Saving system image is to large for backup drive

Wynona · Feb 14, 2022

Hazel123 said:
Thanks. Can you explain to me what the flaw is please? I didn't know there was one! Other than it is old.

Nope, because I've never tried to use that one. Even as far back as Windows 7, I was using Macrium. I just remember that Microsoft has said they're no longer developing their own backup app. Why they put the Windows 7 one in Windows 11, I have no clue.

My best guess is that if the OP wants to back up using that one is to get and format a brand new 1 TB drive for backup. And follow the instructions meticulously.

Personally, I use a 5 TB drive for backing up my system so I can have a Full Backup, and include Definition and/or Incremental to go with the Full Backup.

Wynona · Feb 14, 2022

I just found this article on ezine, which

Hazel123 said:
Thanks. Can you explain to me what the flaw is please? I didn't know there was one! Other than it is old.

I found this article, although from 2010, should be relevant, since Microsoft's no longer developing . . .

Although I would pay attention to the first half of the article, I'm not so sure I'd use an online backup service touted in the second half. Especially since we have so many free backup apps such as Macrium Reflect, Aomei, Easus, and more mentioned here in this thread, etc. All of which will most likely back up your system onto an external hard drive with as little space as 1 TB. At least most of them will allow you to test the validity of your backup and restore before something terrible happens.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Is Windows 7 Backup and Restore Good Enough?

By Alan Posner | Submitted On May 11, 2010

If you are looking for an efficient and effective way to backup and protect your Windows 7 PC then you may consider Windows 7 backup and restore. Windows 7 includes backup and restore for all versions of Windows 7 and is included in the operating system so there is no additional cost. Sounds perfect - doesn't it? A few huge flaws!

1. Does not support getting your data offsite. If you have a fire your data goes with your computer. How about the power surge? Isn't your external drive on the same power source? What if your external drive has a defect you aren't aware of (happens all the time)? You won't know it until you need to try to restore.

2. No continuous backup. The file you need is often the one you just lost. Continuous backup is a great way to backup data all the time so you lose a little as possible.

3. Windows 7 backup and restore doesn't backup open files. If you leave a file open during a backup most likely it gets skipped.

4. Scheduled backups require you to leave your computer on and pretty much leave it alone. You won't be able to use it to well if your hard drive is spinning during a backup. Scheduled backups are missed and cancelled all the time leaving you exposed.

Do you want to lose documents and pictures? NO! When you finish reading this article you will learn a better way to backup and restore Windows 7 and understand why using the free backup and restore software in Windows 7 can cost you big later.

How can you overcome the problems above and protect

1. You need to use an online backup service. Yes it costs a few dollars a month but it will get your data off site which is critical. Once it is out of you house or office many of the physical concerns are gone and if you need to restore you can from any high speed internet connection.

2. Many online backup services offer continuous backup service which means that as you create data they are backing it up. Since the data is small it creates little burden on the computer but gives you the most complete backup possible.

3. If you are using continuous backup you are backing up open files - no documents or pictures get skipped.

4. A continuous backup also requires no schedule. After completing the first backup (which can take some time) you are backing up every time you turn your computer on and connect to the internet.

Follow these guidelines and you will never lose data on your computer again!

Now that you know that online continuous backup is a necessity, learn more by visiting [http://www.backuponlineblog.com]. I have a comparison of multiple online backup providers as well as my blog where I post data protection tips and information.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Alan_Posner/495941

Hazel123 · Feb 14, 2022

Wynona said:
I just found this article on ezine, which

I found this article, although from 2010, should be relevant, since Microsoft's no longer developing . . .

Although I would pay attention to the first half of the article, I'm not so sure I'd use an online backup service touted in the second half. Especially since we have so many free backup apps such as Macrium Reflect, Aomei, Easus, and more mentioned here in this thread, etc. All of which will most likely back up your system onto an external hard drive with as little space as 1 TB. At least most of them will allow you to test the validity of your backup and restore before something terrible happens.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Is Windows 7 Backup and Restore Good Enough?

By Alan Posner | Submitted On May 11, 2010

If you are looking for an efficient and effective way to backup and protect your Windows 7 PC then you may consider Windows 7 backup and restore. Windows 7 includes backup and restore for all versions of Windows 7 and is included in the operating system so there is no additional cost. Sounds perfect - doesn't it? A few huge flaws!

1. Does not support getting your data offsite. If you have a fire your data goes with your computer. How about the power surge? Isn't your external drive on the same power source? What if your external drive has a defect you aren't aware of (happens all the time)? You won't know it until you need to try to restore.

2. No continuous backup. The file you need is often the one you just lost. Continuous backup is a great way to backup data all the time so you lose a little as possible.

3. Windows 7 backup and restore doesn't backup open files. If you leave a file open during a backup most likely it gets skipped.

4. Scheduled backups require you to leave your computer on and pretty much leave it alone. You won't be able to use it to well if your hard drive is spinning during a backup. Scheduled backups are missed and cancelled all the time leaving you exposed.

Do you want to lose documents and pictures? NO! When you finish reading this article you will learn a better way to backup and restore Windows 7 and understand why using the free backup and restore software in Windows 7 can cost you big later.

How can you overcome the problems above and protect

1. You need to use an online backup service. Yes it costs a few dollars a month but it will get your data off site which is critical. Once it is out of you house or office many of the physical concerns are gone and if you need to restore you can from any high speed internet connection.

2. Many online backup services offer continuous backup service which means that as you create data they are backing it up. Since the data is small it creates little burden on the computer but gives you the most complete backup possible.

