Windows 7 backup useful?

[alexh]

Hi,

Since Vista backup required that you backup the entire C: drive, I was using a purchased program that worked extremely well with scheduled backups, backups of mail files and explorer links etc. Also could backup to RW media. It could even backup files that are left open (but not on x64).

It looks like Windows 7 can finally do most if not all of this. I don't really need an image of the C: drive but being able to select data to backup and schedule it is a must. Also, I would like to be able to access the backup files without using restore.

Does Win 7 backup do all this? My data is critical so I wanted to be sure before I trust it. I have another layer of backups but it's less frequent.

Thanks

[photolady]

Take a look here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...d-restore.aspx

[alexh]

Thanks,

I'm such a creature of habit I still look for the help button on the dialog.

It looks like you can't get access to the files unless you restore. IMO this is dumb - it does not even seem to be a security measure because they don't say that it has to be restored on the same computer. Or it could be due to compression which is an option in most tools.

The program that I purchased could also store multiple backup profiles, for example one to store to HDD and another to store to CDRW. Also, they don't say what happens if a file is left open.

Oh well, nice try MS.

[SuperSparks]

It looks like you can't get access to the files unless you restore.

You are incorrect, the backed up files are stored in straightforward Zip folders, and can be accessed from Windows itself, or anything else that can open zip files.