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{{short description|Primary backup component of Windows Vista and Windows 7}}
{{third-party|date=July 2013}}
{{About|a computer program with this name|generic term used for computers|backup}}
{{Update|[[Windows 10]]|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox Windows component
{{Infobox software
| name = Backup and Restore
| logo = Backup center icon.png
| name = Backup and Restore
| logo_size = 64px
| logo = Backup center icon.png
| screenshot = Backup and Restore in Windows 7.png
| screenshot = Backup and Restore in Windows 7.png
| caption = Backup and Restore in [[Windows 7]]
| screenshot_size = 300px
| caption = Backup and Restore in [[Windows 7]]
| developer = [[Microsoft]]
| released = {{Start date and age|2006|11|30}}
| other_names = Windows Backup and Restore Center<br/>Windows Backup<br />Windows 7 File Recovery<br />System Image Backup
| other_names = Backup and Restore Center<br />Backup Status and Configuration<br />Windows Backup<br />Windows 7 File Recovery<br />System Image Backup
| type = [[Backup software]]
| service_name = Windows Backup (SDRSVC)
| replaces = [[NTBackup]]
| replaced_by = [[File History]]
| service_description = Provides Windows Backup and Restore capabilities.
| service_name = Windows Backup (SDRSVC)
| included_with = [[Windows Vista]]<br/>[[Windows Server 2008]]<br/>[[Windows 7]]<br/>[[Windows Server 2008 R2]]
| included with = [[Windows Vista]] and later
| also_available_for =
| replaces = [[NTBackup]]
| genre = [[Backup software]]
| replaced_by = File History
| support_status = Active
| related_components = [[Shadow Copy]]<br/>[[System Restore]]<br/><tt>[[wbadmin]]</tt><br/>[[Windows Recovery Environment]]
}}
}}
'''Backup and Restore'''<ref name="BRWin7">{{cite web |url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/backup-and-restore |title=Backup and Restore |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |url-status=dead |access-date=19 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608142847/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/backup-and-restore |archive-date=8 June 2011}}</ref> (formerly '''Backup and Restore Center'''<ref name="BRWin6">{{cite web |url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/products/features/security-safety |title=Windows Vista features - security and safety |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |url-status=dead |access-date=19 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608205804/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/products/features/security-safety |archive-date=8 June 2011}}</ref>) is the primary [[backup]] component of [[Windows Vista]] and [[Windows 7]]. It can create file and folder backups, as well as [[system image]]s backups, to be used for recovery in the event of [[data corruption]], [[hard disk drive failure]], or [[malware]] infection. It replaces [[NTBackup]], which has been part of Windows since [[Windows NT 3.51]]. Unlike its predecessor, it supports [[Compact disc|CDs]], [[DVD|DVDs]], and [[Blu-ray|Blu-rays discs]] as backup media.
'''Backup and Restore'''<ref>{{Cite web
|url = http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/backup-and-restore
|title = Backup and Restore
|work = Windows 7 Features
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|accessdate = 19 May 2011
| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110608142847/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/backup-and-restore| archivedate= 8 June 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> (formerly '''Windows Backup and Restore Center'''<ref>{{Cite web
|url = http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/products/features/security-safety
|title = Security & Safety
|work = Windows Vista Features
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|accessdate = 19 May 2011
| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110608205804/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/products/features/security-safety| archivedate= 8 June 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>) is a component of Microsoft Windows introduced in [[Windows Vista]] and included in later versions that allows users to create [[backup]]s and restore from backups. It is a replacement of [[NTBackup]], which was included in previous Windows versions. It became a deprecated feature in [[Windows 8]] and was completely removed in [[Windows 8.1]] in favor of [[File History]].


Backup and Restore offers file and folder backup in all editions of Windows. But its full set of features are only available on high-end editions of Windows, i.e., the Professional, Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions.
==Features==
There are two different types of backup supported: File backup and system image. File backups are saved to [[ZIP (file format)|ZIP]] files. Two methods of file backup are supported: The first, normal backup, stores everything selected for backup. The second, [[incremental backup#Incremental|incremental backup]] stores only files that are changed after a previous backup. The other method of backup, system image, is a [[disk image]] of the backed up system saved [[Block (data storage)|block]] by block in a [[VHD (file format)|VHD]] file (versus file by file in the file backup and NTBackup). Block-based backup is more efficient at performing subsequent [[incremental backup#Differential|differential backups]], as only the blocks that have changed need to be backed up.<ref>{{Cite news
|url = http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/pages/file-backup-in-windows-vista-faq.aspx
|title = File Backup in Windows Vista FAQ
|work = The Storage Team at Microsoft - File Cabinet Blog
|agency = TechNet Blogs
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|location = Redmond, WA
|date = 6 November 2006
|accessdate = 19 May 2011
}}</ref>


