我们将继续系统恢复(System Recovery)系列，其中有一篇关于称为Windows 备份(Windows Backup)的实用程序的文章，它是备份和还原(Backup and Restore)功能的一部分。此工具允许您复制数据并创建包含系统设置、程序和文件的系统映像。(system image)在本文中，我将展示如何访问Windows 备份(Windows Backup)、如何将其配置为自动或手动备份以及如何创建系统映像(System Image)。
什么是 Windows 备份
顾名思义，此工具可让您备份操作系统(operating system)、其设置和数据。您可以让Windows 7选择要备份的内容，也可以选择要备份的单个文件夹、库和磁盘驱动器。默认情况下，您的备份是按自动计划创建的，但您可以随时手动创建备份。设置Windows 备份(Windows Backup)后，它会跟踪新的或修改的文件和文件夹，并将它们添加到您的备份中。
此外， Windows 备份(Windows Backup)还提供了创建系统映像(system image)的能力，该系统映像是驱动器的克隆，具有相同的大小。系统映像(system image)包括Windows 7和您的系统设置、程序和文件。如果您的硬盘驱动器崩溃，您可以使用它来恢复计算机的内容。当您从系统映像(system image)修复计算机时，您必须知道这是一个完整的恢复过程(restoration process)，您不能选择单个项目、程序或系统设置。基本上驱动器被图像中的文件覆盖。
如何访问 Windows 备份
Windows 7 提供了多种打开备份和还原(Backup and Restore)功能的方法。
您可以在 'Start Menu -> All Programs -> Maintenance -> Backup and Restore ' 上找到它们。
您也可以转到“开始”菜单(Start Menu)，在搜索框中输入“备份”一词，然后选择('backup')“备份和恢复”(Backup and Restore)。
您可以通过打开控制面板(Control Panel)的经典视图并单击备份和还原(Backup and Restore)快捷方式来访问它。
在新的控制面板(Control Panel)视图中，可以在Control Panel -> System and Security -> Backup and Restore下找到它。
所有方法都将打开“备份和还原”(Backup and Restore)窗口。
配置 Windows 备份并创建(Configure Windows Backup and Create)您的第一个备份(First Backup)
默认情况下，Windows 备份(Windows Backup)功能处于关闭状态。要开始使用它，您必须对其进行配置。按照下面描述的步骤来配置和决定您需要哪种类型的备份：自动或手动，具体取决于您的需要。
注意：(NOTE:)您必须以管理员(Administrator)身份登录才能配置Windows 备份(Windows Backup)。
打开“备份和还原”(Backup and Restore)窗口后，只需按“设置备份”('Set up backup')链接。
下一个窗口将提供用于保存备份的可用驱动器列表。您还可以通过按指定按钮将备份保存在网络上。
注意：(NOTE:) “保存到网络选项”('Save on a network option')仅适用于Windows 7的专业版或旗舰版(Professional or Ultimate editions)。如果您按“保存在网络上按钮”('Save on a network button')按钮，将出现一个新窗口，您必须在其中完成网络位置(network location)，可能还有用户名和密码(username and password)。
选择备份位置后，下一个窗口将为您提供有关备份内容的两个选项：“让 Windows 选择”('Let Windows Choose')和“让我选择”('Let Me Choose')。
如果您想使用默认选项(default option)- “让 Windows 选择”('Let Windows choose') - Windows 备份(Windows Backup)在一次操作中创建两种备份类型：可用于灾难恢复的(disaster recovery)系统映像(system image)，以及在用户库中找到的数据文件的备份，Windows 桌面(Windows desktop)和默认的Windows文件夹。
第二个选项—— “让我选择”('Let me choose') ——允许您备份单个文件夹、驱动器或库。
在本教程中，我将向您展示如何使用第二个选项。选择它并按下一步(Next)按钮。
在下一个窗口中，您必须选择备份将包含的内容。例如，如果您需要保存My Documents并克隆操作系统分区，请选中(operating system partition)Document Library和'Include a system image of drive: (C:)'('Include a system image of drives: (C:)')复选框。
我建议通过选中“包含驱动器的系统映像”，('Include a system image of drives')在每个备份中包含操作系统驱动器(operating system drive)的映像。选择所需项目后，按下一步(Next)按钮。
接下来，您可以查看备份作业(backup job)，并可以选择备份过程(backup process)的运行方式。要配置您的计划备份，请使用“更改计划”('Change schedule')链接（请参阅下面的说明）。完成后，单击“保存设置并运行备份”('Save settings and run backup')。
当您打开“更改计划”('Change schedule')窗口时，您可以为自动备份设置一些选项，例如备份频率（每天、每周或每月）、日期和小时。如果您只想手动运行备份，请不要忘记取消选中“按计划运行备份”('Run backup on a schedule')选项。完成计划配置(schedule configuration)后，按OK。
完成所有需要的配置后，按(configuration press) “保存设置并运行备份”('Save setting and run backup')。将出现一个新窗口，其中显示备份的状态。
备份以这种格式保存：'(backup location)(computer name)Backup Set (year-month-day) (time)'. 就我而言，路径是'G:WindowsImageBackupMaximilian-PCBackup 2010-07-16 140319'.
