Best system backup option?

[randomscandinavian]

Coming from a Mac background I am used to their Time Machine backups which automatically backs everything up every day and stores multiple versions of everything. I have used it twice to migrate everything to a new computer.

But what are the good backup options for the Surface Pro 2? Cloud backup of user generated files only or full disk backups of system and settings? I can imagine that if everything is lost then it shouldn't take too long to reinstall Windows and configure it anew, but it would perhaps be a good idea to at least backup your installed program settings so as not to spend three days reconfiguring all browser extensions and application preferences?

So do you guys use? Backup software, media and/or services?

 

[Curtieson]

The simple answer is obviously SkyDrive for files in the MS ecosystem. Don't you even get 100GB for a year or two with a Surface Pro? I use that for a lot of my simple items like my excel and word things (budgets or whatevers).

Also, for apps...aren't all the system settings saved automatically per your Microsoft Account? I haven't tried to sign into multiple W8 devices yet (we have a laptop from last Christmas and this Christmas is our Surface) but my understanding was that your home screen came along with you when you signed in.

 

[Dos101]

Windows 8.1 backs up all your Metro apps/PC settings to SkyDrive (at least by default it's set up that way). If you go to Charms Bar -> Settings -> Change PC Settings -> Skydrive -> Sync Settings, you can see what is being saved.

For files, check out File History for backing up certain folders and files:

Set up a drive for File History - Microsoft Windows Help
Restore files or folders using File History - Microsoft Windows Help
How to Turn on File History in Windows 8.1 - For Dummies

And of course System Image backup, if you wanted to create a "snapshot" of your PC at a given time
http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/windows-81-tip-use-system-image-backup

 

[randomscandinavian]

Great, thanks! I didn't know SkyDrive backed up other things than images and text documents. I know my Windows phone gets backed up but I didn't think it was also the case with this device.

It seems like none of the cloud backup services back up system files. But installed programs and settings yes. Perhaps that will be enough if SkyDrive handles my user settings. I think I can expand the plan I have with Jotta backup to include the SP2 at a survivable cost. Then it can wirelessly keep desktop applications, their settings and all kinds of project files in various formats backed up.

Will read more of these links. Thank you!

 

[MBytes]

I use SkyDrive to have my files that I want in sync between my desktop and my laptop (make that Surface Pro 2 when it will be in stock and I am fast enough to buy it). And use FileHistory for doing backups every 30min. What's awesome about FileHistory is that it doesn't reduce system performance, well at least nothing visible, even when gaming or doing intensive task. SkyDrive does allow you to go back in time on a file as well, but you need to access the online SkyDrive for this.

FileHistory can be used with a second drive or network drive, sadly not with a system with 1 drive. I understand Microsoft thinking process, 'cause the point is to backup your stuff. But for me, while my desktop its setup properly, I prefer an backup of files I wish not to have on SkyDrive, so that I can go back in time to. In that case, a small work around is needed. You can use a VHD (virtual hard drive).

The way you do it is fairly simply. It consists of creating a VHD and load it up (you do this once, once setup you don't need to do anything again), and then just turning on FileHistory.

1) Open Disk Management panel. Then select on the top menu: Action > Create VHD, set a location where you want the VHD to be at, set a size (10GB should be enough), set a fix size, and click on OK. It will take a moment to create it.

2) Once created, you'll see added at the bottom list. It should be called "Disk #", where # is a number. Let's assume it's called "Disk 1". Right-click on the newly added "Disk 1" label, next to the blue drive icon with a arrow pointing down, then you'll see the option "Initialize Disk", and click on "OK".

3) Once done, right-click on the black bar of Disk 1, and select "New Simple Volume...". Pass through the wizard.

4) Now, you are ready to enable File History. Search for it and enable it.

5) Now, if you shutdown your system and turn it back on, the VHD will be nicely loaded for you, sadly when you reboot, it won't be (this has to do that when you do a shutdown, Windows hibernates part of the OS). You can follow this, to make it load at startup: Attach VHD on Startup Automatically

I agree it's not great, but in Windows 7 Professional and up, had it, and on the same partition, it was a mess.
At least with the VHD approach, you can back the file before a re-install, and restore and turn back on FileHistory, and it will resume the backup process, which is nice, much like if you have it on a separate drive. So you have that.

 

[Joe Acerbic]

I use a 64 GB microSD as the drive for file history.

