Incremenal Backups

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:15:47 Z

I performed a Full Backup to a remote hard drive (Buffalo) on the 9th. I tried to make an Incremental Backup on the 16th. It appears to have done a COMPLETE backup on that date. I am getting messages to do a backup but when I clock on the "backup and restore" section of Conrol Panel it shows that I have NOT done a complete backup so it proceeds to do a complete backup AGAIN. It seems I should see a box to check that calls for an incremental backup OR the software should recognize that a Full Backup has been completed and an Incremental Backup is all that is necessary. What am I missing?? My email is ------ (deleted email for security reason)

Incremenal Backups

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:37:53 Z

Hello Jdelvin,

Thank you for using the Microsoft Vista Answers Forum!

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.

The first time when you use the first option (create backup) features on your system, a full backup—which is a complete backup of all the files from the selected categories—is performed right away. Thereafter, only incremental backups are performed

Same process, when you use the Backup Computer option which create a Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore image of your entire computer which can be used to recover from a hardware failure. Subsequent backups after this option are differential backup. However, the exception to these rules is that if you specify another location for your subsequent backups, Windows will assumed you have not done any backup prior this time, it will offer another complete backup even though it has been done before.

For more information on this features, see the link below

A Guide to Windows Vista Backup Technologies

Please reply and let us know if your issue is resolved or if you will need further assistance

David O
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
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