Data backup, use Windows 7's backup or Western Digital?

Question

I'm going to lose my computer to hardware repair, so I have to back up my data. I have a Western Digital Essential drive, and it can hold my data and more. The question is, should I use WD's "backup" program that comes with it, or should I wipe the drive permanently and use the Windows 7 backup? Which one would make turn my computer to its prior state best?

Thanks for the help!

Sam Fisher · Accepted Answer

Neither are optimal, 

I would recommened that you grab a copy of clonezilla which is free, however clonezilla isn't the mopst use friendly if you want the most easy to use tool try acronis home edition.

ELfaGeek · Answer

You shouldn't have to "wipe the [External] drive".  It should already be recognizable (NTFS or FAT32) by W 7.  Read the Western Digital User Manual for more info.

So, try to use both.  If one tanks, the other may 'save your bacon'.

TIP:  If W 7's BackUp App wants to reformat your External hard drive, ABORT it, and use the W 7 'Back Up to DVD Option', instead, Belt and Suspenders!  Then to make sure that you can trust Western Digital's App, test it first, by doing a back up, then try to RESTORE it.  Your safety net is the DVDs.

starpc11 · Answer

don't use smartware western digital backup software, use windows 7 backup and back it up manually to the western digital drive , the whole  c: drive,smartware only backup doc's ,picture and music  also check out  acronis true image at the western digital site don't use the cloning function  use the function to back up the whole drive manually

Trending News

Data backup, use Windows 7's backup or Western Digital?

3 Answers