Full Backup Definition | Everything You Need to Know in 2024

In today's world, data and information loss is not something new. Sometimes it is implied by hardware failure; other times, it could be accidental deletion, a virus attack, or any of the many other issues that trouble computer users.

That's where full backups come into play, which are useful for users to restore their files in case of an unfortunate event. But what is a full backup? How would you describe the definition of a full backup if someone asked you? Let's find out.

The topic we will be discussing today is something every computer user needs. As mentioned earlier, computers are more vulnerable to data loss than ever before. Hardware failures, active hackers, viruses, and all other malicious issues can cause significant data loss for any user.

However, with a full backup, you can safely store your files and prevent any data-related disaster. This article will explain the nature of full backups and whether there are alternatives. So, let's dive in.

What is a Full Backup?

A full backup allows users to save their files, along with the operating system and other settings, so that when they are restored on another computer or hard drive, nothing is different.

This kind of backup involves creating a copy of all the data on your computer. So, when the hard drive is duplicated, all the files, operating system, settings, preferences, and everything else on it are copied, too.

But it has its downsides. Let me count the ways.

Advantages, merits

• Restore all your files, including settings, quickly.
• Simpler management due to single backup creation.
• Easily replace older versions by deleting them and creating the latest backup file.
• Searching and locating files is effortless in full backups.

Disadvantage, drawback, unfavorable condition

• Takes up a lot of storage space, almost double what you currently have.
• Creating such backups can take a long time, especially on older hard drives or with data exceeding 100 GB.
• The risk of data loss is significant.
• It can lead to redundant and irrelevant files.

How does a full backup work?

A full backup involves a lot of backup activity, and some organizations perform them every day, perhaps resetting on Monday. Others might do so three times a week. For example, an organization might do the following:

• A full backup of 100% was performed on Monday.
• An additional 10% backup was done on Wednesday to save new changes and files.
• Yet another backup percentage was carried out on Friday to keep newer files in sync.
• A full 100% backup will be repeated next Monday.

And this does keep you safe, but it requires keeping track of a lot of files, so some organizations will back up on Monday and then delete on Tuesday and do a fresh backup on Wednesday, and so on through the week.

In addition to the built-in Windows backup tool, third-party backup software can also provide easy file backup options and create system images. One popular software for backing up files, documents, and data is Todo Backup. With Todo Backup, you can create full or incremental backups, as well as migrate your operating system to an external HDD/SSD without reinstalling Windows.

Here are the step-by-step instructions for backing up your files using the Todo Backup utility in American English: 1. **Launch the Todo Backup software**: - First, locate the Todo Backup icon on your computer and double-click it to open the program. 2. **Choose the backup type**: - In the main interface, you'll see various backup options like "System Backup," "File Backup," "Disk Backup," and so on. Select "File Backup" based on your needs. 3. **Add source files or folders**: - Click on "Add File" or "Add Folder" button, browse, and choose the specific files or entire folders you want to back up. 4. **Select the backup destination**: - In the next screen, specify where you want to save the backup files. You can choose your local hard drive, external hard drive, a network location, or even cloud storage (if supported by the software). 5. **Set up a backup schedule** (optional): - If you want to automate backups, click "Scheduled Task" and set the backup frequency, such as daily, weekly, or monthly. 6. **Choose the backup method**: - Select the backup method, like "Full Backup," "Incremental Backup," or "Differential Backup." This will affect the backup size and the time needed for recovery. 7. **Configure advanced options** (optional): - Depending on your preferences, you can adjust settings like compression level, encryption, email notifications, and other advanced options. 8. **Start the backup**: - Once you've completed these steps, hit "Next" or "Backup Now" to initiate the backup process. The software will begin processing your files and display a success message when finished. 9. **Verify the backup**: - After the backup is complete, it's recommended to verify the integrity of the backup files to ensure successful restoration when needed. 10. **Save the backup strategy**: - If you're satisfied with the current settings, save it as a backup policy for easy reuse in the future. Make sure you maintain a stable connection during the backup process to avoid data loss or interruptions.

Step 1. Tap on "Select Backup Content" to start the backup process.

Create File Backup Step 1

Step 2. There are four backup types to choose from: Files, Disks, OS, and Mail. Click on Files.

Create File Backup Step 2

Step 3: A list of files on your computer and network will appear on the left. You can expand folders to select the files you want to back up.

Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions to choose where you want to save your backup.

Click on "Options" to set a password for encrypted backups under "Backup Options", and schedule your backups with the "Backup Schedule" tab, choosing to start a backup upon specific events. Feel free to explore other options as needed to customize your backup tasks.

