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Vista Backup -- is there an 'advanced mode'?

 
 
Baffin
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      07-24-2007
Windows XP Pro offered an 'advanced mode' in its backup utility, in addition
to a Wizard, which gave more information and control regarding backups.

How does one obtain similar or better functionality with Windows Vista (I
have Home Premium)?

(The Backup Center wizard says it won't backup application settings or
downloaded files -- and it doesn't say what files it will back up, making me
uncomfortable -- how do I know whether I'm covered? Apparently I'd be worse
off after a disk crash than I was when I set up this Vista system using Easy
Transfer, which at least tried to install my application settings.)

Also I'm not sure how I can get the wizard to do daily incrementals to my
local hard drive.
 
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Charles W Davis
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      07-24-2007
Baffin,

Depending on the version of Windows Vista you have, there are two approaches
you can take to backing up files: Automatic Backup, which backs up just your
files and data; or Complete PC Backup, which backs up everything on your PC,
including the operating system and applications.

Home Premium does not offer the Complete PC Backup. Home Premium's Automatic
Backup will back up all files under Documents. You should create a folder
under Documents for Downloads so that you don't need to download them again
in case of disaster.

Why in the world would you want to do backup to your local hard drive. If
the drive fails all is lost providing you with no protection. At a minimum
backup to a second hard drive (not a Restore partition) if you have one.
Otherwise, backup to an external hard drive.

You will find the ability to restore a single file very easy.
"Baffin" <> wrote in message
news:CF1DABDF-A867-4A8E-90C9-...
> Windows XP Pro offered an 'advanced mode' in its backup utility, in
> addition
> to a Wizard, which gave more information and control regarding backups.
>
> How does one obtain similar or better functionality with Windows Vista (I
> have Home Premium)?
>
> (The Backup Center wizard says it won't backup application settings or
> downloaded files -- and it doesn't say what files it will back up, making
> me
> uncomfortable -- how do I know whether I'm covered? Apparently I'd be
> worse
> off after a disk crash than I was when I set up this Vista system using
> Easy
> Transfer, which at least tried to install my application settings.)
>
> Also I'm not sure how I can get the wizard to do daily incrementals to my
> local hard drive.


 
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Baffin
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      07-25-2007
> Home Premium's Automatic Backup will back up all files under Documents.

That's not what the Home Premium help file for the Backup and Restore Center
wizards says -- in the FAQ, expand "What files are not included in my backup"
to see a list of files types that are not included (well, actually, instead
of a list of file types, you see potentially-confusing dumbed-down
euphemisms, such as "Program files" which probably means 'exe').

If it's true that 'all files in Document' (or some other root) can be backed
up, listing that as an option would be a clear way of communicating that.

Thanks for the tip that the Document folder is what is being backed up
(should that info be in the Help file?).

> You should create a folder
> under Documents for Downloads so that you don't need to download them again
> in case of disaster.


I'm not sure that would work -- see above -- many downloaded files are 'exe'.

> Why in the world would you want to do backup to your local hard drive. If


I would like to do daily incremental backups to local disk, and less
frequent (eg., weekly) separate backups to external disk. The daily local
incremental protects me somewhat from accidental/unwise edits and deletions,
whereas the weekly incremental protects me from hardware failure. I don't
want to do the daily to external because I don't want the external to be
connected, powered, and ready at all times. [is there a better way to do all
that?]

Wizards are great for beginners and infrequent users, but IN ADDITION, I
think it's good to provide full access to tools, so that the tools can be
used in ways UNIMAGINED by the tool designers, and so that beginners can
grow. Just because some people are beginners is not a good reason to limit
everyone to that level.

Windows Mail is also dumbed down from XP's Outlook Express. If Microsoft
designers made these decisions, they should read this:
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2005AM/fin...ract_96410.htm (it's not
about software, but the lessons are transferrable). However, since it
involves removing functionality, maybe the Backup packaging and feature
decisions were driven by money managers and shareholders.

Can anyone at Microsoft tell us what thoughts led to providing *only* a
wizard for backup?

[I'm running Vista Home Premium, fully updated by automatic update (I can't
find more specific concise information from the system to quote about what
version I've got).]

On a positive note, I also just upgraded Abobe Photoshop and the new version
is fantastic, with stunning improvements in functionality. That's the sort
of upgrade experience I expect from companies with many resources.

What does 'Premium' in 'Home Premium' mean? If it's just another 'basic',
why call it 'Premium'? Is there a version of Vista that has full backup,
full mail, etc?

Come on, Microsoft -- earn revenue by making and selling great products. No
company wins a fight with its customers (apparently a German saying,
paraphrased).
 
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