Buzz
Sooner or later, the hard drive on your computer will fail, or malicious software may attack and compromise your system, or serious errors could corrupt your data.
Guide to Backing Up All Data in Windows 10
On Windows 10, you have plenty of built-in methods and tools to back up your entire system and data without relying on third-party solutions. One of these tools is the System image.
System image is a backup copy containing everything stored on your computer, including complete settings, installations on Windows 10, applications, and all your important data files as well as any connected drives. If your computer encounters an error, you can use the System image to restore your computer to a previous state.
Guide to Backing Up All Data in Windows 10
Using System image to Back Up Your Entire Windows 10 System
Although you can store backups on secondary drives, networks, and even use blank DVDs for storage, the best way to back up your entire Windows 10 computer is to connect to an external hard drive for quick disconnection and safe storage of backups.
To create system backups using System image on Windows 10, you first need to connect an external hard drive with enough free space on your computer, then follow the steps below:
Note: If you're unsure exactly how much free space you need for backup storage, you can connect the drive and an expert will advise you.
Step 1: Open Control Panel.
Step 2: Then locate and click on System and Security.
Step 3: Next, select Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
Step 4: On the left panel, locate and click on the link Create a system image.
Step 5: Under the section Where do you want to save the backup?, choose the option On a hard disk.
Step 6: In the dropdown menu labeled On a hard disk, select the external hard drive to store the backup.
Step 7: Click on the Start backup button.
Once you've completed the steps above, the expert will begin creating a backup of your entire system, including everything stored on the main drive, as well as separate partitions.
During the process of backing up your entire Windows 10 computer, you can also utilize Shadow Copy, a technology that enables you to create a backup while files are still in use, allowing you to continue working normally while the image is being created.
After the backup process is complete, you'll be prompted to create a system repair disk - System Repair Disk to access recovery options in case your computer fails to boot. However, you can also access recovery options by using a Bootable USB drive containing Windows 10 installation files.
Handy Tip: You can create a repair disk by clicking on the link Create a system repair disc in the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) window.
Finally, remember to disconnect from the external hard drive you used to store backups and store it in a safe place.
Restore Windows 10 from System image backup
In case your computer fails to boot or you want to restore your Windows computer to a previous state, or you're replacing the main hard drive on your device, follow the steps below to restore the system from backup:
Step 1: Connect the external hard drive storing the system backup to your device.
Step 2: Connect the system recovery drive - System Repair Disk (or Bootable USB drive containing Windows 10 installation files) to your device.
Step 3: Restart your computer.
Step 4: On the Windows Setup window, click on Next.
Step 5: Click on the link Repair your computer located at the bottom left corner.
Step 6: Next, select the option Troubleshoot.
Step 7: Choose System Image Recovery.
Step 8: Select the target operating system you want to use (in the example below, it's Windows 10).
Step 9: On the Re-image your computer window, locate and select the option Use the latest available system image.
Step 10: Click on Next.
Step 11: If restoring a system image backup onto a new drive, you can choose the option Format and repartition disks.
Note: Use this option carefully as it will erase any existing partitions and drives on your computer.
Step 12: Click on Next.
Step 13: Click on Finish.
Step 14: Click on Yes to confirm that the backup will replace data on the drive.
After completing the above steps, the restoration process will begin. Note that the time to complete the restoration process depends on the amount of data and your hardware configuration.
Another point to remember is to use Windows Update in the Settings app to download the latest security patches.
Typically, use System image to create full system backups before upgrading to new versions of Windows 10, and use these backups in case the upgrade process fails or simply if you want to restore the system to a previous state if your device encounters issues after Windows 10 automatically deletes previous version installation files.
The ideal solution is to regularly create full system backups to prevent against system or hardware failures, or after configuring your system with a clean install.
If any issues occur on the system, such as system crashes or malware attacks, you can completely restore your system in just a few minutes.
However, you will need to actively perform full system backups regularly. Because you can only restore the system and files from the last backup you created, any documents, settings, and other applications you change or install after the backup process cannot be restored.
Additionally, this is a feature designed to restore your entire system, not to restore individual files, settings, and applications.
If you want to save backup copies of updated files, you should consider using the System image tool in combination with File History or OneDrive.
From now on, if you want to create full system backups as a precaution in case your Windows 10 computer encounters errors or issues, you can refer to the steps for backing up your entire Windows 10 computer on Mytour's website.
