Windows 10: Use File History or Win 7 Backup & Restore?

I've been using Backup & Restore on some Win 7 systems but now I have added a new Win 10 PC (from HP).

It's not entirely clear to me why I would use the Win 10 File History facility versus Win 7 Backup & Restore. File History looks like a partial backup. I'd prefer a full backup. Win 10 advertises creating a System Image (good advice) but I don't consider that an alternative to a file backup with all the files (mine and the system's).

Am I missing something here about File History?

-- Larry

:)

 

Do I need to use File History as well? What is the difference between Backup and Restore and File History?

If you're already using another program for backups (either Backup & Restore Win7 or third party), then no, you don't need to add File History to your backup routine.
This is just opinion, but if you've got a backup solution that works and you're comfortable using, rely on that; run File History if you want to as a redundant backup, but not as your only backup.

In addition to a file backup, Backup & Restore (Win7) allows you to create a system image and repair disk, File History doesn't.
B&R will save to a separate partition or external drive, File History requires saving to an external drive only.
In my experience, File History also seems to adhere to any backup schedule rather loosely (I've had it miss backups on numerous occasions), while B&R seems to stick to a set schedule much more reliably.

The only advantages I've found with File History are that: 1) File History backups can be browsed through via file explorer, while B&R backups can't 2) File History is easily accessed from either Control Panel or the Settings menu, and 3) File History will
easily allow for multiple chronological versions of the same file to be saved, i.e. you can very simply track changes you've made to a given document over time.
But personally, I don't think File History has any real advantage over using a decent third-party program, or even Backup & Restore (Windows 7).

 

Windows 10 Backup Plan

I'm looking for help establishing a sound backup process. I upgraded from Win 7 to Win 10. When I had Win 7, I backed up my files to an external drive with a nightly Win 7 Backup and Restore backup run which included a system image. Once a week I would save
the current System Image to an image library. I have maintained that process since my upgrade to Windows 10. In addition to the nightly scheduled user file backup using Windows 7 Backup and Restore, I also maintained a continuously updated user file backup
using the software native to the external drive. That provided a belt and suspenders set of backups for my user files.



Now I see that there is also a File History folder on my external drive. It would appear that this may be redundant to the Windows 7 Backup and Restore backup. So now I appear to have a belt and two sets of suspenders. I'm not sure if the File History and
the Windows 7 Backup both save the same exact files or not, so I don't know which one is the more complete backup (if there's a difference).



It has been nice having lots of options for file restoration and recovery. I've used them all from time to time, but I know I'm using a lot of disk space with all these (probably) redundant backups.



I'd like to hear comments on my current backup process and suggestions for improving it, especially comments regarding the Windows 7 Backup and Restore versus the File History backup. Thanks.

 

Welcome to the forum.

The File History was never intended as a replacement for maintaining backups. There really is no substitute for such backups. The problem is that most people never even think of making backups until they loose data, and then it is often too late. File History is a poor backup but it is better than nothing. And it may be more convenient than restoring files from backup.

 

Thanks for that info. I guess I will be using Win 7 Backup & Restore on the win 10 system.
-- Larry *Smile

 

Hey Larry-

Win-10 has the same type of imaging program as Win-7. There's also some others out there, which are free.

I, personally, use all four of them. I use all four because I've had issues in the past, where one thing or another caused an image not to load. This way I have other programs to try. Plus I have the storage and they're free...

They all work pretty much the same. I would recommend using each program's file integrity / validation option. Two of them will check during the imaging process and one you have to manually check it, via the program (I think it's EaseUS )

* I have not restore an image on Win-10 as of yet, but I did use all three to make images and they worked fine with Win-10 (build 10586.0) on my machine.

If interested, they are:

AOMEI Backupper

EaseUS Todo Backup Free

Macrium Reflect


Regards,


Edit:

I'm having an issue with inserting the hyperlink for AOMEI. HERE'S THE LINK AGAIN.