Using Windows 7 Backup and restore features skillfully

Backup, this topic again, backup is very important, hehe, but ... I also admit that ... "backup" is really troublesome!

Fortunately, Windows 7 has finally "noticed" and "squarely" the problem, with comprehensive support for the backup of computer data, thankfully, "new" is true in many places.

The newly invented media cabinet

Previous Windows wanted you to focus your data on "My Files," which, in a way, was a good thing. When you want to change your computer, you just have to back up your "my Files".

However, "My files" is usually a system preset to somewhere on the C: disk, while C: is where the system disk resides. Therefore, Windows wants users to put files and system disks on the same disk, to be honest, to increase the risk of file accidents, because the system disk is easy because of viruses, disk damage, so this mandatory preset, is not a perfect choice.

Another problem is that C: Also because of the lack of space for the installation of software, you will have to put the data on other disks, but this will allow the data to be dispersed, undermining the original data "centralized management" of the original intention.

A master would say, "In fact, ' My files ' preset data clips can be changed." "To be honest, I also know (how else would I have written it), when using the Eee PC Netbook, the instructions on the manual suggest that the user set" My Files "to a memory card to avoid a 4GB SSD hard drive to explode. But...... The General people do not know how to change, and this is still a lack of flexibility, a lot of problems.

No matter, the above problem, Windows 7 with "media cabinet" to solve.

Folders that need to be backed up can be centrally managed using Windows 7 's new "Media cabinet" feature, which I personally find quite good.

The first principle of data backup: concentration and classification

Almost any folder, as long as you feel "necessary"--you can press the right mouse button, the data folder into the "media cabinet." So when you open the File Manager, the top-level folder is also the media cabinet.

Media cabinets are like "shortcuts" is also very similar to the "HYPERLINK", you can put all the data into the media cabinets to facilitate your inquiries. Regardless of the folder in C:, E:, F: or G:, no matter how deep the data hidden, as long as you press the right mouse button selected "Add to the Media cabinet", later this folder can be directly found in the media cabinet.

The folder to join the media cabinet is in fact the same place, but a more visible link in the media cabinet. And when you want to copy or delete files, the file in the media cabinet can also be managed in this respect. So you usually just do a good job of the media cabinet settings management, to do backup work is much easier.

Media cabinets Another advantage is that Windows 7 has built several important categories of folders, such as photos, movies, files and so on, if users need to classify the backup (some files of large amount of data, such as photos, videos, some documents are small, such as documents), can also be treated according to class, so as to avoid time-consuming consumption. In this way, it feels like previous windows just lets users "fend for themselves" on data management, while Windows 7 is more of an "organism," with some more specific management mechanisms. While this should not be the killer feature of Windows 7, I personally appreciate Microsoft's efforts and progress in this area, which is worth a try.

What is a system image file?

In addition to traditional backup methods for archival replication, Windows 7 (in fact, Vista) has added features such as "Build system image Files" and "Build system repair discs." Maybe a lot of people don't understand what this is, so I'll explain the concept of "system image file" first.

From the Start menu, the "maintenance" of all programs, you can perform backup and restore functions, "build system Image" on the left.

In the past, most of the purchase of computers will be accompanied by a "system CD", the previous system CD-ROM is actually the original version of Microsoft's Windows installation CD-ROM, probably add a computer driver. So the "original Windows CD" + "Driver CD" becomes an essential tool for people to reload computers.

However, from installation to completion, a computer's operating system installation often requires a lot of "operations", you have to install Windows, install the driver, install some necessary software (whether free or paid). Thankfully, the reload system is not (at least not) a daily thing to do, and it's great to do it in about three or five years (although some people may have shorter cycles).

But because of the virus rampant, hard disk damage, improper operation, such as multiple reasons, "reload Windows" has become a lot of people repeatedly for the "nightmare" after some manufacturers have launched the so-called "system image file Backup", the early most famous software should be ghost. Ghost This pun is interesting to convey the function of the software: "The soul of your hard drive" back up, wait until the need to restore, and can make the hard disk operation as ever.

