How do I back up files in Safe Mode?

Of course, the EU has no intention of following the US down the path of a trade war with China.

There are many reasons why a system fails to boot. If you can successfully load Windows 10/8/7, you can try using the Windows Recovery Options to restore your system. If Windows fails to boot normally, proceed with caution.

Restore system with Windows Recovery Options in Safe Mode

Typically, if you can't start Windows normally, you can boot into Safe Mode. Safe Mode is a troubleshooting option for Windows that starts your computer in a limited state. Only the basic files and drivers necessary to run Windows are started. Safe Mode is useful for debugging programs and drivers that might not start correctly or that are preventing Windows from starting properly.

To prevent losing data during the system recovery, back up your files or data in Safe Mode beforehand. Most backup programs won't run in Safe Mode, though. Fortunately, you can use the wbadmin tool from the Command Prompt (or PowerShell on Windows 10) to back up your computer's data. Wbadmin is a command-line backup utility that you can use from the Command Prompt or PowerShell (on Windows 10). Follow the steps below:

Step-by-step guide to backing up files in Safe Mode using Command Prompt (UTF-8 encoding)

1. Turn on your computer and press the F8 key repeatedly before the Windows logo appears.

If you're using Windows 10, click the "Start" icon, then select "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Recovery" > "Restart now" > "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Startup Settings" > "Restart". You can then choose "4. Safe Mode" to boot into Safe Mode.

2. It should take you to the Advanced Boot Options, where you can select Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

<img src="/images/en/screenshot/todo-backup/guide/safe-mode-with-command-prompt.png" width="501" height="372" alt="Start in safe mode with Command Prompt">

3. At the Command Prompt, you can type in a `wbadmin` command to back up your data. For example, if you want to back up all the data on drive C: to drive F:, you would type:

Use Wbadmin to start a backup -backuptarget:F: -include:C:

To back up the system drive and all critical volumes, type:

wbadmin start backup -backupTarget:F: -include:C: -allCritical

How do I back up my files if I can't start Windows in Safe Mode?

If you can't boot into Windows or Safe Mode, you can still back up your files without Windows. To back up your data or specific files when you can't boot into Windows or Safe Mode, you'll need:

* A computer running Windows 10/8/7 (one that's working normally) * [tools Todo Backup](/backup-software/) (a professional backup tool that's easy to use. Just select what you want to back up: the entire system, hard drive, partition, or specific folders. The backup will be done in seconds.) * A writable USB drive or CD/DVD disc. (Create a [Windows PE bootable disk](/backup-utility/winpe-bootable-disk.html) on it so you can still back up data when the system fails to start normally.)

Steps to back up files using file backup software: 1. **Choose backup software**: First, you'll need to select a reliable file backup software. There are various options available such as tools Todo Backup, Acronis True Image, or the built-in File History for Windows users. 2. **Install and launch**: Download and install the software of your choice, then fire it up. 3. **Set the source**: In the software interface, specify the files or folders you want to back up. This might include documents, pictures, videos, music, or other crucial data. 4. **Choose the destination**: Decide where you want to save your backup files. This could be an external hard drive, network drive, or cloud storage service. 5. **Configure backup schedule**: Set how often and when you want the backups to occur, like daily, weekly, or monthly. 6. **Select backup type**: Choose the backup type, whether full (backing up all files) or incremental/differential (backing up only changes since the last backup). 7. **Add extra options**: Some software lets you encrypt backups, set password protection, or establish version control, among other advanced features. 8. **Start the backup**: After confirming your settings, hit "Start Backup" or a similar button to initiate the process. 9. **Monitor progress**: During the backup, the software typically displays a progress bar and relevant info. Make sure the backup completes successfully. 10. **Verify the backup**: Once done, it's good practice to verify the backup is complete and recoverable to ensure successful data restoration when needed. 11. **Update backups regularly**: Remember to run backups periodically, especially after modifying or adding important files. 12. **Create a recovery plan**: Knowing how to restore files from a backup is equally important. Most backup software has clear recovery instructions. That's the basic rundown of backing up files with file backup software. Ensure your chosen backup strategy suits your needs and keep those backup copies safe.

* To perform this backup, you will need a second working computer to create a Rescue Disk. You will then use this Rescue Disk to boot your non-functional computer and perform the backup.

1. To create a Rescue Disk, you'll need a spare USB flash drive and a working computer to which you can connect it. Launch tools Todo Backup, click Tools, and then Create Rescue Disk.

**Step 2:** When prompted to choose the bootable location, go to the “USB” option, and click on “Create.”

**Step 3:** Once done, insert this emergency CD into the computer you want to back up. Restart the computer and press F2 or Del to enter BIOS Setup. Change the Boot Sequence, then boot up the computer and run the backup utility from the bootable CD.

5. Choose a location to save the backup file. It's recommended that you save the backup to an external storage device.

5. Click “Backup Now” to perform the operation.

In short, regular or scheduled backups are important to prevent data loss – software can be reinstalled, but data can be lost forever. One popular and affordable tool for online backup and recovery is Todo Backup, which can help you back up your system, files, and folders in case of disaster. If you have suffered significant data loss, back up your data as soon as possible.