 

[randomscandinavian]

I think that I will try the microSD backup idea. I don't feel comfortable around partitions since I've had some problems with them in the past. Well, that was probably in the late '90s but in any case I think that it is important to have the backup away from the device you are backing up. Of course, if the microSD card always sits in the Surface then it will be stolen or water damaged or whatever too. But at least it is on a separate disk and a removable one too.

Thanks again for all suggestions!

 

[MBytes]

Well there s no partition... you were just creating a file, a virtual hard drive. You could delete that file anytime, without doing anything special.
But yes, true, the the microSD solution, is a fine one if you have or can afford a microSD card, and as you said it, its a separate drive, which is even better.

 

[randomscandinavian]

OK so I bought a card, read the info pages and set up File History. However I still don't understand it.

It says that File History doesn't backup files that have already been backed up by SkyDrive, yet they are both set to backup the same folders. What ends up where and in what versions? What I typically need to backup is a bunch of RAW file photos and a Lightroom database. And also maybe music project files from a program like Reason and the sound samples and recordings that go with it. And for instance the animation file data from a RT app like Blink Cliplets (which I haven't used yet but which serves as a good example.)

Is the idea that SkyDrive ignores other file formats than the universal portable ones and File History doesn't? Can I just put my Lightroom database in the pictures folder and the music project files in the music folder and they will be backed up? If so that is perfect.

Also I logged into SkyDrive online and I cannot see any mention of apps info and personal settings being backed up there. If it is then it hasn't consumed any storage space at least.

 

[randomscandinavian]

If I reformat my SD card to NTFS for a full image backup, can it still be used for regular File History backups?

 

[MBytes]

If you format it as NTFS, then it will be like any other drive on your system.. still marked as removable, of course, but you can set permissions on files, and all that good stuff that NTFS provides.
FileHistory should work on it.

 

[randomscandinavian]

Great! Thanks!

 

[randomscandinavian]

Nope that doesn't work. After formatting the SDXC card is no longer a valid card for File History. Nor is it a valid backup location for a backup disk image. So that's $99 out the window then.

Apparently Windows refuses to abandon the original File History location, even though I turned FH off nefore formatting. And it sees the card as the same card, only now with unknown errors since ot no longer appears the same. Even if formatted back to the original file system.

As for systam image backup, it just plain doesn't do anything. Still works as an SD card though, which is of no use to me whatsoever.

 

[MBytes]

hmm interesting...
What if you go in Device Manager, and mark the drive as quick access and not quick removal, then restart the system, does that help?

If not, plan B, is to make a VHD file and have it on your microSD card, basically do what I mentioned by store it on the micro SD card. It's not great, but it's something.

 

[randomscandinavian]

Can't find a setting for that in Device Manager.

I got it working for File History by formatting it on a different (Mac) computer and then again as NTFS on the Surface (full format). Meanwhile I sett up File History temporarily on a small old SD card, hoping that this would also help ot see the original card as something new when it returned formatted and renamed and everything.

File History is again working for the original card but now my Pictures aren't included and there is no longer a setting for that as far as I can see. My libraries, contact, desktop and favorites are backed up now. It used to be documents, pictures and desktop. Why is Windows so &%?$# impossible?!! I used to make a living fixing peoples PC problems with Windows 95 and 98. But then I bought a Mac and everything just worked right away and I forgot how to do all of it.

Still not possible to do an image backup to the card.

 

[MBytes]

It's because what you are doing is trying to make FileHistory work in a way it's not designed to do. File History was designed to works with network drives and a second separate non removable drive (HDD or SSD). The reason why it doesn't support removable drive is that most of them are slow. And the idea of File History is not to slow down your system performance even if you do 10min or 5min backups. Is it possible to make it work? Yes for sure.. but you are buying an OS, not a backup software. You get basic functionality. Already, Microsoft is having trouble for including IE in Windows, same for its Firewall system, and lets not even talk about anti-virus. All you need is a group of people come together and start complaining, and it will happen if Microsoft does something that is more than basic.

If you do things that you can't really do on a Mac, it's also a serious pain... and you have less help, to be perfectly honest.

 

[The_New_Normal]

Hi,

May or may not help:

answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-files/must-reselect-file-history-drive/b8f19b0a-dd47-4d7e-8fa2-d50c226adeff