How to Back Up Files in Windows 7 to an External Hard Drive for Free

Windows 7 remains the third most popular operating system, after Windows 10 and 11. According to recent data, some 80% of users have experienced a black or blue screen of death, with some having no choice but to wipe their machines clean and start over, losing all of their files. You might regret not having backed up your files.

If you're still on Windows 7 and worried that you might end up in this situation, don't panic. This article from /Guides will show you how to back up your files from Windows 7 to an external hard drive using four simple and free methods. Let's get started!

Download Todo Backup tool to help you back up files to an external hard drive on Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

What files should I back up from my Windows 7 computer to an external hard drive?

Microsoft has ended extended security updates and support for Windows 7. Now that the operating system is end-of-life, your Windows 7 computer will become more vulnerable. As a result, hackers will exploit these vulnerabilities to attack your Windows 7 computer, eventually leading to data loss or ransom payments to hackers. The WannaCry virus is a prime example. This is why it's so important to back up your files on a computer running Windows 7.

The question is, which files should you back up? If you have a Windows 7 computer with 100 GB of data on it, do you need to back it all up? Absolutely not. You only need to back up important data on your Windows computer. Here's a list:

• Personal files. Most importantly, back up your files. These are usually found in the C:\Users\Username folder on a Windows computer.
• AppData. The AppData folder, located in C:\Users\Username, is often used to store user-specific settings for applications.
• Projects. If you do creative work like programming, video editing, or photography, back up these files, especially any ongoing projects.
• Email. If you use a desktop email client, you may need to back up your emails.

In short, you should back up anything you care about – whether that's family photos and videos, music, app settings, or saved games.

4 Ways to Free Backup Files to External Hard Drive on Windows 7

Now that you know what computer files to backup, let's look at how to back up files to an external hard drive or USB drive on your Windows 11/10/8/7 PC. The detailed guide below will introduce you to various methods, helping you find the perfect solution for your needs.

Method 1: Use an Automatic Backup Program

If you want to back up files on your Windows computer, using professional Windows backup software is the best way. This is because such tools allow you to enjoy many advanced backup features, like cloud backup, automatic backup, and more. For this, Todo Backup is one of the tools that deserve a mention in the backup field, also one of the best free backup software for Windows 7, meeting your needs.

Todo Backup Free is a simple yet feature-rich backup and recovery software for Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7. It allows you to automatically back up files, system, disks, and applications, as well as backup Windows 7 to a USB drive. Furthermore, it lets you save your backups to various locations, including local or external drives, NAS, secure zones, and the cloud.

Main features of Todo Backup tool:

• One-click backup and efficient instant recovery
• Easily and quickly clone hard drives and image hard disks
• 250GB of free cloud storage for file storage or backups
• Install Windows on a brand new PC without an operating system
• Perform intelligent, full, incremental, and differential backups

The Todo Backup tool can help backup various types of computer files and folders, numbering in the thousands. Whether you want to perform operations on a Windows computer such as backing up, imaging, cloning, transferring, or upgrading disks, it caters to your different needs. Make sure to download this tool on your computer to assist with backing up your files.

Here's how to back up your files on a Windows computer using the Todo Backup tool.

Step 1. To start the backup process, click the Select what to backup button.

Step 2: Identify four categories of data to back up: files, disks, operating systems, and e-mail.

Step 3: A list of both local and network files will appear on the left-hand side of the screen. Expand the directories and select the files you want to back up.

Step 4: Choose where you want to save the backup, following the on-screen instructions.

Please make sure the backup is encrypted and set up your backup schedule by clicking on the Options within the Backup Options. You can also choose to start a backup at a specific time by clicking on Options within the Backup Schedule. There are many other customizable options for you to explore.

Step 5: You can store the backup on your computer, in the tool's cloud service, or on a network-attached storage (NAS) device.

Step six: Todo Backup allows users to store backup copies of their files on third-party clouds or on the company's own cloud storage.

If you want to back up data to a third-party cloud drive, choose “Local Disk,” then scroll down and add a cloud device. Enter your account information when prompted.

Click “Cloud,” register, and log in to your account to store backups on the tool's cloud storage service.

Step 7. Click Backup Now to start the backup. When it's done, it appears as a card on the left side of the screen. Right-click it for more in-depth information about what the backup job entails.

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Method 2: Use Backup and Restore (Windows 7)

Another way to back up files on a Windows 7 computer is by using the built-in Windows Backup app, which was first introduced with Windows 7. Unlike the File History feature introduced in Windows 8.1, Backup and Restore allows you to back up files, create disk images, and even create a system image on a USB drive. Here's how:

Step 1: To launch the Windows 7 Backup and Restore tool, click the “Start” button, type “backup and restore” in the search box, or go to Control Panel – System and Security – Backup and Restore. Then click “Set up backup.”

Click Backup to set up backup.

Step 2: Choose where to save your backup. Plug an external hard drive into your Windows 7 computer, and select it as your backup location.

Select the external hard drive

Step 3: Select “Let me choose,” and then click [Next].

Step 4: Select the folder or file you want to back up, then click “Next.”

Select the files or folders to backup

5. Confirm the backup settings, or click “Change schedule” to customize the plan as you need. Then, click “Save settings and run backup”.