Microsoft [[deprecated]] Backup and Restore in [[Windows 8.0]], recommending to use the [[Features new to Windows 8#File History|File History]] app for file-based backup and a third-party solution for system imaging. Despite its deprecation, however, it is part of all versions of Windows released thereafter.
During a backup, Windows uses [[Shadow Copy|Volume Shadow Copy Service]] to ensure that files are not changed while they are being backed up.<ref>{{cite web|title=Overview of Processing a Backup Under VSS|url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa384589(v=VS.85).aspx|publisher=Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN)}}</ref> VSS ensures both file system level consistency as well as application-level consistency for applications registered as ''VSS writers''. Newer backup media such as CD, DVD and Blu-ray discs are supported in Backup and Restore.<ref>{{Cite web
|url = http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/b/9/5b97017b-e28a-4bae-ba48-174cf47d23cd/BUS107_WH06.ppt
|title = Backup And Restore In Windows Vista And Windows Server Longhorn
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|work = [[WinHEC]] 2006
|format = [[Microsoft PowerPoint]]
|first1 = Dan
|last1 = Stevenson
|date = 23 March 2006
|accessdate = 19 May 2011
| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110605002150/http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/b/9/5b97017b-e28a-4bae-ba48-174cf47d23cd/BUS107_WH06.ppt| archivedate= 5 June 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>


The [[Windows Server]] counterpart of Backup and Restore is called '''Windows Server Backup'''.
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 <tt>[[Wbadmin]]</tt> [[command-line utility]] may also be used.


== Backup types ==
The entire disk or individual files can be restored through the utility. In addition, the VHD file can be attached (mounted) as a separate disk. Regardless of latest backup being incremental or full, the attached disk will reflect the state of the disk at the latest backup, with the ''previous versions'' feature exposing older backup sets.
Backup and Restore supports two different types of backup: File and folder backup, and system image.

===File and folder backup===
The Backup and Restore app can create backup copies of individual files and folders. These backups are saved to [[ZIP (file format)|ZIP]] files. Two methods of file backup are supported. The first, normal backup, stores everything selected for backup. The second, [[incremental backup#Incremental|incremental backup]] stores only files that are changed after a previous backup.

File backup in Windows Vista does not allow users to choose specific files, locations, or users to back up; instead, it backs up content from all users based on categories: audio tracks, compressed files, documents, email, photos, recorded television shows, videos, and additional user files. Users can only choose whether to perform a backup of a certain category.<ref name="TechRepublic">{{cite web|last=Shultz|first=Greg|date=25 April 2007|title=Back up your files with Vista's Back Up Files wizard|url=https://www.techrepublic.com/article/back-up-your-files-with-vistas-back-up-files-wizard/|access-date=9 January 2021|work=[[TechRepublic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref> Microsoft hoped that this simplistic approach would prove appealing to users who were easily appalled by "a long tree of checkboxes."<ref name="BackupFAQ" />

File backup in Windows 7 presents two options for operation: ''Let Me Choose'', which allows users to perform backups of specific folders, [[Features new to Windows 7#Libraries|libraries]], and to create a system image; and ''Let Windows Choose'', which creates backups of all personal data in user folders and libraries, and also creates a system image.<ref name="Tip">{{cite journal|date=1 August 2016|title=Tip: Create and Use Backups Using the Backup and Restore Center|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/technet-magazine/ee872304(v=msdn.10)|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|access-date=9 January 2021|journal=[[TechNet Magazine]]}}</ref>


===System image===
===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 [[disk image|imaging]] of the entire system including operating system and data volumes.<ref>[http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Back-up-your-programs-system-settings-and-files Back up... programs, system settings, and files (Windows 7)]</ref> 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 (file format)|VHD]]. A VHD image can also be mounted for extracting individual files, or booted from <!--{{Failed verification|date=July 2011}}--> (using Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate only) after the full system image backup has been done.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ee872416.aspx|title=Create and Use a Virtual Hard Disk on Windows 7|publisher=Microsoft}}</ref><ref name="bott-e-2009">{{Cite book
The other method of backup, called ''Complete PC Backup'' in Windows Vista or ''system image'' in Windows 7, is a [[Block (data storage)|block]]-by-block [[disk image]] of the system, saved in a [[VHD (file format)|VHD]] file. The block-based backup is more efficient at performing subsequent [[incremental backup#Differential|differential backups]], as only the blocks that have changed need to be backed up.<ref name="BackupFAQ">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/pages/file-backup-in-windows-vista-faq.aspx |title=File Backup in Windows Vista FAQ |date=6 November 2006 |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |work=[[Microsoft TechNet|TechNet]] Blogs (The Storage Team at Microsoft – File Cabinet Blog) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210062512/http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/pages/file-backup-in-windows-vista-faq.aspx |archive-date=10 February 2007 |access-date=9 January 2021}}</ref><ref>[http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Back-up-your-programs-system-settings-and-files Back up... programs, system settings, and files (Windows 7)].</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ee872416.aspx |title=Create and Use a Virtual Hard Disk on Windows 7 |date=August 2016 |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> However, Backup and Restore can also only create system images of disks formatted with the [[NTFS]] [[file system]].<ref name="Tip" />

