Windows 10: Restoring a backup from 2017

Many years ago 2015 I backed up files from a Samsung PC. Frankly, I can't recall how I backed up the files but in looking at the folders they are named Microsoft Office, Samsung Recovery Disk and SamsungRecovery. In the Samsung Recovery Disk there are subfiles names boot, efi, sources and support. There is also a setup.exe app to install Windows 8.In the SamsungRecovery folder, there is a subfolder named with several letters and numbers and in that subfolder there are files named user01.mast, user01.w01, user01.w02 and so on. There is also a System Image folder with a subfolder named Windows

:)

 

Free hard drive backup/restore program?

I am looking for a free (freeware) program that will back up and restore a hard drive. I'm looking to clone a few external hard drives. If the program will backup the used space instead of the whole drive this will be awesome! Thanks for any suggestions.

 

Managing outdated Win7 backup and restore files

Our small non-profit is running about 12 computers on Windows 10 and using Win7 Backup & Restore to backup to a networked drive (NAS).

Here is an example of how typical backed up folders are titled:

Backup Set 2017-02-13

Backup Files 2017-02-13

Backup Files 2017-02-20

Backup Files 2017-02-27



The first Backup Files folder is typically large, and the subsequent Backup Files folders are much smaller. This leads me to believe that the subsequent folders are only incremental backups, and the entire set is necessary to do a full restore.



What is an effective strategy of deleting outdated backup files to be efficient with disk space?

• 
  I can delete the entire Backup Set and get a fresh backup at the next scheduled backup time, but that leaves me unprotected in the interim.
  

• 
  Deleting the older Backup Files folders (e.g. 2017-02-13) will leave me with an incomplete backup (I think).
  

• 
  Never deleting any of the backups will result in a bloated backup (I think).
  

Thanks for your help!

 

Free hard drive backup/restore program?

Obviously you're looking for something besides your Xp Pro utility that does this?