如何创建系统映像
Windows 备份(Windows Backup)提供了一个有趣的功能，让您只需单击几下即可创建整个硬盘驱动器或单个分区的映像克隆。(image clone)
第一步是打开备份和还原(Backup and Restore)，然后单击“创建系统映像”('Create a system image')链接。
接下来，您必须选择备份的位置。有三个可用位置：硬盘、DVD 或网络(DVD or network)（仅在Windows 7的(Windows 7)专业版或旗舰版(Professional or Ultimate editions)中可用）。在这种情况下，备份将放置在硬盘上。
之后，您必须选择将包含在新映像中的驱动器。
在最后一步中，您必须按下“开始备份”('Start backup')按钮，您将不得不等待该过程开始。在开始整个过程之前，请确保(Make sure)您的硬盘驱动器上有足够的空间。否则(Otherwise)，您将收到错误（备份错误 0x80780048(Backup Error 0x80780048)）并且该过程将无法完成。
将出现一个显示操作状态的窗口。如果您认为有必要，您只能在此处选择“停止备份” 。('Stop backup')
该过程完成后，将显示一个弹出窗口，询问您是否要创建系统修复光盘(system repair disc)。如果您不希望下次使用备份功能(backup feature)时显示此窗口，只需选中“不再向我显示此消息”('Don't show me this message again')选项即可。在以后的教程中，我将向您展示如何创建系统修复光盘(system repair disc)。现在只需按“否”(No)按钮。
要完成该过程，只需单击关闭(Close)按钮。
结论
Windows 备份(Windows Backup)是一种只需单击几下即可备份计算机的安全方式。为了帮助确保您不会丢失文件，您应该通过设置要执行的自动备份或手动运行来定期备份它们。我建议在干净安装Windows 7之后做一个操作系统驱动器(operating system drive)的系统映像(system image)。不要犹豫，通过发表评论分享您的经验，不要错过我们进一步的教程。有关更多其他系统恢复(system recovery)选项，建议阅读以下文章。
Windows Backup - How it Works and How to Create a System Image
We will cоntinue the System Recovery series with an article about an utility called Windows Backup, part of the Backup and Restore features. This tool allows you to make copies of your data and also create a system image which includes system settings, programs and files. In this article I will show how to access Windows Backup, how to configure it for automatic or manual backup and how to create a System Image.
What is Windows Backup
As the name says, this tool allows you to backup your operating system, its settings and your data. You can let Windows 7 choose what to back up or you can select the individual folders, libraries, and the disk drives you want backed up. By default, your backups are created on a automatic schedule, but you can manually create a backup at any time. Once you set up Windows Backup, it keeps track of the files and folders that are new or modified and adds them to your backup.
Also Windows Backup offers the ability to create a system image, which is an clone of a drive, having the same size. A system image includes Windows 7 and your system settings, programs, and files. You can use it to restore the content of your computer if your hard drive crashes. When you repair your computer from a system image, you have to know that it is a complete restoration process, you can't choose individual items, programs or system settings. Basically the drive is overwritten with the files from image.
How to access Windows Backup
Windows 7 offers numerous ways to open the Backup and Restore features.