Method 3: Use Windows Easy Transfer

Windows Easy Transfer is a tool that comes built-in with Windows 7 and 8, designed to help you backup and transfer your settings, user accounts, taskbar options, emails, documents, pictures, and more from one hard drive to another or from one computer to another. Here's a detailed guide on how to use it: 1. **Prepare the Transfer Cable or USB Drive**: - If you're transferring data between two computers, you'll need a Windows Easy Transfer cable (if available) or a large USB drive with enough space for your files. 2. **Start Windows Easy Transfer**: - On the old computer (the one with the data you want to transfer), open Windows Easy Transfer. You can do this by searching "Windows Easy Transfer" in the Start menu or Cortana search bar. 3. **Select the Transfer Method**: - Choose "This is my old computer" and then select the method you'll use to connect to the new computer: either the Easy Transfer Cable or a USB drive. 4. **Connect the Transfer Medium**: - Plug in the Easy Transfer Cable between the two computers or insert the USB drive into the old computer. 5. **Begin the Transfer Process**: - Follow the on-screen prompts to start the transfer process. Windows Easy Transfer will scan your computer for user profiles, files, and settings. 6. **Select What to Transfer**: - You'll be asked to choose which user profiles to transfer and which files and settings to include. Be sure to check everything you want to move to the new computer. 7. **Save the Transfer File**: - If using a USB drive, save the transfer file to it. If using the Easy Transfer Cable, the process will occur directly between the two computers. 8. **Transfer to the New Computer**: - Now, plug the USB drive into the new computer or connect the Easy Transfer Cable. Start Windows Easy Transfer on the new computer and choose "This is my new computer." Follow the prompts to locate and import the transfer file. 9. **Wait for the Transfer to Complete**: - The transfer may take some time depending on the amount of data being moved. Make sure both computers remain connected during the process. 10. **Finish Up**: - Once the transfer is complete, follow any additional instructions to finalize the setup on the new computer. This might include setting up user accounts, reinstalling programs, and adjusting settings. Remember that Windows Easy Transfer is not available in Windows 10, so for newer systems, you might need to use alternative methods like external hard drives, cloud storage, or third-party migration tools.

Step one: Click on the Start menu, type “Windows Easy Transfer” into the search box, and open Windows Easy Transfer.

Step 2: When the Windows Update Assistant window opens, click on “Next.”

Click Next .

Step 3: Choose an external hard drive or USB flash drive.

Select an external hard drive or USB flash drive.

Step 4: Choose “This is my old computer.”

Step 5: The tool will scan all the files that are supported by Windows 7. Select the ones you want to back up, and click “Next.”

Select the files to backup

Step 6: Add a password for the backup image, and click “Save.”

Step 7: Choose the external drive connected to your Windows 7 computer, and click “Save” to back up the file to it.

Step 8: Tap “Next,” and you'll see a confirmation of where the backup will be stored.

When you're done, click “Close” to exit the tool, and then head to your new Windows computer and transfer the files over.

Method 4: Manually Copy and Paste

The last way to back up files on a Windows 7 computer is to manually copy and paste the files from your computer onto an external hard drive. This is the simplest method, requiring no computer skills. Here's how:

Step 1: Connect the external drive to a computer running Windows 7.

Step Two: Open File Explorer and locate the external drive.

Step 3: Right-click the file or folder you want to back up, and select "Copy," or press Ctrl+C after clicking the file.

Step 4: Navigate to your external drive, and then press Ctrl+V on your keyboard or right-click and choose Paste.

Step 5: Repeat this process until you have backed up all your files to the external drive.

wrap-up work

That's all about how to backup files to external hard drive in Windows 7. You can backup data on Windows 7 computer to an external disk with professional Windows 7 backup software – Todo Backup tool or the built-in Windows 7 backup utility, as well as manual copy and paste method.

Worth mentioning, if you want to create scheduled backups while compressing backup size, Todo Backup would be your best choice. It can help you back up, clone, and image the hard drive of Windows PC and even create a WinPE bootable disk when you encounter boot issues. It has many features to meet your different needs. Download it soon and explore more!

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Backup Files in Windows 7 to an External Hard Drive

1. How do I backup my entire computer to an external hard drive on Windows 7? 2. What is the most effective method to backup my complete computer to an external hard drive in Windows 7?

The best and easiest way to backup entire Windows 7 PC to an external hard drive is to use a professional backup tool, like Todo Backup. It can help back up almost everything on the computer with fewer limitations.

How do I automatically backup a folder in Windows 7?

To automatically back up files or folders on a Windows 7 computer, you can use the built-in “Backup and Restore” feature or an automatic backup software like Todo Backup to set up daily, weekly, or monthly scheduled backups.

How do I transfer everything from my old Windows 7 computer to a new Windows 10 one?

You can use the Windows Backup and Restore feature to back up your Windows 7 computer and then restore it to a Windows 10 computer. Alternatively, you can clone the hard drive of your Windows 7 computer to the hard drive of your Windows 10 computer. This is because cloning enables you to copy data from one hard drive to another without losing data or reinstalling Windows. The tool Todo Backup can help you easily back up files or clone a hard drive.