Windows 7 Backup: One external drive, multiple computers

[king4lex]

Hi,

Here's the low down: I have one 1.5 TB external hard drive, but I have two computers that I want to keep backed up. My plan is to (1) use the Windows Backup program to back up the first computer to the external, (2) move the external to the second computer, (3) use Windows Backup to back up the second computer to the external too, (4) keep moving the external back and forth between computers every few days so they each get a chance to backup.

Has anyone tried this before? My main concern is making sure that the Backup program in Windows 7 (both computers are running 7) is smart enough that the second computer won't overwrite the first computer's backup.

 

[FoxFifth]

It works. I do 2 computers to one USB external the way you describe. Each backup is identified with the Computer name.

 

[Harvey]

You should be able to partiton the external backup drive and select which partition you use when you are backing up your machines.

 

[Marktime]

It works. I do 2 computers to one USB external the way you describe. Each backup is identified with the Computer name.

I have 4 hard drives on my PC.. and I have a USB2.0 and a USB 3.0 external hard drive bay

Primary system is Win 7 but also have several partitions on each drive, some with another OS, so 4 hard drives in all around 2 TB total.

I have a 5th drive designated for backup of these drives and their partitions, it is a two TB hard drive and was wondering what is the fastest way to back up the individual drives/partions on a regular basis? Being able to select one or all from time to time as i do not have a need to constantly back up data on some drives.

I know I can make 3 or 4,5,6,7 etc... partitions and potentially copy and paste each, but for those with an extra OS on the drive will this work? Is there an easier faster way to make an image without taking up the entire drive?

I know some images are much smaller than the original until uncompressed. Is there a free or Open source otion that works on Windows 7?

Thanks in advance

 

[Gooberlx2]

Is one of the systems win7 Pro by chance? Pro can backup to a network share, which could save you the hassle of disconnecting and moving the drive around.

edit: Whoops, didn't realize this was a thread necro.

Marktime, do you need to make only data backups? or actual images of the partitions? I'm assuming your "other os" partitions might be linux or some such, and not use windows compatible file systems.

Honestly, pay for acronis true image if you need to make partition images. Otherwise, crashplan works very well for data backup.

 

[Marktime]

It is Windows 7 Ultimate (x64) plus Mint and Ubuntu.

For many of us cash is tight as the economy is terrible so this is why I am looking for cheapest way out, also I am not so Linux savvy and do not use them often but the many other partitions are indeed data that I want to back up just in case.

I would primarily be backing up the Windows 7 Ultimate regularly, but time to time the other partitions as I move thngs from A to B...

The data on the Linux is already saved into Windows areas, so that is not important, but I dont want to lose other files from older PCs which are on the random partitions across 3 other drives

Is one of the systems win7 Pro by chance? Pro can backup to a network share, which could save you the hassle of disconnecting and moving the drive around.

edit: Whoops, didn't realize this was a thread necro.

Marktime, do you need to make only data backups? or actual images of the partitions? I'm assuming your "other os" partitions might be linux or some such, and not use windows compatible file systems.

Honestly, pay for acronis true image if you need to make partition images. Otherwise, crashplan works very well for data backup.

 

[sm625]

For the OP's case I do not see a reason to use multiple partitions.