|chapterurl = http://download.microsoft.com/download/A/7/0/A704218A-B47C-4F2E-A318-22288DA1B801/626652_Win7InsideOut_Chapter_11.pdf
One could later restore the VHD through the [[Windows Recovery Environment]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Bott2009" /> 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 target machine must have the same number of disks.<ref>{{Cite news
|url = http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/archive/2008/03/10/what-s-new-with-backup-and-restore-on-vista-sp1.aspx
|title = What's new with backup and Restore on Vista SP1
|work = The Storage Team at Microsoft – File Cabinet Blog
|agency = TechNet Blogs
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|date = 10 March 2008
|access-date = 19 May 2011
|first = Christine
|last = Fok
|archive-date = 4 May 2009
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090504133409/http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/archive/2008/03/10/what-s-new-with-backup-and-restore-on-vista-sp1.aspx
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>

Alternatively, one could mount the VHD image as a virtual disk, allowing extraction of individual files. The mounted virtual disk has all the features of an actual volume, meaning that the [[Previous Versions]] feature of Windows 7 is available on it. In Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate, it also possible to boot from the VHD file.<ref name=":0"/><ref name="Bott2009">{{Cite book
|chapter-url = http://download.microsoft.com/download/A/7/0/A704218A-B47C-4F2E-A318-22288DA1B801/626652_Win7InsideOut_Chapter_11.pdf
|title = Windows 7 Inside Out
|title = Windows 7 Inside Out
|chapter = Chapter 11: Backup and Restore
|chapter = Chapter 11: Backup and Restore
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|at = Creating a System Image Backup
|at = [https://archive.org/details/windows7insideou0000bott/page/ Creating a System Image Backup]
|nopp = yes
|first1 = Ed
|first1 = Ed
|last1 = Bott
|last1 = Bott
Line 77: Line 66:
|year = 2009
|year = 2009
|isbn = 978-0-7356-2665-2
|isbn = 978-0-7356-2665-2
|accessdate = 9 May 2011
|access-date = 9 May 2011
|url = https://archive.org/details/windows7insideou0000bott/page/
|chapter-format = [[PDF]]
}}</ref> Finally, [[Hypervisor|hypervisors]] such as [[Hyper-V]], [[VMware Workstation]], and [[Oracle VirtualBox]] support VHD as their disk format, so it is possible to use these backups in [[Virtual machine|virtual machines]].
}}</ref>


== Backup targets ==
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.<ref>{{Cite news
Backups could be stored on the root of any storage device other than the one being backed up or on a [[network share]]. However, Backup and Restore does not support backing up to a subfolder of a volume.<ref name="Subfolder">{{cite web|author=Sneha|date=25 August 2009|title=Backup destination subfolder selection|url=http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itproui/thread/626b8ecf-e415-4fd8-95d7-fa02e4ad36f0|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015041703/http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itproui/thread/626b8ecf-e415-4fd8-95d7-fa02e4ad36f0|archive-date=15 October 2010|access-date=23 December 2011|work=Windows 7 IT Pro Forums ([[Microsoft TechNet|TechNet]])|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|quote=Right now, backup does not support backing up to a sub folder of a volume. [...] However, this should not stop you from running backups of multiple computers to a device since every backup creates a <<MachineName>> folder and runs <<MachineName>> machine's backups to it.}}</ref> It also supports CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs as backup destinations,<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Stevenson|first1=Dan|date=23 March 2006|title=Backup And Restore in Windows Vista And Windows Server Longhorn|url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/b/9/5b97017b-e28a-4bae-ba48-174cf47d23cd/BUS107_WH06.ppt|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605002150/http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/b/9/5b97017b-e28a-4bae-ba48-174cf47d23cd/BUS107_WH06.ppt|archive-date=5 June 2011|access-date=19 May 2011|work=[[WinHEC]] 2006|publisher=Microsoft Corporation|format=[[Microsoft PowerPoint]]}}</ref> but does not support [[tape drive]]s.<ref name="Tip" />
|url = http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/archive/2008/03/10/what-s-new-with-backup-and-restore-on-vista-sp1.aspx
|title = What’s new with backup and Restore on Vista SP1
|work = The Storage Team at Microsoft - File Cabinet Blog
|agency = TechNet Blogs
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|date = 10 March 2008
|accessdate = 19 May 2011
|first = Christine
|last = Fok
}}</ref>


