl]

No reason why you wont be able to restore them to a new user If it backs them up as they sit as standard then folder permissions will likely have to be changed as windows 7 sets permissions per user, take a few minutes to change em but will cause no issues, if it just backs up the data without permissions (Which in theory i'd expect it to do) restoring will literally be drag and drop.

 

[Far]

it failed twice on the backup so far, something about the shadow copy not being able to be correctly backed up.

Currently doing a full format, 70% and taken 6 hours so far.

 

[Karl]

Gotta be something wrong with the HDD unless you're doing a complete kill disk?

Shouldnt take that long to do a full format. Should only take about 10mins per 100gb of space.

 

[Far]

its external hard drive and full format. much slower than sata, ive read it takes a long time. 75% now.