Ext hd drvs

[egdufwollamhsram1851]

If you've done a back up on an ext hd dr with win 7,, can you also use t for win 8.1?

[HAN]

In general, yes. But it could depend upon the program you use to backup. Programs I've used have always allowed it.

One thing to consider if you are talking system images (Windows and all files)... Your boot media (typically a flash drive or CD) would probably need to be updated (but likely not the place where the image itself is stored.) Most Windows 8.1 systems require UEFI/Secure Boot enabled boot media. Most imaging programs support it now but there where many that did not when UEFI/Secure Boot was first introduced.

[egdufwollamhsram1851]

Apparently i used one that i had done a backup with on 8.1 and went to use it on 7 and i think the message was," could not find shadow copy." So i just drug them to the drive instead of using a windows backup.

If i had isolated the items there maybe 4 , into a separate named folder, would windows have done the backup then?

[HAN]

Are you using Windows programs to accomplish this?

Just file copying? Or attempting to do a complete drive image?

[egdufwollamhsram1851]

Apparently i used one that i had done a backup with on 8.1 and went to use it on 7 and i think the message was," could not find shadow copy."

Used windows to backup,, did not work,, no syst im was selected

[HAN]

IMO, any of Windows native file or image backup programs are not what I would use/recommend. I know they work on some level but using them or doing anything by hand is tough because of the issues you note or missing files (when doing things manually.)

Hopefully you have figured things out??

[egdufwollamhsram1851]

IMO, any of Windows native file or image backup programs are not what I would use/recommend. I know they work on some level but using them or doing anything by hand is tough because of the issues you note or missing files (when doing things manually.)

Hopefully you have figured things out??

==========================================

Well i had a certain immediate concern, so i did what i did... all of my 6 drives were kind of full, w/o getting a new one...

What would you suggest that works better?

[HAN]

I've tried several imaging apps and like most of them. But I do have favorites...

For complete drive or partition imaging, Macrium Reflect. There's even a free version if all you need are the basics.
http://www.macrium.com/
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

(I also like Image for Windows because it is rock solid. Never had a failed image with it and I've been using it for years. But Reflect is very smooth and fast. It's my favorite at this point.)
https://www.terabyteunlimited.com/image-for-windows.htm

For file backups, I use both GoodSync and SyncBack Pro. But they aren't free. (There is a free version of SyncBack but it's too limited for me.)
http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/compare.html
http://www.goodsync.com/

[egdufwollamhsram1851]

Is it that windows backup doesnt give you as many options ofr is it just windows, that one doesn't like? I had one crash couple years ago, but what i had seemed ok.

Im not sure what other options you get? Choices of where or what?

[jdc2000]

Windows Backup does not give you enough options to make it easily usable in a practical way. The current version simply replaces your last backup with the current one, which is not a recommended practice. You can't specify where you would like to store a new backup. You can move the old files to a location where Windows Backup doesn't see them, but most users won't do this or even know how. Microsoft also has a habit (since DOS days) of making newer versions incompatible with files created by older versions. Reliability has also been an issue, which is not what you want when it comes time to restore files.

A backup and restore program needs to be customizable to the way you want to backup your programs and data, and be bulletproof so you don't have issues at restore time.

[egdufwollamhsram1851]

Ok,,, i agree with that, i usually hide the previous, as you guys have instructed in the past, but i did run into the "not enough options" the last time.

So the ones mentioned above are the way to go? #8

[HAN]

Just my personal choices based on my experiences. I'm sure others have their favorites too.

[Train]

SyncBack, the free version, works just fine for syncing all my data to various External USB hdds.

Macrium Reflect, free does does just fine for what I want.

[egdufwollamhsram1851]

I don't know if i will, but being this was used on 7 once, if i hide everything into a new named folder, would it accept a backup on 8.1, i've never experienced this before, i've always had one drive one system.

thanks for the other info

[Train]

I do the folder trick.
Examples:
My rigs
has. these folders.
Main win7
Dell 755 which has a win7 and a win 10 folder as it has both OSs.