Windows Server Backup in [[Windows Server 2008]] does not support hard disk drives with large sector sizes (4096 bytes) unless they support [[512e|512 byte emulation]].<ref name="Server2008Error">{{cite web|last=Srivastava|first=Abhinav|date=29 October 2009|title=Backup fails with error code 2155348010 Windows Backup Forums|url=http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsbackup/thread/5d9e2f23-ee70-4d41-8bfc-c9c4068ee4e2|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610234212/http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsbackup/thread/5d9e2f23-ee70-4d41-8bfc-c9c4068ee4e2|archive-date=10 June 2011|access-date=10 June 2011|work=[[Microsoft TechNet|TechNet]] Forums|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|quote=The issue is that the Samsung drive has a 4096 byte sector size. {{sic|Windows server}} backup is not designed to run on such disks. We will try and address this issue in a future release. However, some disks with 4096 byte sector size do support and emulation mode for 512 byte sector. [...] If 512 sector size emulation can be enabled then {{sic|windows backup}} will be able to use this disk.}}</ref>
=== 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 Restore]] 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 [[Shadow Copy|Previous Versions]] shell extension.


==Limitations==
== Operation ==
Backup and Restore is only a [[Frontend and Backend|frontend]] for interfacing with the user. The [[Frontend and Backend|backend]] component is a [[Windows service]] called Windows Backup. This service runs independent of user sessions and can perform scheduled backups even when no users have logged onto the system. Scheduled backups, by default, run every Sunday at 7 P.M.<ref name="Tip" />
Windows Backup does not support tape drives.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ee872304.aspx
|title = Create and Use Backups Using the Backup and Restore Center
|work = TechNet Magazine Tips library
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|accessdate = 19 May 2011
|first = William R.
|last = Staneck
}}</ref> It also does not support backing up to or restoring from a subfolder of a disk; instead, it creates subfolders of its own.<ref>{{cite web|title=Backup destination subfolder selection|url=http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itproui/thread/626b8ecf-e415-4fd8-95d7-fa02e4ad36f0|work=Windows 7 IT Pro Forums|publisher=Microsoft Corporation|accessdate=23 December 2011|author=Sneha|date=25 August 2009|quote=Right now, backup does not support backing up to a sub folder of a volume. [~snip~] However, this should not stop you from running backups of mutliple computers to a device since every backup creates a <<MachineName>> folder and runs <<MachineName>> machine's backups to it.}}</ref> Backup and Restore can only make a system image of disks with [[NTFS]] file system. If the system image is to be saved on a USB flash drive, it must be formatted with NTFS file system.<ref>{{cite web
|title=Back up your programs, system settings, and files
|url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Back-up-your-programs-system-settings-and-files
|work=Windows 7 Help
|publisher=Microsoft Corporation
|accessdate=11 August 2011
}}</ref>


During a backup, Windows uses the [[Shadow Copy|Volume Shadow Copy Service]] (VSS) to ensure that files are not changed while they are being backed up.<ref>{{cite web|title=Overview of Processing a Backup Under VSS| date=7 January 2021 |url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa384589(v=VS.85).aspx|publisher=Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN)}}</ref> VSS ensures both file system-level consistency and app-level consistency for apps registered as ''VSS writers''. In Windows Vista and Windows 7, another Windows component called [[System Restore]] also uses VSS. As such, System Restore can use shadow copies that Backup and Restore created during a full system backup.<ref name="WindowsVistaBackupTechNet">{{cite journal|last=Fok|first=Christine|date=September 2007|title=A Guide to Windows Vista Backup Technologies|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2007.09.backup.aspx|journal=[[TechNet Magazine]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|access-date=19 May 2011|quote=Shadow copies created during File Backup and Complete PC Backup can also be used as restore points.}}</ref>
The version of Windows Backup supplied with Windows Server 2008 does not support hard disk drives with large sector sizes (4096 bytes) unless they support [[512e|512 byte emulation]].<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsbackup/thread/5d9e2f23-ee70-4d41-8bfc-c9c4068ee4e2
|title = Backup fails with error code 2155348010 Windows Backup Forums
|work = TechNet Forums
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|first1 = Abhinav
|last1 = Srivastava
|date = 29 October 2009
|accessdate = 19 May 2011
|quote = The issue is that the Samsung drive has a 4096 byte sector size. {{sic|Windows server}} backup is not designed to run on such disks. We will try and address this issue in a future release. However, some disks with 4096 byte sector size do support and emulation mode for 512 byte sector. [~snip~] If 512 sector size emulation can be enabled then {{sic|windows backup}} will be able to use this disk.
}}</ref>


As mentioned above, Backup and Restore is merely a frontend. Windows ships with an alternative frontend for Windows Backup, the [[WBAdmin]] [[Command line utility|command-line utility]]. Only a member of the Administrators groups or the Backup Operators group can run WBAdmin.
===Differences among editions (Windows Vista and Windows 7) ===
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.<ref>{{Cite web
|url = http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/products/compare?T1=tab01
|title = Compare Windows Vista
|work = Windows Vista product page
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|accessdate = 19 May 2011
|at = Windows Vista Editions
|nopp = yes
}}</ref>


