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I recently got an external hard drive, and I need help. I finally got Windows running good, after the recent update to 8.1...I do see I have on optimize drives C drive, Winretools(12% fragmented), PBR Image, and some long winded VOLUME file. The VOLUME file is 56% fragmented, and even though these are set to optimize, they will not, either by schedule, or manually.
I had to set the C drive to protection ON. The PBR Image drive is set to OFF. I do not know why. This is under System Properties, when you want to create a system restore point. There are only 2 drives showing here.
I am new to backing up anything other than documents and photos. I did do a back up with FILE HISTORY, in WIN8.1....but I don't believe that will do a full system image. If you look at File History, restore files, you do not see any system settings. I clicked on that to see what was in File History. I am using SmartWare which only does basic backups. I thought File History would be an added safety back up. Does this File History back up overwrite the previous one? If not, they will build up, and take up too much space on my external drive. I wish I could add a mirror image from Windows, the basic SmartWare backup of documents, pictures, videos etc.., and File History. I have plenty of room on my external hard drive. I definitely would like to do a system settings back up, in case I had to completely redo the computer from scratch.
If I do a mirror image with 3rd party software, would that wipe out all the other info too? I am hesitant to just do a mirror image, because it may copy a virus, or malware, if I were to get that. So I thought other types of back ups, were added insurance. I wish Microsoft would improve backup options for their customers. Sky Drive is fine, what little I know of, but it won't hold all my info, without PAYING for that.
Last question I can think of, do I have to make a separate boot dvd, in order to restore the mirror image, if I must start over? Or can I just restore the mirror image straight from the external hard drive?
If you can help me here, I'd sure appreciate it.
I had to set the C drive to protection ON. The PBR Image drive is set to OFF. I do not know why. This is under System Properties, when you want to create a system restore point. There are only 2 drives showing here.
I am new to backing up anything other than documents and photos. I did do a back up with FILE HISTORY, in WIN8.1....but I don't believe that will do a full system image. If you look at File History, restore files, you do not see any system settings. I clicked on that to see what was in File History. I am using SmartWare which only does basic backups. I thought File History would be an added safety back up. Does this File History back up overwrite the previous one? If not, they will build up, and take up too much space on my external drive. I wish I could add a mirror image from Windows, the basic SmartWare backup of documents, pictures, videos etc.., and File History. I have plenty of room on my external hard drive. I definitely would like to do a system settings back up, in case I had to completely redo the computer from scratch.
If I do a mirror image with 3rd party software, would that wipe out all the other info too? I am hesitant to just do a mirror image, because it may copy a virus, or malware, if I were to get that. So I thought other types of back ups, were added insurance. I wish Microsoft would improve backup options for their customers. Sky Drive is fine, what little I know of, but it won't hold all my info, without PAYING for that.
Last question I can think of, do I have to make a separate boot dvd, in order to restore the mirror image, if I must start over? Or can I just restore the mirror image straight from the external hard drive?
If you can help me here, I'd sure appreciate it.