System and files | Back up your Windows 10 PC with the Backup and Restore tool

Windows 10 is a powerful and user-friendly operating system, but it's not immune to data loss. Without a backup plan, you could be in trouble if your system crashes or falls victim to ransomware. Fortunately, there are several ways to back up your Windows 10 system and files. The most straightforward method is to use the built-in Backup and Restore tool, which allows you to create a full image backup of your system that can be restored when needed. You can also use third-party backup tools like Todo Backup to create more flexible and feature-rich backups. Whichever approach you choose, it's crucial to have a recent backup on hand to recover your data in case of the worst scenarios.

I. Creating System Backups: Reasons and Methods

Creating a system backup is the best way to protect your Windows 10 computer from data loss. Why? System files are essential for the proper functioning of Windows. These files include device drivers, settings, and DLL files, as well as the various hive files that make up the Windows Registry. Unfortunately, if your computer becomes damaged due to a system crash or a ransomware attack, you may not be able to access or even boot it. In such a scenario, having a recent backup at hand allows you to restore your system to an earlier state without losing any data.

You cannot create a system image without preparation. First, it is highly recommended that you prepare a large enough USB flash drive as the backup drive. The size of the USB flash drive should be larger than the used space on drive C or the system drive. Then, you need to decide which backup tool to use. As mentioned above, Windows has a built-in system image backup tool - Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Alternatively, a third-party free tool like Todo Backup can also help you back up the Windows system.

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II. What is Windows Backup and Restore (Windows 7)?

Windows Backup and Restore (in Windows 7) is a system imaging backup feature that was first introduced in Windows Vista and continued in Windows 7, 8, and 10. It allows you to create a complete backup of your computer, including the operating system, programs, settings, and files. Once you have created a system image backup, you can use it to restore your computer if issues arise.

Windows 7 includes two options for backing up your system: you can create a system image or a system repair disc. In addition, on the main Backup and Restore (Windows 7) screen, you see separate categories for Back up and Restore, which you can use to back up or restore a system image.

Before you begin using Backup and Restore (Windows 7), you should configure your settings. Windows allows you to customize two backup options: the location where you back up and what you back up.

Backup destination:

The backup destination is important because you should always ensure that your backup images are safe and accessible. According to the 3-2-1 backup rule, users should create three backup copies and store backups on at least two different types of storage media. An external hard drive is considered one of the best locations to store backup images.

Windows Backup and Restore suggests saving the system image to an external or network hard drive. You can choose where to save the backup when you set it up.

Backup Content:

"Backup content" refers to the files and data you want to back up. When creating a system image, Windows defaults to selecting all system files for backup. Beyond this, if you have other important files you wish to back up, you can choose which ones to include in the backup.

III. How to Create a System Image with Windows Backup and Restore

After you set up your backup options, you're ready to create the system image. Follow the instructions in Use Backup and Restore in Windows 7.

Applicable to Windows 10/11

Step 1. Open the Control Panel and click Backup and Restore under System and Security (Windows 7).

Click “Backup and Restore” (Windows 7)

Step 2. First, choose the type of backup you want to create. Click "Create a system image" in the left pane. You can also click "Backup options" on the right first. After configuring it, both a system image and your selected files will be included in the backup.

Step 3. First, you'll need to choose where to save your backup. An external hard drive is recommended for the destination. A network drive or DVDs are also good options.

Select where you want to save the backup

Step 4. Click “Next” to proceed. On the next screen, you'll need to select the drives to include in the backup. As you can see, “Backup and Restore” selects the system partition by default, so you don't have to worry about what should be included in the system image if you don't know.

Click “Next,” and Windows will prompt you to confirm your backup settings. Check over everything one last time, then click “Start Backup” to create your Windows system image.

4. Better and Easier: How to Create System Backup with Todo Backup

As we've mentioned, you can create a system image using either built-in Windows tools or third-party software. The benefit of using third-party software is that you don't have to be a backup or computer expert to use it. For example, the Todo Backup tool makes the backup process very straightforward and easy. Just follow the on-screen instructions, and you'll have a system image created by yourself.

Step 1. On the main screen, tap on "Select Backup Content".

Step 2: Click on Operating System from the four available categories.

Step 3: Todo Backup will automatically select your system drive. You just need to choose a backup destination.

Create System Backup Step 3

Step 4. You can choose to save the backup file on your local disk or NAS.

Create System Backup Step 5

Step 5. After the backup is completed, you can right-click on the backup task on the left to check its status, recover, open, or delete it.

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What's the difference between creating a system backup and creating a system repair disc?

The two backup options provided by Windows serve different purposes. You can use a System Repair Disk to fix common computer issues or perform a factory reset on your device. A System Image, on the other hand, is mainly for data protection and system recovery in emergencies. In the previous section, we discussed why and how to create a backup of the Windows 10 operating system. In this part, if you feel the need to create a System Repair Disk, follow this detailed guide on how to make one in Windows 10/11.

Step 1: Open the Control Panel and under System and Security, click Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

Click "Backup and Restore" (Windows 7)

Step 2: Select "Create a system repair disc" from the left sidebar. If you haven't created a system image backup, you'll see a prompt to do so. Click "Create a system image" and walk through the wizard to create one.

Create System Repair Disk

Insert a blank CD or DVD into your computer, then click “Create Disk.” Windows will begin burning the disc immediately. Unlike creating a recovery drive, this process only takes a few minutes because it doesn't back up your system files to the disc. Be sure to store your repair disc in a safe place, as you'll need it if your computer ever has problems in the future.