== Edition comparison ==
The Windows Vista Business edition does not support writing PC backup images to dynamic drives; e.g. flash drives.<ref>{{Cite web
The Home Basic edition of Windows can perform manual file backups. The Home Premium and later editions can automate file backups, create file backups on network locations, create backup schedules, and perform incremental backups of files. The Professional, Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions support both the system image and Shadow Copy.<ref name="WVGPRevisions">{{cite web |url=http://download.microsoft.com:80/download/8/4/f/84f00e29-10b8-4342-a102-f75100c8aa15/WVPG%20Revisions%20RTM.pdf |title=Windows Vista Product Guide — Revisions |publisher=Microsoft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131021942/http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/4/f/84f00e29-10b8-4342-a102-f75100c8aa15/WVPG%20Revisions%20RTM.pdf |archive-date=31 January 2009 |access-date=25 October 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The user interface of Complete PC Backup in Windows Vista does not support creating a system image to a network location; however, the [[WBAdmin]] command can perform this operation. Unlike Windows Vista Home Premium,<ref name="WVGPRevisions" /> however, backing up files to a network share is not available in Windows 7 Home Premium.<ref name="Windows7HomePremiumRemoval">{{cite web |url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare |title=Compare Windows – Windows 7 Editions |quote = In addition to full-system Backup and Restore found in all editions, you can back up to a home or business network. |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519181126/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare |archive-date=19 May 2011 |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref><ref name="Win7FeatureRemoval">{{cite web |url=http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itproinstall/thread/20e8e21f-c555-4d09-bc46-26cf9926d105 |title=Windows 7 Home Premium network backup |last=Li |first=Arthur |date=28 October 2009 |quote='''Frankomali:''' I had this capability in Vista, and just lost it when I paid for and applied the "upgrade" to Windows 7. '''Arthur Li:''' Yes, this is the truth. Windows 7 Home Premium does not support to backup to a network location. |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |work=[[Microsoft TechNet|TechNet]] Forums |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203224136/http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itproinstall/thread/20e8e21f-c555-4d09-bc46-26cf9926d105 |archive-date=3 December 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref> Windows 7 provides a user interface option to create a system image to a network location.
|url = http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/back-up-programs-system-settings-files#1TC=windows-vista
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; table-layout:fixed"
|title = Back up your programs, system settings, and files
|-
|work = Windows Support
|+Comparison of the Backup and Restore features across Windows Vista and Windows 7 editions<ref name="WVGPRevisions"/><ref name="Windows7HomePremiumRemoval"/><ref name="Win7FeatureRemoval"/>
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|-
|accessdate = 16 March 2014
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Features
|at = Windows Vista Editions
! scope="col" colspan=4 | Editions
}}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" | Starter
! scope="col" | Home Basic
! scope="col" | Home Premium
! scope="col" | Other editions
|-
! scope="row" | {{pslink|File and folder backup}}
| {{No}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{pslink|System image}}
| {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Partial|7 only}} || {{Yes}}
|-
! scope="row" | Scheduling
| {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
|-
! scope="row" | Store backups on a network location
| {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Partial|Vista only}} || {{Yes}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Incremental backup]]
| {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Shadow Copy]]
| {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes}}
|}


==Deprecation==
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.<ref>{{Cite journal
With the release of [[Windows 8]], Microsoft deprecated Backup and Restore in favor the new [[File History]] feature. Microsoft cited low use as the contributing factor for its deprecation, though the company retained all of its functionality for users who relied on it; the feature was moved to a '''Windows 7 File Recovery''' Control Panel applet and all previous points of access were removed.<ref name="W7FR">{{cite web |url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/hh848073(v=vs.85).aspx |title=Windows 7 Backup and Restore deprecated |website=[[MSDN]] |date=September 2020 |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |access-date=8 January 2021}}</ref> In Windows 8.1, all interface functionality—with the exception of system image creation, which is in a '''System Image Backup''' option in File History—were removed.<ref name="81Backup">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/keithmayer/archive/2012/08/27/backup-amp-recovery-of-windows-8-windows8-itpro-tipoftheday.aspx |title=Backup and Recovery of Windows 8 & Windows 8.1 – Tip-of-the-Day |last=Mayer |first=Keith |date=17 September 2013 |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |work=[[Microsoft TechNet|TechNet]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207180804/http://blogs.technet.com/b/keithmayer/archive/2012/08/27/backup-amp-recovery-of-windows-8-windows8-itpro-tipoftheday.aspx |archive-date=7 December 2015}}</ref> Scheduling system image backups is not supported either. WBAdmin, however, remained available.<ref name="Hostile">{{cite web |url=http://www.edandersen.com/2013/09/15/windows-8-1s-user-hostile-backup-story/ |title=Windows 8.1's user-hostile backup story |last=Andersen |first=Ed |date=15 September 2013 |website=edandersen.com |publisher=[[WP:SPS|Self-published]] |access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref> (As mentioned above, both Backup and Restore, and WBAdmin are merely frontends for the Windows Backup service.) With the release of Windows 10, the '''Backup and Restore (Windows 7)''' Control Panel applet was made available again. All editions of Windows 10 are able to store backups on a network location.
|url = http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2007.09.backup.aspx
|title = A Guide to Windows Vista Backup Technologies
|work = [[TechNet Magazine]]
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|first = Christine
|last = Fok
|date=September 2007
|accessdate = 19 May 2011
}}</ref>

