Backup/Restore/Recovery programs & routines [open topic]

Even though I am a Windows 7 license-holder/user, I have this thread with its two topics so far also in tenforums because I want to zero in on not only Windows 10 Backup/Restore operations as well as how some 3rd party B/R & R utilities specifically work with Windows 10. Windows 10 is not Windows 7 or 8 - that's what I'm finding out.

Backup/Restore/Recovery programs & routines [open topic] -- meaning, rather than me simply posting what I do for backups and restores, I'd like to have several others give their ideas also.

Very briefly, my three computers each have two pancake platter-driven usb ext HDs, each of those HDs contain full images of "C drive" [OS partition] and "D drive" [data partition] which are made during one session [4 backups in all] about once weekly or at least, bi-monthly.

Let me add this related topic to this thread. I have this topic in tenforums because I want to zero in on how some 3rd party B/R & R utilities specifically work with Windows 10.

First Response restore and recovery ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences
Borrowing from the philosopher Rene Descartes, let's make the title longer:
First Response ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences for OS & Data: backups, restores, and recoveries.

First Response means what could be done by an end-user who just might be facing:
-- possible physically failing hard-drives [which are often called "c drive" and "d drive]
-- possible logically failing hard-drives [ditto as above line]
OR might be facing:
-- a deleted file and/or folder that needs to be un-deleted
-- a set of deleted files and/or folders that need to be un-deleted
-- folders and files that cannot be simply un-deleted, restored from Windows Recycle Bin
-- deleted folders and files that no longer exist in the MFT [Master File Table]
-- the MFT no longer functions and/or the OS no longer functions
-- the often called "c drive", the OS partition no longer exists [often, this "c drive" also contained the data]
-- the often called "d drive", the data partition no longer exists

First Response Backups mean --
First Response Restores mean --
First Response Recoveries mean --
-- respectively, what could be done by an end-user prior to doing "anything, everything".

Borrowing from Star Trek, the "Prime Directives" are:
-- to preserve and protect end-user's data
-- to preserve and protect end-user's OS
-- to restore what can be restored; data first priority, OS 2nd priority
-- to recover what can be recovered; data first priority, OS 2nd priority

Roland

**This is a work in progress. There will be redactions, corrections, additions, etc. **

RolandJS said:

Let me add this related topic to this thread. I have this topic in tenforums because I want to zero in on how some 3rd party B/R & R utilities specifically work with Windows 10.

First Response restore and recovery ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences
Borrowing from the philosopher Rene Descartes, let's make the title longer:
First Response ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences for OS & Data: backups, restores, and recoveries.

First Response means what could be done by an end-user who just might be facing:
-- possible physically failing hard-drives [which are often called "c drive" and "d drive]
-- possible logically failing hard-drives [ditto as above line]
OR might be facing:
-- a deleted file and/or folder that needs to be un-deleted
-- a set of deleted files and/or folders that need to be un-deleted
-- folders and files that cannot be simply un-deleted, restored from Windows Recycle Bin
-- deleted folders and files that no longer exist in the MFT [Master File Table]
-- the MFT no longer functions and/or the OS no longer functions
-- the often called "c drive", the OS partition no longer exists [often, this "c drive" also contained the data]
-- the often called "d drive", the data partition no longer exists

First Response Backups mean --
First Response Restores mean --
First Response Recoveries mean --
-- respectively, what could be done by an end-user prior to doing "anything, everything".

Borrowing from Star Trek, the "Prime Directives" are:
-- to preserve and protect end-user's data
-- to preserve and protect end-user's OS
-- to restore what can be restored; data first priority, OS 2nd priority
-- to recover what can be recovered; data first priority, OS 2nd priority

Roland

**This is a work in progress. There will be redactions, corrections, additions, etc. **

Am I alone in having no idea what this post is talking about?

cereberus said:

Am I alone in having no idea what this post is talking about?

No, you are not alone! That post is a setup for a short series of posts to come. I'm plan to take each section of the wild post and shovel in actual things to do, which I have gathered from reading many forums, which I will also add my flavoring.

First Response Restore and Recovery ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences in Computer Technologies Forum
In short - instead of throwing software after software after software at a HD/DATA crisis, I recommend waiting for expert help and advice. This somewhat covers what I recommend as a "first response" instead of numerous restorations and recoveries attempts by many end-users.

Guys, have patience :) Real soon, advice gathered from several backup/restore and data recovery forums -- giving concrete things that end-users can do to prevent data loss crisis. Because there any many ways to do backups -- I will only give what I do and then leave the floor open for others to post what they do for backups.

RolandJS said:

Guys, have patience :) Real soon, advice gathered from several backup/restore and data recovery forums -- giving concrete things that end-users can do to prevent data loss crisis. Because there any many ways to do backups -- I will only give what I do and then leave the floor open for others to post what they do for backups.

Or just use Macrium Reflect and never worry again��.

No disrespect to RolandJS, but basic strategy is easy for most domestic users and can be explained a few lines:-


1) keep data and OS/programs in separate partitions

2) Use a good imaging tool to backup OS periodically (use differential/incrementsl backups daily say) preferably to external drive.

3) Use File History Backup or even just File Explorer to backup data drive as often as needed, preferably to external drive.

4) Keep two separate backup copies of critical data (Cloud is a good second backup choice).

Any more complicated than above is for people with commercial or near commercial backup needs and such persons will normally be savvy enough to develop strategies to suit their needs (except for those whingers trying to sue MS because they never backed up data properly).