Complete Guide: Performing Bare-Metal Recovery with Windows Server Backup [2024]

The bare-metal recovery feature of Windows Server Backup helps organizations of all sizes quickly recover servers in the event of a failure, ransomware attack, or hard-disk failure.

By creating backups, an organization can ensure that its files, settings, and other information remain intact and not lost. This way, it's easier to restore a server from scratch and get back to work promptly in case of accidents or failures.

Read on to learn more about bare metal recovery and how to create and execute a bare metal backup!

What is Bare-Metal Recovery with Windows Server Backup?

Bare-metal recovery (BMR) is a technology that enables users to restore their servers without having an operating system pre-installed. BMR is particularly useful for rapidly recovering servers following hardware failures or ransomware attacks, or for restoring machines to a known, good state.

To create a bare-metal recovery of a Windows server, users first need to make a bare-metal backup, which includes drivers, the operating system, and other critical data.

You can already find the Bare Metal Recovery (BMR) option in Windows Server Backup. With BMR, you can back up all files and data except for those stored on critical volumes. By using the BMR feature of Windows Server Backup, you can recover your server if it fails to start properly.

The benefit of doing so would be that

• It's faster than a manual restore, because there's no need to install an operating system or any software during the recovery.
• You can automate server migrations to the cloud, physical, or virtual environments.
• There's less room for error, because it requires minimal human interaction.

In a previous article, we mentioned bare metal backup and restore for Windows 10. You can click on the link and refer to the guide.

How to Create a Bare-Metal Backup

The speed and ease of bare-metal recovery lets you restore your entire hardware infrastructure quickly and easily.

It is also recommended that you create a Windows Server backup daily or at least every 2-3 weeks.

However, you would need to use Windows Server Backup to create a bare-metal backup. We have two excellent methods that users can utilize to back up their Windows servers before creating a bare-metal backup.

1. Method 1: Backing Up Windows Server with Built-in Tools
2. Method 2: Backing Up Windows Server with Third-party Tools

Method 1: Back Up Windows Server with Built-In Tools

Here, you can learn how to create a Windows Server backup for bare-metal recovery:

Install Windows Server Backup

Step 1: Open Server Manager, and then choose Add Roles and Features. Click Next.

Step 2: Under "Installation Type," click "Next."

Step 3: Click Next on the Server Selection and Server Roles pages, and proceed to the Features page.

Step 4: Under Roles, select Windows Server Backup, and then click Next. On the Confirm selections page, click Install.

Step 5: When the installation is complete, click Close.

"Windows Backup has finished installing. The setup window will now close."

Back up your Windows server

Step 1: Open Server Manager, and then under Tools, select Windows Server Backup.

From the “Tools” menu, select “Windows Server Backup”

Step 2: Type the Backup Operator credentials in the User Account Control dialog box, and then click OK.

Step 3: Choose “Local Backup,” and then click “Backup Now” from the Actions menu.

Step 4: In the One-Time Backup Wizard, under Backup Options, select Advanced Options, and then click Next.

Step 5: Under Select backup configuration, choose Full server (recommended), and then click Next.

Step 6: Under Destination Type, choose either Local Disk or Remote Shared Folder, then click Next.

Step 7: In the Backup Location area, choose where you want to save your backup.

Select the target folder for backing up server data.

Step 8: Tap Backup Now on the Confirmation screen. When it's done, tap Close.

Method 2: Back Up Windows Server with a Tool

With just a few clicks, users can back up servers with the Todo Backup Enterprise tool. They can also back up multiple SQL databases in one go, restore images to different hardware, clone entire disks for backup, and so on.

Todo Backup Enterprise is an all-in-one solution for your business needs. Here's how to use it:

Step 1: Launch Todo Backup Enterprise and click "Create Task" to set up a new backup.

Click Create backup task to create a backup.

Step 2: Choose "Disk/Volume" as the destination at the top. Then select the system you want to back up.

Select the system to back up

Step 3: Then click “Browse” to select the location where you want to back up.

Select destination location

4. Click on "Schedule: Off" to set up a custom backup schedule. Here you can see the "Schedule", "Backup Clean-up", and "Advanced Settings". Under "Schedule", click on "New".

Then set the backup frequency according to your needs.

5. Click the “Backup Options” in the bottom left corner of the window.

Here, you can change the performance, encryption, email notifications, and other options to your liking. When you're done, click Save to return to the main screen.

Step 6: Once you've made your selections, click "Start Backup" to begin the backup process.

Click “Start Backup” to begin the system backup.

