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    Win 7 Backup/Restore with USB 3.0 External HDD

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by hgratt, Apr 26, 2011.

  1. hgratt

    hgratt Notebook Consultant

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    I want to create an image using the win 7 utility and store it on a USB 3.0 drive. Can I then boot from the win 7 recovery CD and access the USB 3.0 external drive for the restore, i.e., will the CD contain/load the USB 3.0 driver since the current Intel motherboards do not support USB 3.0 natively?

    Thanks,
    Harvey
     
    hgratt, Apr 26, 2011
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  2. Rodster

    Rodster Merica

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    If you have a non USB 3.0 port I would use that but W7 should load on startup of the recovery program generic USB drivers which the USB 3.0 should recognize. Everything will work because I have done what you are asking except I have a USB 2.0 external drive.
     
    Rodster, Apr 26, 2011
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  3. hgratt

    hgratt Notebook Consultant

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    I want to use the USB 3.0 port (for imaging and restoring) for speed. If I understand you correctly, you are saying that the current version of win 7 will create a restore CD which contains the USB 3.0 drivers (NEC?) or will load the USB 3.0 drivers from the external drive or controller firmware. Is this correct?

    Thanks,
    Harvey
     
    hgratt, Apr 26, 2011
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  4. Star Forge

    Star Forge Quaggan's Creed Redux!

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    The NEC Controller gets installed after the booting stage. It is added in after installation. During the installation it will only run USB 2.0 as the Windows 7 Installer gets access to USB 2.0 from the Intel Chipset. So you will be installing at USB 2.0 speeds. However, with my HP Elitebook, looks like the USB 3.0 ports don't even work during POST and is activated for data transfer until Windows 7 is booted into. So depending on the BIOS is coded, either condition occurs. However, USB 3.0 will not drive natively during the BIOS phase regardless.

    Remember, bootable drives work because they are running in a format that the motherboard chipset natively offers and will work on that account. Anything that is not natively supported can't be used for the bootable drive and will either run under the closest natively-supported option or fail to work until drivers are detected in the operating system.
     
    Star Forge, Apr 26, 2011
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  5. Rodster

    Rodster Merica

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    That's what I was trying to say.
     
    Rodster, Apr 26, 2011
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  6. 3Fees

    3Fees Notebook Deity

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    Yes,,,,Win 7 and Win 7 Sp1 did not include native USB 3.0 Drivers(Probably Win 8 will),,so USB 2.0 is it. I have done the backup and restore using usb 2.0,,, works well.

    Cheers
    3Fees :)
     
    3Fees, Apr 26, 2011
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