How Does Windows 8 System Backup Compare to Windows 7 Backup and Restore

Windows 8 has come up with a whole new range of exciting features that not only makes creating backup easy, but it also is handy too. The File History of Windows 8 that works simply the way most users tend to create backups. Most importantly the use of an external drive or network location for creating backups is a better option than using internal hard drives for backups. So in case your hard disk fails, there’s no worry about losing all your data, as no internal drives can be used to create a backup.

Windows 8 has completely revamped its backup system, and that is very different from that of Windows 7 backup system. The all new File History is not only simple to set up, but it also works automatically in the background.

Here are some of the major differences between Windows 8 and Windows 7 backup systems.

1. Files in Libraries Can be Backed up Only

Back up of all files on the computer was one of the features in Windows 7. These files could range from the personal files to system files or any other file that you opted for. Creating system images for restoring the system to its current state in future was the unique feature of such backups.

The backup system for Windows 8 has undergone a drastic change. All files on the hard disc or system files cannot be backed up anymore. Only contacts and favorites from browsers can be backed up along with files in libraries and desktop files. The generally irreplaceable personal files are protected and backed up by the Windows 8 File History feature. Operating system and system files along with applications can be re installed from other sources easily, which makes the need for these files to be backed up lesser.

Files that you want for backups need to be included in the library, and Windows 8 File History may be asked to back up that library. Files outside libraries or desktop cannot be backed up. This means you must keep your files organized on your computer. Storing files in the wrong place means they might not be backed up.

The problem here is that people want a complete backup and system image of Windows 8. Now the funny thing is you will need to go through Windows 7 file recovery to make a Windows 8 system backup not a file only backup.

2. Continuous Backup Process

In Windows 7 the general schedule was to run the backup once a month.

In Windows 8 the File History does back up your files as a continuous process. This makes restoring a deleted file or reverting to a previous version easy. This also reduces data loss as files are backed up regularly.

Windows 8 takes a snapshot of the latest version of files every hour automatically while creating backup continuously.

3. Easy Restore

In Windows 7 to restore files from backup the Windows control backup panel needed to be opened. Then using the Restore My Files Wizard files could be restored. But the major problem was while restoring the file by right clicking on it and using the properties window, the file could be restored from any point. They may not necessarily be the last backup as the file could be restored from the system restore point also instead of the Windows backup.

File History in Windows 8 allows not only a quick restore, but it also does it from the last backup taken. It can be restores from the File Explorer, which was earlier the Windows Explorer, by clicking the History Button.

4. Some More Features

File History is very easy to use, and operates in a way similar to most people’s way of creating backups. The application asks if you want to use any external drive to be used as back up whenever you plug in one. Internal drives cannot be used as backup and that leaves you the fear of losing data in case the hard disk crashes. You will always have to use a network location or an external drive to create backups.

Advertising backup drive as the backup drive for HomeGroup is an added feature that comes handy for network users. This also centralizes all data backup.

Finally

File History of Windows 8 is easy to use compared to Windows 7’s backup tools. The application is also very useful for individual users as well as user groups. But some users will still want to use a third party backup software which will allow then to full system backups as well as backup for every file that is on their hard discs. The other option would be to use the Windows 7 backup system to create the full system image.