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I'm using the built-in Windows Backup. The default destination folder (backup location\computer name\Backup Set year-month-day time) is unsuitable for me because I already have got some other files in that location and I'd prefer to keep them there.

I found no way to change it. Is it possible to have a backup on the same partition but in a different folder? Or do I have to store backups on a different disk?

6 Answers 6

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Windows Backup allows you specify what drive to store backup data on. Unfortunately, you cannot change the directory hierarchy. Depending on what edition of Windows 7 you're using, you may have the ability to save to a network location, which could be a shared folder on your machine.

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  • +1 for the info, -billions to micro$**t for their stupidity. I tried sharing a folder on my external drive and setting that up as the destination, but winDoze backup refused to accept the login credentials even though there was an Explorer window open with the mapped drive in it. Jan 12, 2019 at 8:14
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The only thing I could think of was to use subst and create a virtual disk. I don't know if this is a good idea for backups.

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  • Wasn't aware of subst before. +1 to you sir/ma'm. Oct 18, 2010 at 0:06
  • nice option. It never occured to me that I could use this too.
    – Ayusman
    Jun 7, 2012 at 4:59
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Solution (workaround!)

I think, you have only one workaround for this problem, because the Windows Backup has not any settings or registry parameters for it.

For more info: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb891959(v=vs.85).aspx

You can use subst command to mount a directory as drive in backuped system and Windows Installer too.

  1. Make an auto running script with subst for always present backup drive.
  2. Configure Windows Backup to use this drive
  3. You are finished on backup site!

At restore:

  1. Boot a Windows Installer.
  2. Press SHIFT+F10 for catch a command prompt.
  3. Re-create the subst mount.
  4. Exit from console
  5. Start restore process from this drive.
  6. Cheers! ;)

Not preferred

Here are some methods what will work for backup, but you can restore files on working system only! Can not use these in Windows Installer / Recovery Partition!

  • Localhost network share: You can share a local directory and make backup on local share.

    The Windows Installer environment is not supported make shares, so you can not make same environment for restore. The required services are not available and the net share command will not work!

  • VHD file: You can mount a virtual disk image and can use it as backup destination.

    The vhdmount command is not present in installer, so you can not reach your recovery data.

P.S: Any backup are not worth anything, when I can not restore the original state!

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  • This is not an answer to the original question.
    – DavidPostill
    Sep 26, 2014 at 8:32
  • The subst way does not work anymore in windows 10, windows backup will give an internal error. Aug 3, 2017 at 19:02
  • @engineercoding can you send me a screenshot or any details from this error?
    – andras.tim
    Aug 8, 2017 at 13:46
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Hihi, did not try this, but it will be cool if it works :D I was also frustrated with backup naming and location (stupid backup polluting my partition root), but eventually i started making my backup on network and forgot about this. So you should try this:

  • Create some folder where you want to place you backup
  • Share this folder to yourself
  • Select option to backup on network and give you shared folder as location, but not as local path as D:\FolderForBackup , you must use you network path as //MyComputerName/FolderForBackup

If this works than lol.

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  • How to share a folder to yourself?
    – fohrums
    Sep 20, 2018 at 1:27
  • @fohrums Go to folder options, Share, AdvancedSharingOptions and add only you as user which can access this shared folder. Sep 20, 2018 at 10:37
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I gave up on Windows 7 Backup, and just created a Dynamic expanding VHD as B: in the Disk Manager, and used Robocopy. :) Windows Backup would not even recognize my non-active VHD it created either.. Sigh..

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    That works great for files, but it does not capture registry state, does it?
    – mafu
    Aug 29, 2012 at 8:03
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I am running Windows 10 and using the legacy Windows 7 backup app. I wanted to use a different drive but that app didn't allow it. I deleted the partition on the designated backup drive and ran backup again (before creating a new partition on the old drive). Backup complained that the old drive was unavailable. Selecting the "Change setting" option allowed me to pick a new drive.

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