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Backup From Windows vs. Backup From Bootable Media

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Something I never thought of.

When I backed up my system and restored it to a 2nd drive, as a reliability test, I backed up the system from within Windows 7; not the bootable media. But during the recovery test, I only minimally tested the backup. I noticed there was also a backup from within the bootable media loader. This got me wondering if I should have made the full backup from the bootable media, to capture the entire system, including open files and programs, etc.

I have seen some backup programs fail to properly backup files and programs that are open or running. Also, there must be a difference, otherwise, why even offer backup from within the bootable media DVD?

1) I haven't tried that but I wonder what the difference is, if one performs the backup, from the bootable media vs. from within Windows 7?

2) Does it backup the system differently than if backed up from within Windows?

3) Are different things backed up? I mean does backup from the bootable media capture more information?

4) Are files and running programs and opened files handled differently between backups using these two methods?

5) Do both methods do sector by sector copy?

6) When might one backup from bootable vs. backup from within Windows 7?

I'm wondering if I get a better "clone" of my SSD disc, if I backup from the bootable media, vs from within a running Windows 7 system OS backup.

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1) Backing up from the recovery media or from windows is the same. ATI is extremely capable there.
To restore a disk and partition backup or to clone, though, always do it from the recovery medium.

2) No.

3) No.

4) No.

5) Yes and no. Both use sector level information to decide what goes in the backup. Sector by sector is a misleading option that just adds the empty sectors to the backup.

6) You can safely do your disk and partition from Windows, and even use your computer during the backup. Just make sure you include all the partitions on your SSD (in particular any hidden partition like the system reserved partition, and any recovery, OEM, diagnostics or other hidden partition. You can see hidden partitions with Windows Disk management and with ATI, not with Windows explorer).