Ms backup in / for Windows (the new one)

jimbo45 · May 29, 2023

Anybody going to try out the basic Ms backup for Windows which I believe is being rolled out shortly. It amazed me for ages that this wasn't part of the standard "built in apps" of the OS -- still better late than never -- too many people still don't take backups of any kinds and with vendors like macrium withdrawing their free product probably even more won't take them when they should.

Cheers
jimbo

barman58 · May 29, 2023

I personally use a third party backup solution, [Bitdefender Total Security ], a pro level package that is concentrated in securing my data first and the system second. I have always found that to some extent a backup system designed by a manufacturer for their operating system will concentrate on the OS itself. This is understandable but I can have the OS back running in a matter of minutes, the Data is much more fluid and variable, [changing regularly]. The fact that a lot of my data is Image based and unique adds even more bias to protecting this, My workflow includes retaining the SD Card containing the original raw images until the data is backed up. I also convert all images from the original Camera Manufacturers RAW format to Adobe DNG [Digital Negative.], which is more likely to be retained in the future, [and designed for long term storage,

It is more likely to be readable in the future Photoshop 2035 :wink:

than the bespoke manufacturer's format]

mackie · May 29, 2023

jimbo45 said:
Anybody going to try out the basic Ms backup for Windows which I believe is being rolled out shortly. It amazed me for ages that this wasn't part of the standard "built in apps" of the OS -- still better late than never -- too many people still don't take backups of any kinds and with vendors like macrium withdrawing their free product probably even more won't take them when they should.

Cheers
jimbo

Hello. Are you talking about something different than is described in this link? Is it something available to users in Insider Channels right now? Where can one read about this forthcoming application? Yes, I would be interested because while I am happy that Macrium free is currently available in perpetuity, we know that nothing really exists in perpetuity and, sooner or later, things as we know them come to an end.

How to create full backup of your Windows 11 PC

A full backup is always a good idea to protect your setup and files, and in this guide, we'll show you how on Windows 11.

www.windowscentral.com

Brink · May 29, 2023

Hello Jimbo,

If you mean the new Windows Backup app just recently released in the latest Insider Dev build 23466, then it's basically just a new UI app to do the following below from the app instead.

Turn On or Off Remember Preferences for MSA Across Windows 11 Devices Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Remember my preferences for your Microsoft account (MSA) across all your Windows 11 devices you sign in with the same Microsoft account. When Windows backup is turned on, Windows backs up the settings you choose across all your Windows 10 and...

www.elevenforum.com

Turn On or Off Remember Apps for Microsoft Account Across Windows 11 Devices Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Remember my apps for your Microsoft account across all your Windows 11 devices you sign in with the same Microsoft account. When Windows backup is turned on, Windows backs up the settings you choose across all your Windows 10 and Windows 11...

www.elevenforum.com

Turn On or Off OneDrive Folder Backup Syncing Across Windows 11 Devices Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off OneDrive folder sync for your Microsoft account across all your Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices you sign in with the same Microsoft account. You can use OneDrive to sync files and folders between your computer and the cloud, so you can get to...

www.elevenforum.com

mackie · May 29, 2023

Thanks for the links Brink. As I browse through them, my impression is that a system image, i.e., full backup of my current OS plus all apps and personal files, will be created and stored in the cloud. Can they be stored in one's own backup device as well? Is this accurate on my part?

Brink · May 29, 2023

It will not be like a complete system image backup.

It will only be a backup of the selected items that can be restored to a new install on another computer.

It can only be stored on the cloud for it to be available to restore on other PC devices.

mackie · May 29, 2023

I see. Thanks Brink!

Brink · May 29, 2023

mackie said:
I see. Thanks Brink!

cereberus · May 29, 2023

Brink said:
It will not be like a complete system image backup.

It will only be a backup of the selected items that can be restored to a new install on another computer.

It can only be stored on the cloud for it to be available to restore on other PC devices.

Yep tried it - hardy worth the effort.

Regarding apps, it says partially backed up but no other information. What use is that!!!

This is basically only a slightly souped up "reset my pc" functionality.

It will never replace a proper image backup.

Its only helpful is if you do a clean install, it will remember (most of?) your Windows settings.

Davy49 · May 29, 2023

Shawn,
As usual thanks for clarifying what's being discussed in this post.
David

Brink · May 29, 2023

cereberus said:
Yep tried it - hardy worth the effort.

Regarding apps, it says partially backed up but no other information. What use is that!!!

This is basically only a slightly souped up "reset my pc" functionality.

It will never replace a proper image backup.

Its only helpful is if you do a clean install, it will remember (most of?) your Windows settings.

Yeah, it can be helpful when you only want to restore those items with a clean install. At least this way you're not completely starting over from scratch.

TechnoMage2021 · Jun 2, 2023

Arggg! Every time the backup subject comes up (here on a forum), I get the shivers.
Occasionally, I'll read a real word of wisdom, like: "It will never replace a proper image backup."

And I can relate to that, because for longer than I even care to remember, I've been doing a full C: drive backup, at least once a week, and sometimes more, depending on what I may have added to, or changed on my PC.

And I don't even want to hear about backing up to the Cloud! Grrr! What's a Cloud? Where is the Cloud? Who administers the Cloud? Is it like that AV program that's from Russia, a place where they hate us, and is controlled by the Russian Mafia.
NO THANKS! I'll keep all my data right here within arm's reach. Thank you very much.

TM

dbartenstein · Jun 2, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
Arggg! Every time the backup subject comes up (here on a forum), I get the shivers.
Occasionally, I'll read a real word of wisdom, like: "It will never replace a proper image backup."

And I can relate to that, because for longer than I even care to remember, I've been doing a full C: drive backup, at least once a week, and sometimes more, depending on what I may have added to, or changed on my PC.

And I don't even want to hear about backing up to the Cloud! Grrr! What's a Cloud? Where is the Cloud? Who administers the Cloud? Is it like that AV program that's from Russia, a place where they hate us, and is controlled by the Russian Mafia.
NO THANKS! I'll keep all my data right here within arm's reach. Thank you very much.

TM

Cloud = someone else's computer.

pparks1 · Jun 2, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
And I don't even want to hear about backing up to the Cloud! Grrr! What's a Cloud? Where is the Cloud? Who administers the Cloud? Is it like that AV program that's from Russia, a place where they hate us, and is controlled by the Russian Mafia.
NO THANKS! I'll keep all my data right here within arm's reach. Thank you very much.

TM

what if we call it...an "offiste" copy rather than using the term cloud? Does that make it any better.

The cloud for me isn't for everything. but for many who don't take regular backups, I find that having things stored say in OneDrive sure save their bacon when they either lose their computer, it crashes and isnt' recoverable, or their house burns to the ground (my sisters did and onsite backups were lost too)..

i recall years ago, using my ISP's email, and running Outlook, or Thunderbird, or Outlook-Express and having to make backup copies of those files before i wiped and reinstalled my machine. Same thing for Browser bookmarks. Nowadays, I use Gmail and all of my bookmarks are stored in my user profile (elsewhere...as I'm avoiding saying *loud). Never have to bother with backups of any of that, and it's available from any device that I might be using. I couldn't imagine having my email local anymore.