Step 5. You can save the backup to a local drive, the tool's cloud service, or a NAS.

Step 6: Todo Backup lets users back up their data to third-party cloud storage services as well as its own.

If you want to back up to a third-party cloud drive, choose “Local Disk,” scroll down, add a cloud device, and log into your account.

You can also choose to use the tool's own cloud storage. Click "Tool Cloud" and log in with your tool account.

Three Types of Backups: Full, Incremental, and Differential

There are three types of backups: full, incremental, and differential. Each of them allows users to back up files or computers as needed. However, they behave differently or complement each other, depending on users' preferences.

Full backup: With a full backup, your entire computer is backed up and saved in a single file on an external drive, such as an external hard disk or USB drive. This ensures that all your files are safe in case of a failure, data corruption, or data kidnapping.

An incremental backup is the process of creating a backup of data that has changed since the last backup (now). Incremental backups in Windows 10 are a great option to create a backup of what has changed since the last backup at a specified time.

**Differential Backup:** A differential backup is a method of backing up files, folders, and hard disk drives. It starts with a full backup, so differential backups rely on a full backup. It copies all the data and files that have changed since the last full backup. Of course, it can be confusing for beginners to distinguish between incremental and differential backups. Thus, we recommend reading the article "[Differential Backup vs Incremental Backup](/backup-utility/differential-backup-vs-incremental-backup.html)" for a clearer understanding. Here, we will elaborate more on how incremental backups work:

Here's a comparison table to help you understand the differences between full backups, differential backups, and incremental backups in terms of storage space, recovery speed, media requirement, and redundancy: | Type | Storage Space | Recovery Speed | Media Requirement | Redundancy | |--------------|--------------|----------------|-------------------|------------| | Full Backup | High | Fast | Large | Low | | Differential | Moderate | Moderate | Small | Moderate | | Incremental | Low | Slow | Minimal | High | This table illustrates that: - **Storage Space**: Full backups require the most space as they store all data. Differential backups save only the files changed since the last full backup, requiring less space. Incremental backups store changes since the last _any_ type of backup (usually differential or full), needing the least amount of space. - **Recovery Speed**: Full backups restore the fastest, as only one file is needed for recovery. Differential backups are slightly slower, requiring the full backup plus the latest differential. Incremental backups are slowest, potentially needing the full backup plus all subsequent incrementals. - **Media Requirement**: Depending on the volume of data stored, full backups demand the most media, incrementals the least, and differentials fall in between. - **Redundancy**: Full backups have the lowest redundancy, as each file is stored individually. Differential backups have moderate redundancy, as they include some data already present in the full backup. Incremental backups have the highest redundancy, as they accumulate multiple small changes over time.

As the table shows, all backup types have their pros and cons.

Full Backup vs. System Image: Which One Is Right for You?

A full backup refers to creating a backup of the entire system. A system image, on the other hand, only backs up the drive that contains the operating system (probably Drive C). However, both have their pros and cons.

As mentioned, the backup schedule depends on your preferences and needs. As a home user, you might not need to make frequent backups. However, some organizations make two backups per day.

But, to know which is better and understand the difference between a system image vs full backup, now that we have an idea about full backup, let's first define what a system image is.

System Image: A system image is a backup copy of the data on your hard drive, typically stored as a compressed file. This type of backup saves your data to an external drive, usually formatted as NTFS or FAT32. It's a precise replica of a Windows drive, so when needed, you can restore it to another drive or the same computer to recover your software, C drive data, system settings, and more. Since a system image backup includes all necessary driver and program files, you can easily restore Windows. Components included in a system image may consist of:

• Programs that are installed on Windows.
• System settings and files.
• System drivers.
• System preferences and browser settings.

Since we know that system images only protect the operating system, let's compare them to a full backup:

The size of the image depends on the computer. These days, a consumer PC rarely has more than 100 GB used on the C drive unless it has games or large software installations. So the storage cost can be low, medium, or very high.

A full backup means that, if you have 1,000 GB of data on your computer, you need another 1,000 GB or more of free space to create the backup, which makes it less than ideal in terms of flexibility.

So, which backup method is right for you? It depends on your needs, how often you need to back up, and the available storage space. However, if you have sufficient room, a full backup is always a safer and better choice.

Final Award

These are the main features of a backup. So, the choice between incremental, differential, system image, or full backup depends on your needs. Hence, if you have enough time and resources, you should always opt for a full backup.