You can find them on 'Start Menu -> All Programs -> Maintenance -> Backup and Restore ' .
Also you can you can go to Start Menu, type the word 'backup' in the search box of and choose Backup and Restore.
You can access it by opening the Classic view of the Control Panel and clicking on the Backup and Restore shortcut.
In the new Control Panel view, it can be found under Control Panel -> System and Security -> Backup and Restore.
All methods will open the Backup and Restore window.
Configure Windows Backup and Create your First Backup
By default the Windows Backup feature is turned off. To start using it, you have to configure it. Follow the steps described bellow to configure and decide which type of backup you need: automatic or manual, depending of your needs.
NOTE: You must be logged in as Administrator to configure Windows Backup.
After you've opened the Backup and Restore window, just press the 'Set up backup' link.
The next window will provide a list of available drives for saving your backups. Also you have the possibility to save the backups on a network by pressing the designated button.
NOTE: The 'Save on a network option' is available only on the Professional or Ultimate editions of Windows 7. If you press the 'Save on a network button' button, a new window will appear where you have to complete the network location and, possibly, a username and password.
After you've chosen the location of your backup, the next window will offer you two options regarding the content of the backups: 'Let Windows Choose' and 'Let Me Choose'.
If you want to use the default option - 'Let Windows choose' - Windows Backup creates two backup types in a single operation: a system image, that can be used for disaster recovery, and a backup of data files found in your user's libraries, the Windows desktop, and default Windows folders.
The second option - 'Let me choose' - allows you to back up individual folders, drives or libraries.
In this tutorial I will show you how to use the second option. Select it and press the Next button.
In the next window you have to choose what the backup will contain. For instance, if you need to save My Documents and to clone the operating system partition, check the boxes Document Library and 'Include a system image of drives: (C:)'.
I recommend to include in every backup a image of your operating system drive by checking 'Include a system image of drives'. After you select the desired items press the Next button.
Next you can review the backup job and have the possibility to select how your backup process will run. To configure your scheduled backups use the 'Change schedule' link (see explanation below). When done, click 'Save settings and run backup'.
When you open the 'Change schedule' window, you can establish some options for the automatic backup, such as the frequency of the backup (daily, weekly or monthly), the day and the hour. If you want to run only manually your backups, don't forget to uncheck the 'Run backup on a schedule' option. When done with the schedule configuration, press OK.
After you finish all the needed configuration press 'Save setting and run backup'. A new window will appear which shows the status of your backup.
Backups are saved in this format: '(backup location)(computer name)Backup Set (year-month-day) (time)'. In my case, the path was 'G:WindowsImageBackupMaximilian-PCBackup 2010-07-16 140319'.
How to Create a System Image
Windows Backup offers an interesting feature which allows you to create with a few clicks an image clone of the entire hard drive or a single partition.
The first step is to open Backup and Restore and click on the 'Create a system image' link.
Next you have to choose the location of the backup. There are available three locations: hard-disk, DVD or network (available only in the Professional or Ultimate editions of Windows 7). In this case, the backup will be placed on the hard-disk.
After that, you have to select the drives which will be included in the new image.
In the final step you have to press the 'Start backup' button and you will have to wait for the process to start. Make sure you have enough space on your hard-drive before starting the entire process. Otherwise you will get an error (Backup Error 0x80780048) and the process won't be completed.
A window that display the status of the action will appear. Here you have only the option to 'Stop backup' if you consider necessary.
After the process is complete a pop-up window will be displayed that asks you if you want to create a system repair disc. If you don't wish that this window to be displayed the next time you use the backup feature, just check the option 'Don't show me this message again'. In a future tutorial I will show you how to create a system repair disc. For now just press the No button.
To finalize the process just click the Close button.
Conclusion
Windows Backup is a safe way to backup your computer just in a few clicks. To help ensure that you don't lose your files, you should back them up periodically by setting either an automatic backup to be performed or run it manually. I recommend that after a clean installation of Windows 7 to do a system image of the operating system drive. Don't hesitate to share your experience by leaving a comment and don't miss our further tutorials. For more other system recovery options, the following articles are recommended.