3. If you are using continuous backup you are backing up open files - no documents or pictures get skipped.

4. A continuous backup also requires no schedule. After completing the first backup (which can take some time) you are backing up every time you turn your computer on and connect to the internet.

Follow these guidelines and you will never lose data on your computer again!

Now that you know that online continuous backup is a necessity, learn more by visiting [http://www.backuponlineblog.com]. I have a comparison of multiple online backup providers as well as my blog where I post data protection tips and information.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Alan_Posner/495941

Thanks! That explains it :)

Berton · Feb 15, 2022

just remember that Microsoft has said they're no longer developing their own backup app. Why they put the Windows 7 one in Windows 11, I have no clue.

The only reason I've seen was to allow getting what was done with the data in that "old" program retrievable for use in the new OS such as WIn8.x, 10 and 11.

mallen · Feb 16, 2022

Hazel123 said:
Just to clarify as I think there was some confusion earlier. You just have the one 1tb external drive with backups. I then asked if you were trying to save the image to the C Drive instead of the external drive and I think you said no you were saving to another external drive. Is that right? Just checking where you're backing up to.

1TB external drive that I save my files such as images, music, document etc. (everything but programs). Things that change daily.
Then I like to put a system image on there.

Berton · Feb 16, 2022

Based on the drive filling up I'd go with a separate External USB 3 drive just for the backups, leave data on their own drive that may need access to without having to do a restore to get at.

Hazel123 · Feb 16, 2022

mallen said:
1TB external drive that I save my files such as images, music, document etc. (everything but programs). Things that change daily.
Then I like to put a system image on there.

So is the external drive set to Fat 32? I think it needs to be Fat 32 for files and NTFS for the image (I may be wrong!). Maybe there's too much on the external drive for the image to fit. Sounds like you need two external drives. You can get 2tb ones for about the same as 1tb now.

Berton · Feb 16, 2022

The problem in Windows with FAT32 formatting is it limited to 32GB partition size with a single-file size of about 4GB. That limit doesn't apply to NTFS and exFAT. My 2 x 4TB USB drives came formatted as exFAT and package showed usable on PC and Mac. Mac OS X [and maybe newer macOS] had issues with NTFS.

Hazel123 · Feb 16, 2022

I'd try a different external drive, set to ntfs and maybe a different imaging program. Macrium is popular, or if you're used to a simple interface like the Windows one, maybe try Aomei or EaseUS Todo. You just download and install those on the computer.

thomaseg1 · Feb 16, 2022

Hazel123 said:
So is the external drive set to Fat 32? I think it needs to be Fat 32 for files and NTFS for the image (I may be wrong!). Maybe there's too much on the external drive for the image to fit. Sounds like you need two external drives. You can get 2tb ones for about the same as 1tb now.

The external can be 32, ntfs or whatever though some problems do crop up with x fat not being recognized.

Hazel123 · Feb 16, 2022

Berton said:
The problem in Windows with FAT32 formatting is it limited to 32GB partition size with a single-file size of about 4GB. That limit doesn't apply to NTFS and exFAT. My 2 x 4TB USB drives came formatted as exFAT and package showed usable on PC and Mac. Mac OS X [and maybe newer macOS] had issues with NTFS.

Ok so maybe the OP's drive is formatted to Ex Fat? Is it OP? But as just posted above, problems could be caused trying to make an image on Fat32 or Ex fat, which I guess the external drive is set to if you have files saved on it.

Wynona · Feb 16, 2022

mallen said:
1TB external drive that I save my files such as images, music, document etc. (everything but programs). Things that change daily.
Then I like to put a system image on there.

How much space is left on

mallen said:
1TB external drive that I save my files such as images, music, document etc. (everything but programs). Things that change daily.

I have just finished looking for a way to back up with the built-in, but everything I've found discourages the buit-in backup utility circa Windows 7. Even Microsoft help recommends using a third party backup app.

I also looked for instructions on using the built-in backup and only found for Windows 10.

At this point, I would encourage you to use Aomei backupper standard (it's free) because it's easy to use and works fine from everything I've seen in these forums. Alternatively you can use Macrium Reflect free, which has a bit of a learning curve, but is the best IMNSHO.

Berton · Feb 16, 2022

Expanding upon my reply, FAT32 limits are for Windows, can be gotten around the partition limits with a third-party software, I use GPARTED and have formatted a 500GB drive [which Windows can read] with a single FAT32 partition but the file size limit still exists. All the USB Thumb drives I've seen come factory formatted as FAT32, at least my 64GB and 256GB are.

The MCT/Media Creation Tool for USB drive automatically partitions and formats as FAT32 up to 32GB maximum.

thomaseg1 · Feb 16, 2022

About all I can offer is my method when backups get too big.
First is spring cleaning. any store apps/ games /movies I don't use or rarely use, I uninstall.
( the Store keeps them and you can redownload them if you need too.)
2nd is to clean my drive of any temp files not needed , Browser caches, files, pics and downloaded programs.
3rd clean up system with dism and sfc.
that usually cuts the size down quite a bit.

Hazel123 · Feb 16, 2022

mallen said:
I used a 1TB backup drive when I had Windows 10. I have 772 GB free of my on my 1TB backup drive. I used to be able to save my files including a system image. When I tried with Windows 11 there was not enough room. It says EFI partition is 260 MB, Windows C is 952 GB, and Windows Recovery Environment is 794MB. Is Windows 11 significantly larger than Windows 10?

Just looking back at your first post, it seems you used to save an image on the same drive as files - unless you mean you included the files in an image. And the query was why won't the image fit. Can only suggest using another external drive formatted to ntfs and trying a different imaging program.