large backup files in Backup Center

How come when I use Windows Backup and Restore Center to back up my entire
hard drive, it always creates a huge file? I thought that only the first one
should be big and then all subsequent backups would be small b/c it only
copies changes? Thanks

Steve

Hello Steve,

> How come when I use Windows Backup and Restore Center to back up my
> entire hard drive, it always creates a huge file? I thought that only
> the first one should be big and then all subsequent backups would be
> small b/c it only copies changes? Thanks
>

You must specify the type of backup you want to do. A "Full Backup" will
put everything into one file like what you experienced. A "Differential Backup"
will put all files changed since your last full backup into a smaller file.
An "Incremental Backup" will put all files changed since the last incremental
backup into an even smaller file.

In order to do a Full Restore you will need to use one of these methods:
1) Restore the last Full Backup.
2) Restore the last Full Backup and the last Differential Backup in chronological
order.
3) Restore the last Full Backup and all Incremental Backups in chronological
order

kemp

OK, so when I have the Backup Center automatically back up my computer
(monthly, in my case), by default doesn't it use incremental backups? I
thought it did but then it seems to be creating full backups each time.

"kemp" wrote:

> Hello Steve,
>
> > How come when I use Windows Backup and Restore Center to back up my
> > entire hard drive, it always creates a huge file? I thought that only
> > the first one should be big and then all subsequent backups would be
> > small b/c it only copies changes? Thanks
> >
>
> You must specify the type of backup you want to do. A "Full Backup" will
> put everything into one file like what you experienced. A "Differential Backup"
> will put all files changed since your last full backup into a smaller file.
> An "Incremental Backup" will put all files changed since the last incremental
> backup into an even smaller file.
>
> In order to do a Full Restore you will need to use one of these methods:
> 1) Restore the last Full Backup.
> 2) Restore the last Full Backup and the last Differential Backup in chronological
> order.
> 3) Restore the last Full Backup and all Incremental Backups in chronological
> order.
>
>
>

Steve

Hello Steve,

> OK, so when I have the Backup Center automatically back up my computer
> (monthly, in my case), by default doesn't it use incremental backups?
> I thought it did but then it seems to be creating full backups each
> time.
>
> "kemp" wrote:
>
>> Hello Steve,
>>
>>> How come when I use Windows Backup and Restore Center to back up my
>>> entire hard drive, it always creates a huge file? I thought that
>>> only the first one should be big and then all subsequent backups
>>> would be small b/c it only copies changes? Thanks
>>>
>> You must specify the type of backup you want to do. A "Full Backup"
>> will put everything into one file like what you experienced. A
>> "Differential Backup" will put all files changed since your last full
>> backup into a smaller file. An "Incremental Backup" will put all
>> files changed since the last incremental backup into an even smaller
>> file.
>>
>> In order to do a Full Restore you will need to use one of these
>> methods:
>> 1) Restore the last Full Backup.
>> 2) Restore the last Full Backup and the last Differential Backup in
>> chronological
>> order.
>> 3) Restore the last Full Backup and all Incremental Backups in
>> chronological
>> order.

No, it is likely doing full backups because this is the most efficient way
to restore the files you may need in the future without having to refer to
multiple backup files. You must customize it to use the other options.

kemp

Ok, I'll look into the options a bit more. Thanks!

"kemp" wrote:

> Hello Steve,
>
> > OK, so when I have the Backup Center automatically back up my computer
> > (monthly, in my case), by default doesn't it use incremental backups?
> > I thought it did but then it seems to be creating full backups each
> > time.
> >
> > "kemp" wrote:
> >
> >> Hello Steve,
> >>
> >>> How come when I use Windows Backup and Restore Center to back up my
> >>> entire hard drive, it always creates a huge file? I thought that
> >>> only the first one should be big and then all subsequent backups
> >>> would be small b/c it only copies changes? Thanks
> >>>
> >> You must specify the type of backup you want to do. A "Full Backup"
> >> will put everything into one file like what you experienced. A
> >> "Differential Backup" will put all files changed since your last full
> >> backup into a smaller file. An "Incremental Backup" will put all
> >> files changed since the last incremental backup into an even smaller
> >> file.
> >>
> >> In order to do a Full Restore you will need to use one of these
> >> methods:
> >> 1) Restore the last Full Backup.
> >> 2) Restore the last Full Backup and the last Differential Backup in
> >> chronological
> >> order.
> >> 3) Restore the last Full Backup and all Incremental Backups in
> >> chronological
> >> order.
>
> No, it is likely doing full backups because this is the most efficient way
> to restore the files you may need in the future without having to refer to
> multiple backup files. You must customize it to use the other options.
>
>
>

Steve

After a bit of looking I cannot find where to specify what types of backup to
do. Where is that option? I'm using Windows Vista Home Premium. Thanks!

"kemp" wrote:

> Hello Steve,
>
> > OK, so when I have the Backup Center automatically back up my computer
> > (monthly, in my case), by default doesn't it use incremental backups?
> > I thought it did but then it seems to be creating full backups each
> > time.
> >
> > "kemp" wrote:
> >
> >> Hello Steve,
> >>
> >>> How come when I use Windows Backup and Restore Center to back up my
> >>> entire hard drive, it always creates a huge file? I thought that
> >>> only the first one should be big and then all subsequent backups
> >>> would be small b/c it only copies changes? Thanks
> >>>
> >> You must specify the type of backup you want to do. A "Full Backup"
> >> will put everything into one file like what you experienced. A
> >> "Differential Backup" will put all files changed since your last full
> >> backup into a smaller file. An "Incremental Backup" will put all
> >> files changed since the last incremental backup into an even smaller
> >> file.
> >>
> >> In order to do a Full Restore you will need to use one of these
> >> methods:
> >> 1) Restore the last Full Backup.
> >> 2) Restore the last Full Backup and the last Differential Backup in
> >> chronological
> >> order.
> >> 3) Restore the last Full Backup and all Incremental Backups in
> >> chronological
> >> order.
>
> No, it is likely doing full backups because this is the most efficient way
> to restore the files you may need in the future without having to refer to
> multiple backup files. You must customize it to use the other options.
>
>
>

Steve