Does Windows 7 Home Premium support backing up to a network share

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Windows Vista Home Premium supports automated back ups to a network share, so I would assume the Windows 7 Home Premium would also have this feature. However, several pages on the Microsoft site make it not-so-clear to whether the feature made it into RTM.

Can anyone with Windows 7 Home Premium installed confirm whether or not you can set an automated backup to write files to a network drive? Failing that, can you trick it by using a network mapped drive?

(I currently have the Ultimate RC installed and am trying to figure out which RTM version to by)

Richard Szalay

Posted 2009-10-24T15:24:56.387

Reputation: 611

a gazillion of decent backup programs - supported by any flavor of windows 7 - will do that, thus the answer is yes. however, if you're asking whether Windows 7 Home Premium natively features backup to network shares, you should rephrase your question. :) – None – 2009-10-24T16:03:10.803

Answers

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Having just installed Home Premium onto a Virtual PC, I can confirm that not only does Home Premium not support backing up to a network share, but that mapped network drives do not show up in the "Backup Location" list.

Richard Szalay

Posted 2009-10-24T15:24:56.387

Reputation: 611

0

Microsoft offers a solution to this problem for free but will not tell you about it. It's called Sync Toy. It is a free application on their website in the download center. Here is the link.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=c26efa36-98e0-4ee9-a7c5-98d0592d8c52

It allows you to "sync" folders over your home network and even an external drive....

John

Posted 2009-10-24T15:24:56.387

Reputation: 1

3This is not the same as its built-in backup. The built in backup tool can do full image backups; sync toy cannot. – nhinkle – 2011-05-10T03:27:33.923

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There's a page at Microsoft's website to compare editions and it clearly states that only Professional and better has the backup to network feature.

It is my belief that Microsoft want you to buy a Windows Home Server to be able to backup over the network at home. If you already own a home server then you're good to go.

Paxxi

Posted 2009-10-24T15:24:56.387

Reputation: 6 952

I linked to that page in my question. If you look at the link in Alex's answer, it implies the opposite. I have done research into this, I simply want someone with HP installed to confirm. – Richard Szalay – 2009-10-24T15:55:21.270

sorry about that, missed the link in your post. – Paxxi – 2009-10-24T18:20:21.603

No worries. I'd say you're probably right regarding Windows Home Server. Anyway, I'm installing HP (legit) onto VPC now so I'll see if it works. – Richard Szalay – 2009-10-24T20:56:35.250

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Richard Szalay is completely correct in every account. However, there is a workaround that enables you to backup your Windows 7 Home Premium machine on to a network drive.

  1. Right click on "My Computer" and hit "Manage".
  2. Select "Disk Management"
  3. Click on "Action" and select "Create VHD"

Image of creating a VHD

  1. Set the location to be on the network
  2. Choose a size large enough to store your backup
  3. Right click on the words "Not Initialized" to initialize the disk

Image of Initialize Disk

  1. Format the disk by right-clicking where it says "Unallocated" and select "New Simple Volume"

Format disk

This virtual disk will now show up in Backup and Restore!

Source: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-networking/how-do-backup-a-windows-7-machine-to-a-network/e733818b-0219-4037-b04d-166cff901dd7

Moshe

Posted 2009-10-24T15:24:56.387

Reputation: 1 255

Asked: 2009-10-24T15:24:56.387

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Active: 2015-05-21T16:20:32.533