The concept is not complex, the so-called "system image file", that is, the hard disk of many files are all wrapped into "a large package", with the concept of "carpet backup", put all the files and necessary settings on the hard drive together in a large package, make a so-called "system image file", and then save the system image file elsewhere For future "rainy days".

Note that this "backup space" can be a disc, can be a hard disk, but in any case, this space is not the one you plan to back up the rest of the space, you must find a disk code different places. For example, if you want to back up the C: disk, then you must put the backup space on the C: disk.

Benefits of establishing system image files

When you have installed your computer and created a system image file, it's like buying a computer insurance, and when something really happens, the computer can save a lot of work by reloading it--the driver doesn't have to reload, the application doesn't reload, and the computer looks like it's back at the time of your backup. And, in addition to the backup/restore features built into Windows, there are many other software that provides richer backup capabilities. It's just that most of the software needs extra purchases, and a lot of the relevant features built into Windows 7 are easy to come by.

But once you set up a system image file at a certain point in time, you will soon face some problems:

In the future, Windows system will be constantly changed because of the use of the process, if you have to re-establish the full system files, too much space, but not backup is also very uneasy.

If the system files are built on the same hard disk, only the disk code is different (c:, D: In many people's computer is the same hard drive, just "cut" into a seemingly two logical disk), or can not avoid the disaster caused by hard disk damage.

Usually after backing up a computer, you can only use this system image file to restore a computer, can not be used for B computer, but sometimes really need to do this (because the computer is broken, or you want to replace the old).

Fortunately, these problems also have some solutions. If the system changes in the future, there is no problem, many software support so-called "incremental backup" (Windows 7 also have), so that you can continue to backup but also maintain space does not expand too much. As for backing up the file, I would suggest that it would be much safer to put it on another hard drive, even on a CD. As for the transfer of a computer's system image file to the B system, the proper noun is called "dissimilar machine Restore", which is more complicated and requires special backup/restore software.

How to establish a system image file

All in all, it's very important to build a "system image file" that takes a little space to buy an insurance on the Windows 7 system on your hard drive, and I think it's a pretty good deal, so how do you build a "native system image File"?

Open the Start menu (now there is no start words, only a Windows logo), choose "All Programs", "Maintenance", choose the "Backup and Restore" feature can be started. On the left side of the program, there is the "Build system Image" project, and the steps to create the image file are available.

When backing up, you usually have the option to back up the system C: disk, and a hidden, normally invisible system to keep the disk. If your system is simple, then this is all you have to choose the hard drive. If your system is more complex, you may have to choose more (and have more space to back up other disks). But if you're in the company, and you're going to back up your system image files to "network disks," then your Windows 7 will have to be professional, flagship or enterprise.

It's that simple!

Conclusion: the necessity of system repairing disc

Back to the end, the program asks you, "Do you want to build a system repair disc?" What is this? Why build a CD?

It is not difficult to establish a system image, as long as you are sure that you have enough hard disk space on the other disk. After the backup, you can also do a piece of system repair disc prepared.

Because most Windows systems "Crash", most will not even be able to boot. How can you repair your computer if you can't even turn it on? How do you restore your system? Even if you have to back up your system, you can only sigh!

Even better, some netbook Lianguang drive is not, how to make a restore CD?

Regardless of the netbook problem, at least the average "desktop computer" user should know that when the Windows system crashes on the hard drive, there is still the optical drive that can be used to help you "rescue". But you do not take advantage of the normal computer to do a rescue disc, to study how to use ... You'll have to find someone to help you when something goes wrong.

Hard drive rescue, said difficult, easy to say, the relevant professional is not so easy, this is the first skip to mention. I personally suggest, "ordinary computer maintenance, so as not to crash no tears spray." If you're lucky, maybe your computer will be able to live a very good life, and you don't need a rescue disc! So, in this new year, congratulations to all of you are good luck.