Backup and Restore Center
Encyclopedia
Backup and Restore is a component of Microsoft Windows introduced in Windows Vista
and included in later versions that allows users to create backup
. It is a replacement of NTBackup
, which was included in previous Windows versions.
files. Two types of file backup are supported: The first type, normal backup, stores everything selected for backup. The second type, incremental backup stores only files that are changed after a previous backup. However, unlike the file backup and NTBackup, in which data are backed up file by file, system image is a disk image
of the backed up system saved block
by block in a VHD
file. Block-based backup is more efficient at performing subsequent differential backups, as only the blocks that have changed need to be backed up.
During a backup, Windows uses Volume Shadow Copy Service to ensure that files are not changed while they are being backed up. Newer backup media such as CD, DVD and Blu-ray discs are supported in Backup and Restore.
Windows Backup service is the Windows service
responsible for backup and restore operation. The Backup and Restore application however, is not the only way of interfacing with this service: The Wbadmin
command-line utility may also be used.
of the entire system including operating system and data volumes. The backed up image can later be restored through the Windows Recovery Environment either to the same computer or to a new computer of different brand and type. The file format used when doing an image-based backup is VHD
. A VHD image can also be mounted for extracting individual files, or booted from (using Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate only) after the full system image backup has been done.
Beginning with Windows Vista SP1, system images can be restored to a machine with a different motherboard
which may have a different disk controller
; but the machine must have the same number of disks.
operation. This stores previous versions of those files with incremental block-level changes automatically but on the same volume. They can be restored using System Restore or the Previous Versions shell extension.
file system. If the system image is to be saved on a USB flash drive, it must be formatted with NTFS file system.
Initially, Windows Backup did not support hard disk drives with large sector sizes (4096 bytes) which did not support 512 byte emulation. After an update on April 2011, Windows Backup supports such hard disk drives.
Another notable limitation of the Backup and Restore Center in Windows Vista is that it does not allow users to specify individual files or folders to be backed up or skipped, it only allows users to choose file type categories (based on MIME type, application association, and file extension) such as documents, music, videos etc. This limitation has been removed in Windows 7.
In Windows Vista, a Complete PC Backup could not be performed to a network location. Windows 7 allows performing a full system image backup to a network location however subsequent incremental system image backups cannot be performed to a network; all image based backups to the network must be full backups. Full system image backups to local or removable storage can be incremental.
For Windows 7, file backup to a network share is available only with Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions whereas it was included in Windows Vista Home Premium. Manual image-based full system backup (including incremental backup) can be done on local or removable media in Windows 7 Home Premium. Full system backup to a network also requires Windows 7 Professional or above editions.
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
and included in later versions that allows users to create backup
Backup
In information technology, a backup or the process of backing up is making copies of data which may be used to restore the original after a data loss event. The verb form is back up in two words, whereas the noun is backup....
. It is a replacement of NTBackup
NTBackup
NTBackup is the built-in backup application introduced in Windows NT around 1997 and part of all subsequent versions up to and including Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. It uses a proprietary backup format to back up files. Files can be backed up to tape, ZIP drives, floppy...
, which was included in previous Windows versions.
Features
There are two different types of backup supported: File backup and system image. File backups are saved to ZIPZIP (file format)
Zip is a file format used for data compression and archiving. A zip file contains one or more files that have been compressed, to reduce file size, or stored as is...
files. Two types of file backup are supported: The first type, normal backup, stores everything selected for backup. The second type, incremental backup stores only files that are changed after a previous backup. However, unlike the file backup and NTBackup, in which data are backed up file by file, system image is a disk image
Disk image
A disk image is a single file or storage device containing the complete contents and structure representing a data storage medium or device, such as a hard drive, tape drive, floppy disk, CD/DVD/BD, or USB flash drive, although an image of an optical disc may be referred to as an optical disc image...
of the backed up system saved block
Block (data storage)
In computing , a block is a sequence of bytes or bits, having a nominal length . Data thus structured are said to be blocked. The process of putting data into blocks is called blocking. Blocking is used to facilitate the handling of the data-stream by the computer program receiving the data...
by block in a VHD
VHD (file format)
A Virtual Hard Disk is a virtual hard disk file format, meaning it can contain what is found on a physical hard disk drive, such as disk partitions and a file system, which in turn can contain files and folders. It is typically used as the hard disk of a virtual machine...
file. Block-based backup is more efficient at performing subsequent differential backups, as only the blocks that have changed need to be backed up.
