Some questions re backing up my laptop

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

Ok, so I got an ex hdd.

THREE main questions.

Question 1.

I backed up my lpatop and it took up 350gb of my 500gb ex hdd.

about 150gb was the backup and then the same again, roughly, for the system image.

My issue is, I want to make the back up size smaller by not including some of my downloads library files inthe backup - eg include movies but not tv shows.

Problem is if I choose the advanced (I get to choose all files and folders etc) rather than general backup option (Computer / hdd manager chooses automatically) - I am not sure what I need to back up with regards to anything other than my movies.

Do I need to back up desktop? My computer?

I have no clue!

What i want to do is backup all of my movies AND everything I need to get my laptop working again should the laptop's hdd stop functioning.

Is that possible? To back up my SYSTEM (ie my OS, settings, programmes etc, a virtual copy of my laptop in effect i guess) so if my hdd crashes, I can re-load it all via the ex hdd.

Or is a back up only for saving data such as mvies, docs and favorites?

I have no clue!

What is a sytem image?

Help please....

I was going to delete all the tv shows from my laptop hdd etc, then do back up so I have movies only on the ex hdd (along with whatever else)and then re-download the tv shows on tothe laptop after the backup is done so as to save space on the ex hdd - but that seems a little time intensive and maybe the wrong way to go about it, so thought I'd check here first.

So again, as well as my movies - what else do I need to back up - and how - so as to be able to essentially use my os and laptop as normal from my ex hdd in the event of my laptop hdd crashing - and is that what a backup is?

Question 2.

ALSO - when I did the 1st backup, it winzipped the files. So a movie was saved in like 4 or 5 pieces of 200mb each and all winzipped. I didn't like that and wanted each movie saved as one file just like it is on my laptop hdd in 'downloads.' So after deleting the backup, I also uninstalled the free winzip. When I do my next back up, now that winzip is gone - will it save the movies as whole files (I'm assuming it didn't before only because winzip zipped the files automatically or soemthing....)

Question 3.

Actually I'm fine with the backup or the image size if the ex hdd does the auto back up where it chooses the files etc - if I only need one of them.  I can handle 150gb of space taken up. 

Do I need both?

How are they different.

Cheers.

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

Also seeing as my laptop hdd is only 250gb, a clone would be as good as backup no - and would be smaller than the original backup and image combined.

Gah, so confusing.

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

Ok, I think I'm on to a plan....

In windows backup it says windows WONT backup files that are in the recycle bin!

So I can just move the tv shows etc I don't need for my back up and sytem image (it says I need this as it can help restore my computer) into recycle bin, do the back up and image thing and then when it's done, eject the ext hdd and then just go to recycle bin and restore the files to the onboard hdd.

Right..?

[IslandGook]

From the Windows 7 Help File (TL/DR: you probably just need the file backup and set the computer to create regular system restore points for your registry and settings):


Windows provides the following backup tools:

Tool
 Description
 
File backup
 Windows Backup allows you to make copies of data files for all people that use the computer. You can let Windows choose what to back up or you can select the individual folders, libraries, and drives that you want to back up. By default, your backups are created on a regular schedule. You can change the schedule and you can manually create a backup at any time. Once you set up Windows Backup, Windows keeps track of the files and folders that are new or modified and adds them to your backup. To set up file backup, see Back up your files.
 
System image backup
 Windows Backup provides you with the ability to create a system image, which is an exact image of a drive. A system image includes Windows and your system settings, programs, and files. You can use a system image to restore the contents of your computer if your hard drive or computer ever stops working. When you restore your computer from a system image, it is a complete restoration; you can't choose individual items to restore, and all of your current programs, system settings, and files are replaced. Although this type of backup includes your personal files, we recommend that you back up your files regularly using Windows Backup so that you can restore individual files and folders as needed. When you set up scheduled file backup, you can choose whether you want to include a system image. This system image only includes the drives required for Windows to run. You can manually create a system image if you want to include additional data drives.
 
Previous versions
 Previous versions are copies of files and folders that Windows automatically saves as part of system protection. You can use previous versions to restore files or folders that you accidentally modified or deleted, or that were damaged. Depending on the type of file or folder, you can open, save to a different location, or restore a previous version. Previous versions can be helpful, but should not be considered a backup because the files get replaced by new versions and will not be available if the drive were to fail. For more information, see Previous versions of files: frequently asked questions.
 
System Restore
 System Restore helps you restore your computer's system files to an earlier point in time. It's a way to undo system changes to your computer without affecting your personal files, such as e‑mail, documents, or photos. System Restore uses a feature called system protection to regularly create and save restore points on your computer. These restore points contain information about registry settings and other system information that Windows uses. You can also create restore points manually. For more information about System Restore, see What is System Restore?
 

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

Yeah, I already read all of that on my laptop.

Anyone able to address my 3 questions directly...?

I read this on a website -

Some back-up software makes it simple to back up whole drives, including operating system files with a few clicks. This means if the worst happened, you could have your PC system up and running again within hours.

So I need to back up the whole drive right?

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

Well I did a full backup and system image.

All my docs were fine and opened, but it saved my movies in parts and they wouldn't play from the ext hdd.

So I deleted them from the backup and then just copied and pasted them into the ext hdd and they saved as whole files and play as normal!

From the backup I just kept

1. everything that wasn't a movie, prgrammes, windows files etc

2. and also the whole 125gb system image file.

Those should be enought to reboot windows and get my system working again if my onboard hdd dies?

[Davey]

Well I did a full backup and system image.

All my docs were fine and opened, but it saved my movies in parts and they wouldn't play from the ext hdd.

So I deleted them from the backup and then just copied and pasted them into the ext hdd and they saved as whole files and play as normal!

From the backup I just kept

1. everything that wasn't a movie, prgrammes, windows files etc

2. and also the whole 125gb system image file.

Those should be enought to reboot windows and get my system working again if my onboard hdd dies?

Yes, as long as you have the system image file, you'll be able to restore your computer if it were to ever fail.