If you're asked to insert the Windows installation disc, it means that the files needed to create the system repair disc can't be found on your computer.

Apart from System Repair Disc and System Backup, users often get confused with another thing – Windows Recovery Drive. If you're a beginner and have the same confusion, read on to know the difference between System Repair Disc and Recovery Drive.

System Repair Disc vs Recovery Drive: What's the Same and What's Different?

Confused about System Repair Disk and Recovery Drive? No worries, let's explore all the details and learn how to use the tools to back up data quickly.

VI. Create File Backups – Using Windows File History

The system image you created in the previous section only includes the operating system and installed programs. If you want to back up your files, you should use File History or Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Here, we'll focus on how to use File History to back up important data in Windows 10/11.

File History is a simple and effective way to back up your data, including photos, videos, music, documents, and more. Even if you've never used File History before, you can get up and running quickly with the steps below.

Before we begin:

1. Connect an external hard drive or USB flash drive to your computer. This drive should have enough space to store your backup data. 2. If you're backing up to an external hard drive, we recommend connecting it directly to your computer instead of through a USB hub. 3. If you don't have an external hard drive, you can also back up your files to a network location or OneDrive.

Now, you can back up your files using Windows File History by following these steps:

Step 1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > File History.

If you don't see the File History option, it's possible that you aren't in “Small icons” or “Large icons” view. If this is the case, click the downward arrow in the top-right corner of the Control Panel window and select either Small icons or Large icons.

Step 2. In the left pane, if File History is not already turned on, click Turn on.

Step 3: File History will automatically back up files in your Libraries, Desktop, Contacts, and Favorites folders. If you want to add other folders, click Add a Folder, then select the folder you wish to include.

Note: In the latest Windows 11, Microsoft doesn't allow users to add folders. You can only back up the default folders in the Windows 11 File History.

Step 4: To change where File History saves backups, click Choose drive, and select a new location.

Select File History drive

Step 5: To change how often File History backs up your files, click the down arrow next to Back up changes and choose how often you want File History to run. The default is set to “Every hour,” but you can also select “Every 10 minutes,” “Every 15 minutes,” “Every 20 minutes,” “Every 30 minutes,” or another option.

Step 6. To change how long File History keeps your backups, click the down arrow next to “Keep saved versions,” then choose how long you want File History to save your backups. The default is “Forever,” but you can also choose “Until space is needed,” “3 months,” “6 months,” “9 months,” or “1 year.”

Step 7. To exclude certain files from being backed up, click on “Exclude Folders,” and add any folders you would like to omit.

Step 8: After making your changes, click on “Save Changes.”

7. Create Automated File Backups – 3 Ways to Do It

• The most common backup location is an external hard drive, but there's a new option – cloud drives. So read the following guide to learn how to back up Windows 10 to OneDrive, Microsoft's cloud service.
• Creating backups is necessary, but it can also lead to storage issues – too many backup files take up disk space. Is there a solution? Yes, you can choose to create incremental backups – this means backing up only the files that have been added or changed to save space.

Once File History is set up, it will back up the selected folders to the backup drive according to the specified frequency. However, File History only allows users to back up a limited number of folders, meaning you might not be able to back up all your essential data with it. Therefore, it's recommended to use an alternative method. One of the best alternatives you should try is the Todo Backup tool. Here are the reasons why this tool is recommended:

- More flexible backup content, including options beyond the folders supported by File History - Additional backup options, such as incremental backups and event-based backups - More backup destination choices: local drives, cloud drives, and NAS - **Free** 250GB of storage space in the cloud for each user (powered by AWS services)

After getting to know what Todo Backup can do for you, download and try this free backup software.

What are three ways to back up Windows files automatically?

1. **File History** - Backs up different versions of your selected files so you can restore previous versions.

2. Backup and Restore (Windows 7) - In addition to creating a system image, you can customize what gets backed up by adding more folders.

3. Todo Backup Tool - This is a third-party backup utility that offers more backup options. Users can utilize this tool to back up more data and create more flexible backup schedules.

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How do I restore from a backup in Windows 10?

With these two tools, you can also restore backup files created by the built-in Windows features. Depending on the type of backup created by users, there are usually two scenarios for restoration: one is to restore files, and the other is to restore the system. In this part, we'll show you how to restore backup files in Windows 10.

Restore a specific file

Backup and Restore (Windows 7) can be thought of as the recovery center for Windows Backup. You should come here to restore a backup whether you created it with File History or with Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

1. Restore a backup (Windows 7) Backup and Restore

Step 1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

Step 2: On the left side, click Recover My Files.

Step 3: Click the Browse File button.

Step 4. Browse through your backup files and select the specific ones you want to restore, then click “Add File(s).”

Step 5: Click on “Browse for folders,” find the backup file, select the specific folder you want to restore, click on “Add Folder,” and finally click on the “Next” button.

Step 6: Use the Backup and Restore utility to restore the selected files to their original location or a new location. To save the restored files to a new location, select To a different location and specify the desired location.

Step 7: Click on “Recover” and finally “Finish”.

Restore system image

You'll need to go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, and then restore from a system image. In the Advanced startup section on the right, click Restart now to launch Advanced Startup. Windows 11 users should open Settings > System > Recovery, and then click the Restart now button next to Advanced startup.

Perform a system image recovery

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