When you back up your computer, you choose from
two types of backups:
drive-based backup: backs
up an entire hard drive
file and folder backup:
backs up only the files and folders you select
Which backup type you
choose depends on what you are trying to protect and how much
storage space you have to store backup data (recovery points, and
file and folder backup data).
The following table
highlights the key uses of each backup type:
Backup type
Use to
Drive-based backup
Back up and recover your computer (system drive, typically drive
C)
Back up and recover a specific hard drive (any secondary drive,
drives other than your system drive)
Recover lost or damaged files or folders using recovery
points
File and folder backup
Back up and recover specific files and folders, such as personal
files stored in the My Documents folder
Back up and recover files of a specific type, such as music
(.mp3, .wav) or photographs (.jpg, .bmp)