Perform a bare-metal restore of Windows Server

Since we have a disk backup, we can now proceed with a bare-metal backup of the Windows Server.

Here are the steps to perform bare-metal recovery of a Windows server.

• Method 1: Recover Windows Server with Built-in Tools
• Method 2: Recover Windows Server with Third-party Tools

Method 1: Recover Windows Server Using Built-in Tools

Here are the steps to perform a bare-metal recovery of a Windows server:

Insert the Windows Server installation CD into the new server.

【Step 2】Select your language, time and keyboard, then click “Next.”

Select Language, Time Zone, and Input Method

Step 3: Click on “Repair your computer.”

Step 4: Select the operating system you want to repair, then click Next.

Step 5: Select "Complete Recovery for Windows"

Click the option to perform bare metal recovery:

Step 6: Select the BMR backup image to restore, and then click Next.

7. Click “Finish” to begin the bare-metal restore. Depending on how much data needs to be restored, this process could take some time.

After the BMR process completes, you can start the operating system on the restored computer.

Method 2: Recover Your Windows Server with a Tool

Server Backup Software is an award-winning backup program trusted by over 20,000 companies, including Microsoft, IBM, NASA, HP, and Samsung, with over 18 years of experience in server and PC backup and recovery.

Unlike the backup or recovery solutions that come built into Windows, Todo Backup Enterprise aims to simplify the process by letting you back up or restore your PC or server with just a few clicks.

Users can also schedule full and incremental backups to run automatically, and save them locally or in the cloud.

Step 1: Launch Todo Backup on your computer and then click the 'Restore' button.

Select "Recover"

Step 2. Click the "Browsers" button on the upper right.

Click "Browse"

A recovery window will appear. Find and select the backup system you wish to restore, then click OK.

Select the backup system you need to recover

Step 4. Choose a location to restore the backup to, then click the Proceed button to start the restoration process.

Final Award

Boneshaker is so named because it can recover a computer without any operating system or programs installed.

To create a bare-metal backup, users need an image of the server's system, and they should back up their servers every few weeks.

You can create a backup and perform bare-metal recovery using built-in Windows tools or a third-party tool, such as Todo Backup Enterprise, to simplify the process.

Todo Backup Enterprise has more to offer than just data backup and recovery. Besides, backups can be saved in the cloud for easy access.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bare-Metal Recovery with Windows Server Backup

Here's some more information about Bare Metal Restore that we think you'll find interesting:

1. What type of backup is required for bare-metal recovery?

A backup for a Windows server is required.

How do I restore a backup of Windows Server?

You can restore a backup of Windows Server using the following steps: 1. First, ensure that your backup files are intact and undamaged. Backup files are typically stored at the location you specified, such as an external hard drive, network share, or cloud storage. 2. Open the "Backup and Restore" Control Panel. In Windows Server, you can access it through "Administrative Tools" > "Backup and Restore." 3. In the "Backup and Restore" window, click on "Restore my files." 4. Select the backup set you want to restore. This is usually done by date and time, so locate the backup point you need. 5. Specify the recovery destination. You can choose to restore the data to its original location or, if that location is unavailable, select a different one. 6. In the recovery options, confirm whether you want to overwrite existing files. If necessary, choose "Overwrite existing files" to replace them. 7. Start the recovery process. Click the "Restore" button to initiate the recovery operation. This may take some time, depending on the size of the backup and the system's performance. 8. Monitor the recovery progress. During the process, the system will display progress information. Make sure not to interrupt it until it's completed. 9. Verify the restored data. Once the recovery is finished, check the restored files and settings to ensure everything is as expected. Please note that there might be slight interface differences in different versions of Windows Server, but the basic steps are similar. Before performing any restoration, make sure you understand the potential risks and consult with an IT professional if needed.

1. Step 1. Launch "Windows Server Backup," and then select "Local Backup."
2. Step 2. Under "Actions," choose "Restore..." to open the Recovery Wizard.
3. Step 3. In "Get Started," select the location from which you want to recover data, and then click "Next."
4. Step 4. Under "Select a backup date," choose the date from which you want to restore the backup.
5. Step 5. In "Select the recovery type," choose "Application," and then click "Next."
6. Step 6. In the "Applications" section of "Select an application," choose "Exchange"...

3. How does Windows Server Backup perform bare-metal recovery?

If a user upgrades or replaces the hard drive, they can use recovery media to perform a bare-metal restore. A bare-metal restore recreates all partitions on the system disk after deleting existing ones.