Can't work out access to files on WD My Passport

[giddyup]

I just bought a WD My Passport external hard drive and did a complete backup. However I don't know where all my files are actually located when I use the "Open folder to view files" option. I see a list which includes "Windows Image Backup" but when I open that all I see is a whole list of XML Documents but it gives no indication of what is what. I thought an external hard drive would be as locating files on a flash drive, but apparently not so.

[kkerry]

Windows Image Backup is a single file with an exact copy of everything you need to quickly re-install your Windows set-up, say if the hard disk on your computer failed, or if you want to duplicate the same set-up across other computers. You can't use Windows Explorer to read all the files inside. If all you want are copies of your files and folders (not the OS) and to open them on your WD normally, or to synchronize your files across different computers then I think what you mean is a file back-up. You can simply copy or drag and drop from your main computer to your external drive or use free software like SyncBack for synchronization.

[billzant]

Kkerry,

Windows Image Backup - is this created by WD Smartware or is it software in windows?

My computer has 3 partitions, C for windows, D for data E for backup files. I would like to setup a system backup to be stored on a passport drive - something along these lines:-

1) Create a drive image for C - don't know how.

2) Copy D and E data files onto my Passport

Restore:-

1) Format C drive and install windows

2) Restore drive image onto C
2) Create partitions D and E, and copy data onto respective drives.

In this way I believe I can backup my system.

Problem before:- I have never been able to create a reliable drive image for C.

Does WD smartware do this?

Does the download WD disk image for windows do it? It says something about replacing original files??

[kkerry]

I've got fairly basic needs now unlike someone who needs to have lots of back-up and recovery options. All I really use is the backup and restore options from Windows (Control Panel) to once a week automatically image my C Windows drive to its own dedicated partition on an external drive in case of hard disk failure. It's very easy to use but if you can't figure it out then Microsoft will have a guide somewhere on their site. All my data is on my D drive and media on my E drive so I copy the files that matter to me to my external disk and also on to a couple of flash drives and a few special ones to the cloud. If I lost all my music and movies I would just re-download them if I thought I might watch them again. Most of my favorite movies are on another drive hooked up to our TV anyway.

I have never used WD software but I imagine the primary purpose of it is to clone your old hard disk to a new hard disk rather than constant updating. I've used Acronis software in the past and it seemed pretty good even on the free version (if they still have one) otherwise there are many different options available.

Restore 1) and 2) is really only one process as the image of your current C drive when put on a new hard disk allows you to carry on with the Windows operating system you were using, just on a replacement hard disk.

If you have vital files you can't afford to lose then a proper back-up strategy would be to copy to an external hard drive, to a flash drive, to DVD and to the cloud, also making sure you have at least one copy stored off site in case your house is destroyed, or even mail a copy to yourself daily like I've heard some people do.

Edited December 27, 2013 by kkerry