Configure Backup and Restore in Windows 7

In a previous article here on C.O.D. (Essential Windows 7 Tweaks: Part 1), I mentioned it’s my opinion that users should disable the system restore features in Windows 7.  Outside of the resources associated with running the task, I feel as though it provides a false sense of security for Windows Users and does nothing for users plagued by things worse than failed updates.  So what is the answer? Windows 7 comes with Backup and Restore…

Backup and Restore—improved for Windows 7—creates safety copies of your most important files, so if you lose something, it won’t be lost forever.

Let Windows choose what to back up, or pick individual folders, libraries, or drives. Windows can back up files on whatever schedule you choose. Just set it and forget it. In Windows 7, you can back up files to another drive, your network, or a DVD. Backup and Restore for your personal PC and attached DVD or external hard drives comes with all editions of Windows.

If you want to backup to a network location, say on your company’s central server, network attached storage, or another computer on your network, you’ll need Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate.

Backup and Restore features multiple ways for you to save your data including backing up to an external hard drive, a DVD, and if you are running Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate you also have the ability to backup to a network share.

You can open Backup and Restore by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Backup and Restore.

Click Setup Backup



In many cases, most people would want to backup to an external hard drive, but for those of us that have network attached storage or home servers the ability to save on the network is the preferred option.  However, I am going to make a wild assumption that most of you reading this do not have servers in your basement as I do.  With that said, your preferred method would be to continue using your removable storage (you can attach it now and click refresh).

About Joe D

I have always had a passion for everything computing. In early 2000, I decided to take my passion to the web. Thus, C.O.D. was born. Through the years we have made many great friends at C.O.D. and hope to continue our journey for years to come.

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3 comments

  1. Thanks for sharing, if you want to save your time you can use backup software like Handy Backup, it’s easy to use and reliable backup software for Windows 7. It allows backup files, databases, Exchange, Windows Server and others.

    • I personally prefer Acronis, but with the built in backup features in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 at least those that do not know can now get something in the works to protect themselves. I constantly ask people the magic question when their OS craps out…. "Do you have a backup?", the answer is almost ALWAYS a "No…"

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