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;<ref name="bott-e-2009" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite web
|url = http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare
|title = Compare Windows – Windows 7 Editions
|work = Windows 7 Homepage
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|accessdate = 19 May 2011
|quote = In addition to full-system Backup and Restore found in all editions, you can back up to a home or business network.| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110519181126/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare| archivedate= 19 May 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}
</ref><ref>{{Cite web
|url = http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itproinstall/thread/20e8e21f-c555-4d09-bc46-26cf9926d105
|title = Windows 7 Home Premium network backup
|work = TechNet Forums
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|first1 = Arthur
|last1 = Li
|date = 28 October 2009
|accessdate = 19 May 2011
|quote = '''Frankomali:''' I had this capability in Vista, and just lost it when I paid for and applied the "upgrade" to Windows 7. '''Arthur Li:''' Yes, this is the truth. Windows 7 Home Premium does not support to backup to a network location.
}}</ref> 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.

==Removal==
Backup and Restore was removed in [[Windows 8]] and [[Windows Server 2012]]. Microsoft says this program is underused and is touting [[Features of Windows 8#File History|File History]] as the feature to replace file-based backup.<ref>{{Cite web
|url = http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=27416
|title = Windows and Windows Server Developer Preview Compatibility Cookbook
|publisher = Microsoft Corporation
|date = 27 March 2012
|accessdate = 5 April 2012
}}</ref>
All access points were removed except a Control Panel applet called '''Windows 7 File Recovery'''. <ref> https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/hh848073(v=vs.85).aspx</ref>


File History remains the default and preferred method to back up local content in Windows 10.<ref name="FeatureFocusBackup">{{cite web |url=https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/4279/windows-10-feature-focus-backup-and-recovery |title=Windows 10 Feature Focus: Backup and Recovery |last=Thurrott |first=Paul |date=23 June 2015 |website=thurrott.com |publisher=[[WP:SPS|Self-published]] |access-date=8 January 2021}}</ref> For the system image functionality, Microsoft recommends using third-party software.<ref name="SystemImageDeprecation">{{cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/planning/windows-10-deprecated-features |title=Windows 10 features we're no longer developing |website=microsoft.com |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>
In Windows 8.1, the Control Panel applet was removed but this functionality is still available as '''System Image Backup''' from File History.<ref> http://blogs.technet.com/b/keithmayer/archive/2012/08/27/backup-amp-recovery-of-windows-8-windows8-itpro-tipoftheday.aspx</ref> The Windows 8.1 System Image Backup function does not allow backing up individual files, folders, or libraries. Also, users can no longer scheduled backups in the GUI, although the wbadmin tool is still available, which can be used to execute scheduled backups using Task Scheduler. <ref>http://www.edandersen.com/2013/09/15/windows-8-1s-user-hostile-backup-story/</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}} 23.[http://www.backup-utility.com/free-backup-software.html backup and recovery software]Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista, NTFS, FAT32, FAT16, EXT2, EXT3 and other file systems,etc.


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/ The Filing Cabinet: Storage Team Blog about file services and storage features in Windows]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100507131736/http://blogs.technet.com/FileCab/ The Filing Cabinet: Storage Team Blog about file services and storage features in Windows]


{{Windows Components}}
{{Microsoft Windows components}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2011}}


[[Category:Backup software]]
[[Category:Backup software]]
[[Category:Discontinued Windows components]]
[[Category:Windows components]]
[[Category:Windows Vista]]
[[Category:Windows 7]]
[[Category:Windows 8]]
[[Category:Windows 10]]
[[Category:Windows 11]]

Latest revision as of 15:54, 8 January 2025

This article is about a computer program with this name. For generic term used for computers, see backup.