During a backup, Windows uses Volume Shadow Copy Service to ensure that files are not changed while they are being backed up. Newer backup media such as CD, DVD and Blu-ray discs are supported in Backup and Restore.
Windows Backup service is the Windows service
Windows Service
On Microsoft Windows operating systems, a Windows service is a long-running executable that performs specific functions and which is designed not to require user intervention. Windows services can be configured to start when the operating system is booted and run in the background as long as...
responsible for backup and restore operation. The Backup and Restore application however, is not the only way of interfacing with this service: The Wbadmin
Wbadmin
WBAdmin is a command-line utility built into Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. The command is used to perform backups and restores of operating systems, drive volumes, files, folders, and applications from a command-line interface.WBAdmin replaces the...
command-line utility may also be used.
System image
The image-based full system backup option, called Complete PC Backup in Windows Vista or system image in Windows 7, allows for the imagingDisk image
A disk image is a single file or storage device containing the complete contents and structure representing a data storage medium or device, such as a hard drive, tape drive, floppy disk, CD/DVD/BD, or USB flash drive, although an image of an optical disc may be referred to as an optical disc image...
of the entire system including operating system and data volumes. The backed up image can later be restored through the Windows Recovery Environment either to the same computer or to a new computer of different brand and type. The file format used when doing an image-based backup is VHD
VHD (file format)
A Virtual Hard Disk is a virtual hard disk file format, meaning it can contain what is found on a physical hard disk drive, such as disk partitions and a file system, which in turn can contain files and folders. It is typically used as the hard disk of a virtual machine...
. A VHD image can also be mounted for extracting individual files, or booted from (using Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate only) after the full system image backup has been done.
Beginning with Windows Vista SP1, system images can be restored to a machine with a different motherboard
Motherboard
In personal computers, a motherboard is the central printed circuit board in many modern computers and holds many of the crucial components of the system, providing connectors for other peripherals. The motherboard is sometimes alternatively known as the mainboard, system board, or, on Apple...
which may have a different disk controller
Disk controller
The disk controller is the circuit which enables the CPU to communicate with a hard disk, floppy disk or other kind of disk drive.Early disk controllers were identified by their storage methods and data encoding. They were typically implemented on a separate controller card...
; but the machine must have the same number of disks.
Related features
The Volume Shadow Copy Service also creates and maintains periodic copies of system and user data on the same local volume as a part of System RestoreSystem Restore
System Restore is a component of Microsoft's Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, but not Windows 2000, operating systems that allows for the rolling back of system files, registry keys, installed programs, etc., to a previous state in the event of system malfunction or failure.The...
operation. This stores previous versions of those files with incremental block-level changes automatically but on the same volume. They can be restored using System Restore or the Previous Versions shell extension.
Limitations
Windows Backup does not support tape drives. Backup and Restore can only make a system image of disks with NTFSNTFS
NTFS is the standard file system of Windows NT, including its later versions Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, and Windows 7....
file system. If the system image is to be saved on a USB flash drive, it must be formatted with NTFS file system.
Initially, Windows Backup did not support hard disk drives with large sector sizes (4096 bytes) which did not support 512 byte emulation. After an update on April 2011, Windows Backup supports such hard disk drives.
Differences in Windows editions
The features included in Backup and Restore may differ depending on the edition of Windows. Only Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, Enterprise or Ultimate editions can schedule automatic backups or back up files and folders to a network location. Only Windows Vista Business, Enterprise and Ultimate editions support Complete PC Backup.Another notable limitation of the Backup and Restore Center in Windows Vista is that it does not allow users to specify individual files or folders to be backed up or skipped, it only allows users to choose file type categories (based on MIME type, application association, and file extension) such as documents, music, videos etc. This limitation has been removed in Windows 7.
In Windows Vista, a Complete PC Backup could not be performed to a network location. Windows 7 allows performing a full system image backup to a network location however subsequent incremental system image backups cannot be performed to a network; all image based backups to the network must be full backups. Full system image backups to local or removable storage can be incremental.
For Windows 7, file backup to a network share is available only with Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions whereas it was included in Windows Vista Home Premium. Manual image-based full system backup (including incremental backup) can be done on local or removable media in Windows 7 Home Premium. Full system backup to a network also requires Windows 7 Professional or above editions.