Backups for Windows 8.1

[DalonFalco]

I've recently upgraded to Windows 8.1 for my home file/media server. Previously, I'd just use Robocopy to make a copy of all my data to an external hard drive. This has some limitations, though, and I'd like to start getting actual backups instead. I really only need to back up the system about once every 2 weeks (bill receipts, etc). I would have used NT Backup but I see it looks like this has been replaced with something else that is a bit foreign to me. I'll still keep a full on copy via Robocopy on an external drive for portability but I'd like to add backup for versioning in case something corrupts or goes missing and I don't notice until later, which I see is partly what this new thing on 8 can do. I do use Bitlocker on the Data and Media drives if that makes any difference. I admin HP DataProtector at work but I don't see that being very useful for home (the Express version I have a license for home use).

Suggestions on how to set this up? Is the Windows tool the one I should be using or should I go with Robocopy /B and run it through something like 7zip afterwards to compress? Something else/better?

 

[Ketchup]

What do you think about File History that comes with 8.1?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/set-drive-file-history
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/what-happened-to-backup-restore

 

[DalonFalco]

I'm not against using it, I just don't know much about it. Does it compress the versioning files into backup blobs (which it can read and search) or will I need a 1+n space for each file? Wish Dedupe was in 8.1, I like how it works with Server 2012 without having to grab the files from a 2012 server and do some tweaks/hacks.

I don't need to back up the OS at all so it may be that file history will be the ticket.

 

[corkyg]

My backups for 8.1 consist of three duplicate OS drives, initially cloned, and then each is updated weekly. The drives are quickly changed via a EZSwap 4 mobile rack (trayless.)

They all share a common data drive which in turn has two external duplicates.

 

[Ketchup]

IMO I wish they still had the backup program from 7. I have it set to make backups for my personal folders each week, so I can get backups from any week I need. I don't use 8 on a daily basis, so another poster or Googling may provide more information.

If it were me, I would probably just play with it and see how it works for my needs.

 

[Kneedragger]

Windows 8 still has image back up I've been using it. I don't know if that interest you though..

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/what-happened-to-backup-restore

 

[DalonFalco]

So it looks like file history doesn't allow you to select where it's protecting files from which doesn't do me much good as it pulls from your user profile basically. I've looked at image backup but that's not really what I'm going for either. I just have a particular drive that I want to do that has all my documents on it. I'll have to do some more googling I guess.

Thanks.