Backup and Restore
Other namesBackup and Restore Center
Backup Status and Configuration
Windows Backup
Windows 7 File Recovery
System Image Backup
Developer(s)Microsoft
Initial releaseNovember 30, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-11-30)
Included withWindows Vista and later
PredecessorNTBackup
SuccessorFile History
Service nameWindows Backup (SDRSVC)
TypeBackup software

Backup and Restore[1] (formerly Backup and Restore Center[2]) is the primary backup component of Windows Vista and Windows 7. It can create file and folder backups, as well as system images backups, to be used for recovery in the event of data corruption, hard disk drive failure, or malware infection. It replaces NTBackup, which has been part of Windows since Windows NT 3.51. Unlike its predecessor, it supports CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays discs as backup media.

Backup and Restore offers file and folder backup in all editions of Windows. But its full set of features are only available on high-end editions of Windows, i.e., the Professional, Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions.

Microsoft deprecated Backup and Restore in Windows 8.0, recommending to use the File History app for file-based backup and a third-party solution for system imaging. Despite its deprecation, however, it is part of all versions of Windows released thereafter.

The Windows Server counterpart of Backup and Restore is called Windows Server Backup.

Backup types

[edit]

Backup and Restore supports two different types of backup: File and folder backup, and system image.

File and folder backup

[edit]

The Backup and Restore app can create backup copies of individual files and folders. These backups are saved to ZIP files. Two methods of file backup are supported. The first, normal backup, stores everything selected for backup. The second, incremental backup stores only files that are changed after a previous backup.

File backup in Windows Vista does not allow users to choose specific files, locations, or users to back up; instead, it backs up content from all users based on categories: audio tracks, compressed files, documents, email, photos, recorded television shows, videos, and additional user files. Users can only choose whether to perform a backup of a certain category.[3] Microsoft hoped that this simplistic approach would prove appealing to users who were easily appalled by "a long tree of checkboxes."[4]

File backup in Windows 7 presents two options for operation: Let Me Choose, which allows users to perform backups of specific folders, libraries, and to create a system image; and Let Windows Choose, which creates backups of all personal data in user folders and libraries, and also creates a system image.[5]

System image

[edit]

The other method of backup, called Complete PC Backup in Windows Vista or system image in Windows 7, is a block-by-block disk image of the system, saved in a VHD file. The block-based backup is more efficient at performing subsequent differential backups, as only the blocks that have changed need to be backed up.[4][6][7] However, Backup and Restore can also only create system images of disks formatted with the NTFS file system.[5]

One could later restore the VHD through the Windows Recovery Environment.[7][8] 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 target machine must have the same number of disks.[9]

Alternatively, one could mount the VHD image as a virtual disk, allowing extraction of individual files. The mounted virtual disk has all the features of an actual volume, meaning that the Previous Versions feature of Windows 7 is available on it. In Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate, it also possible to boot from the VHD file.[7][8] Finally, hypervisors such as Hyper-V, VMware Workstation, and Oracle VirtualBox support VHD as their disk format, so it is possible to use these backups in virtual machines.

Backup targets

[edit]

Backups could be stored on the root of any storage device other than the one being backed up or on a network share. However, Backup and Restore does not support backing up to a subfolder of a volume.[10] It also supports CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs as backup destinations,[11] but does not support tape drives.[5]

Windows Server Backup in Windows Server 2008 does not support hard disk drives with large sector sizes (4096 bytes) unless they support 512 byte emulation.[12]

Operation

[edit]

Backup and Restore is only a frontend for interfacing with the user. The backend component is a Windows service called Windows Backup. This service runs independent of user sessions and can perform scheduled backups even when no users have logged onto the system. Scheduled backups, by default, run every Sunday at 7 P.M.[5]

During a backup, Windows uses the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to ensure that files are not changed while they are being backed up.[13] VSS ensures both file system-level consistency and app-level consistency for apps registered as VSS writers. In Windows Vista and Windows 7, another Windows component called System Restore also uses VSS. As such, System Restore can use shadow copies that Backup and Restore created during a full system backup.[14]

As mentioned above, Backup and Restore is merely a frontend. Windows ships with an alternative frontend for Windows Backup, the WBAdmin command-line utility. Only a member of the Administrators groups or the Backup Operators group can run WBAdmin.

Edition comparison

[edit]

The Home Basic edition of Windows can perform manual file backups. The Home Premium and later editions can automate file backups, create file backups on network locations, create backup schedules, and perform incremental backups of files. The Professional, Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions support both the system image and Shadow Copy.[15] The user interface of Complete PC Backup in Windows Vista does not support creating a system image to a network location; however, the WBAdmin command can perform this operation. Unlike Windows Vista Home Premium,[15] however, backing up files to a network share is not available in Windows 7 Home Premium.[16][17] Windows 7 provides a user interface option to create a system image to a network location.

