Best Free set it and forget it Windows 7 backup software?

[alkemyst]

I am running into what I believe is my system reserved partition being too small for my backup to run. I have tried removing language packs etc...(error codes 0x81000101 and the like).

Rather than expand my system partition, I'd just like to switch to a new backup software.

I'd like it to be set it and forget it and restore from scratch without too much hassle.

 

[Diogenes2]

I really like Macrium for cloning.. It has scheduling, but the free version will not do incremental..

Most ( good ) free stuff will be crippled in some way..

 

[Bubbaleone]

I am running into what I believe is my system reserved partition being too small for my backup to run. I have tried removing language packs etc...(error codes 0x81000101 and the like).

Rather than expand my system partition, I'd just like to switch to a new backup software.

I'd like it to be set it and forget it and restore from scratch without too much hassle.

FBackup v4.8.276 is a free backup software with an impressive set of features that includes fine-grained control of set-and-forget scheduled backups. FBackup can also load a range of different Plugins for backing up or restoring specific program settings or other custom data (like game saves, email data, etc.).

 

[sm625]

Use windows 7 image backup. It shouldnt care about the size of the system partition since it writes the backup image to a location you specify. It cant be any simpler. If only you could exclude files and folders from the image.......

 

[PowerYoga]

I had problems with windows imaging. It would always have some sort of permissions problems trying to back up the OS drive. Macarium free doesn't do incrementals but it does do full image backups...

 

[alkemyst]

I went with Easeus' product. Free, scheduling and incremental or full clone if desired. You can set different priority levels (even medium didn't seem to slow my machine down).

Easy GUI as well.

 

[FoxFifth]

I went with Easeus' product. Free, scheduling and incremental or full clone if desired. You can set different priority levels (even medium didn't seem to slow my machine down).

Easy GUI as well.

+1

 

[ralfy]

If "set and forget" includes not just scheduling but also automatic cleaning features (e.g., if the backup disk is full, then the program will delete the oldest backup sets or versions of files automatically), then one can probably look at the latest versions of Genie Timeline, Acronis, etc.

 

[Virgorising]

I tried others after abandoning XXclone which I used to luv...tried Acrnois, lots of them, and here is the one I ended up with. I ADORE IT.

http://www.miray.de/products/sat.hdclone.html

But it's not set it and forget it, I don't even trust that in such an app. But I do new, updated clone (re my internal strategy) to my backup drive once a week. Since my volumes have so much free space, this takes like 24 mins.....and I don't sit around. I then set dual boot option using free EasyBCD.

I ended up getting one of the not free versions of miray cause I liked its options. But the free one works!

 

[Kaido]

Macrium, Genie Timeline, and Backblaze are what I use.

 

[Charlie98]

If you have a Western Digital drive in your system you can download a limited version of Acronis 2012 for free... I use it in 4 of my systems for backup and I can tell you from experience it WORKS.

 

[ralfy]

For a free set-and-forget process, i.e., including auto cleaning of old backups, I am trying Win Backup (system image only) scheduled monthly and Genie Timeline free for incremental file backups (I think fixed at every 8 hrs).

 

[geekiergeek]

+1 for Acronis True Image

 

[Cerb]

Use windows 7 image backup. It shouldnt care about the size of the system partition since it writes the backup image to a location you specify. It cant be any simpler. If only you could exclude files and folders from the image.......

...and extract specific files from the image. :\ Using Windows' backup, you still want a secondary file backup.

 

[yinan]

Macrium reflect. Easy to set up, does incrementals. I sued to use Acronis but it can be a PITA. Macrium was just easier, and you can pull individual files out of a backup without having to restore the whole thing.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I'm also a fan of Macrium. Served me well through the years.

Macrium reflect. Easy to set up, does incrementals. I sued to use Acronis but it can be a PITA. Macrium was just easier, and you can pull individual files out of a backup without having to restore the whole thing.

 

[jhansman]

+1 for Acronis True Image

This. Once you have a full backup, set it for incremental once a week and forget it.

 

[bonehead123]

This. Once you have a full backup, set it for incremental once a week and forget it.

2nd this ^^

 

[ralfy]

I found out that Easeus, which was mentioned earlier, is the only one that has a free version with a set-and-forget feature (i.e., scheduling and auto cleaning) and imaging (for bare metal restore). But there's no differential backup.