Comparison of the Backup and Restore features across Windows Vista and Windows 7 editions[15][16][17]
Features Editions
Starter Home Basic Home Premium Other editions
File and folder backup No Yes Yes Yes
System image No No 7 only Yes
Scheduling No No Yes Yes
Store backups on a network location No No Vista only Yes
Incremental backup No No Yes Yes
Shadow Copy No No No Yes

Deprecation

[edit]

With the release of Windows 8, Microsoft deprecated Backup and Restore in favor the new File History feature. Microsoft cited low use as the contributing factor for its deprecation, though the company retained all of its functionality for users who relied on it; the feature was moved to a Windows 7 File Recovery Control Panel applet and all previous points of access were removed.[18] In Windows 8.1, all interface functionality—with the exception of system image creation, which is in a System Image Backup option in File History—were removed.[19] Scheduling system image backups is not supported either. WBAdmin, however, remained available.[20] (As mentioned above, both Backup and Restore, and WBAdmin are merely frontends for the Windows Backup service.) With the release of Windows 10, the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) Control Panel applet was made available again. All editions of Windows 10 are able to store backups on a network location.

File History remains the default and preferred method to back up local content in Windows 10.[21] For the system image functionality, Microsoft recommends using third-party software.[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Backup and Restore". Microsoft. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  2. ^ "Windows Vista features - security and safety". Microsoft. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  3. ^ Shultz, Greg (25 April 2007). "Back up your files with Vista's Back Up Files wizard". TechRepublic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b "File Backup in Windows Vista FAQ". TechNet Blogs (The Storage Team at Microsoft – File Cabinet Blog). Microsoft. 6 November 2006. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d "Tip: Create and Use Backups Using the Backup and Restore Center". TechNet Magazine. Microsoft. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  6. ^ Back up... programs, system settings, and files (Windows 7).
  7. ^ a b c "Create and Use a Virtual Hard Disk on Windows 7". Microsoft. August 2016.
  8. ^ a b Bott, Ed; Siechert, Carl; Stinson, Craig (2009). "Chapter 11: Backup and Restore" (PDF). Windows 7 Inside Out. Microsoft Corporation. Creating a System Image Backup. ISBN 978-0-7356-2665-2. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  9. ^ Fok, Christine (10 March 2008). "What's new with backup and Restore on Vista SP1". The Storage Team at Microsoft – File Cabinet Blog. Microsoft Corporation. TechNet Blogs. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  10. ^ Sneha (25 August 2009). "Backup destination subfolder selection". Windows 7 IT Pro Forums (TechNet). Microsoft. Archived from the original on 15 October 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2011. Right now, backup does not support backing up to a sub folder of a volume. [...] However, this should not stop you from running backups of multiple computers to a device since every backup creates a <<MachineName>> folder and runs <<MachineName>> machine's backups to it.
  11. ^ Stevenson, Dan (23 March 2006). "Backup And Restore in Windows Vista And Windows Server Longhorn" (Microsoft PowerPoint). WinHEC 2006. Microsoft Corporation. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  12. ^ Srivastava, Abhinav (29 October 2009). "Backup fails with error code 2155348010 Windows Backup Forums". TechNet Forums. Microsoft. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011. The issue is that the Samsung drive has a 4096 byte sector size. Windows server [sic] backup is not designed to run on such disks. We will try and address this issue in a future release. However, some disks with 4096 byte sector size do support and emulation mode for 512 byte sector. [...] If 512 sector size emulation can be enabled then windows backup [sic] will be able to use this disk.
  13. ^ "Overview of Processing a Backup Under VSS". Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN). 7 January 2021.
  14. ^ Fok, Christine (September 2007). "A Guide to Windows Vista Backup Technologies". TechNet Magazine. Microsoft. Retrieved 19 May 2011. Shadow copies created during File Backup and Complete PC Backup can also be used as restore points.
  15. ^ a b c "Windows Vista Product Guide — Revisions" (PDF). Microsoft. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 January 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  16. ^ a b "Compare Windows – Windows 7 Editions". Microsoft. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011. In addition to full-system Backup and Restore found in all editions, you can back up to a home or business network.
  17. ^ a b Li, Arthur (28 October 2009). "Windows 7 Home Premium network backup". TechNet Forums. Microsoft. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2011. Frankomali: I had this capability in Vista, and just lost it when I paid for and applied the "upgrade" to Windows 7. Arthur Li: Yes, this is the truth. Windows 7 Home Premium does not support to backup to a network location.
  18. ^ "Windows 7 Backup and Restore deprecated". MSDN. Microsoft. September 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  19. ^ Mayer, Keith (17 September 2013). "Backup and Recovery of Windows 8 & Windows 8.1 – Tip-of-the-Day". TechNet. Microsoft. Archived from the original on 7 December 2015.
  20. ^ Andersen, Ed (15 September 2013). "Windows 8.1's user-hostile backup story". edandersen.com. Self-published. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  21. ^ Thurrott, Paul (23 June 2015). "Windows 10 Feature Focus: Backup and Recovery". thurrott.com. Self-published. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  22. ^ "Windows 10 features we're no longer developing". microsoft.com. Microsoft. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
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