- What is Image Backup?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- What is a File Backup?<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- How to back up Windows 10<\/a><\/strong>
- Image Backup<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
- File Backup<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- How to recover a Windows 10 backup<\/a><\/strong>
- Recover an Image Backup<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
- Recover a File Backup<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nWays to back up Windows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are two different types of file backups; image backup for saving the entire hard drive, and file backup for saving individual files and folders. Before we show you how to perform and recover these backups, let\u2019s first discuss which each backup does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat is Image Backup?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you perform an image backup, every single file, folder, and program including all of your Windows settings are compiled into one .ISO file then sent to another hard drive. Essentially, it takes a snapshot of the entire hard drive, packs it into one box, and ships it out. You can\u2019t transfer image backups to another system though since your Windows key is tied to the original computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat is a File Backup?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A file backup is a little different than an image backup because it only takes a snapshot of files and folders you ask it to; not any Windows settings. If you need to recover from a file backup and your system crashes or hard drive begins to fail, you may need to reinstall Windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nBack up to an external hard drive<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Although you can use an internal hard drive, we highly recommend investing in an external drive. This gives you the ability to easily copy and access your files if you plan on doing file backups, regularly moving back and forth from a different computer. It\u2019s also much easier to disconnect since you won\u2019t be using it 24\/7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n![\"File](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2020\/04\/File-Management-for-Music-Production-featured-image-1024x536.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nLearn more about effective file management for music production<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2020\/06\/Windows-10-Disk-Management-Featured-Image@0.5x-1024x536.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nLearn more about disk management on Windows 10<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Return to top<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
How to back up Windows 10<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now that you know which types of backups there are and what they do, we\u2019ll walk you through how to perform each backup. Keep this tab open and follow the steps below to back up your current Windows data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Image Backup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
With image backups, you\u2019ll need to reformat the hard drive you want to back up to. If you format a drive with files on it, formatting will erase any current files. To correctly format your hard drive, read our guide here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Navigate to Control Panel<\/strong> and click Backup and Restore (Windows 7)<\/strong>. Don\u2019t worry, doing this will not roll your system back to Windows 7.<\/li>
- In the Backup and Restore window, click Create system image<\/strong> and choose the hard drive you want to back your system up to. <\/li>
- Click Next<\/strong> and select any drive(s), including your C:\/ drive, you wish to back up.<\/li>
- If you have an Optical CD\/DVD drive, insert a disc and follow the prompts to create a disk. This recovery disc will create a backup of your current version of Windows 10, and everything that is contained within your hard drive.
- Windows will list recommended drives to back up to, so before you do this, make sure you have your external hard drive connected or disc inserted. We also recommend that you have a backup Windows 10 installer<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Image backups take time<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Image backups take a very long time as it is backing up your entire system. It\u2019s not recommended to use your computer as it can slow things down. Don\u2019t shut down your computer during this time, either!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Creating a system image backup. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nFile Backup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Again, make sure that the drive is formatted first, but once it\u2019s formatted, there\u2019s no need to create backup images. Follow these steps to back up your files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- On your Windows task bar, click Start<\/strong>, and select Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>
- In the Settings window, select Update & Security<\/strong>, then Backup<\/strong>. <\/li>
- In the Backup window, select one of the following options:
- Automatically back up my files<\/strong> \u2013 With this turned on, Windows will automatically back up your files once every hour. <\/li>
- More options<\/strong> \u2013 This will allow you to select which folders you want to include when you back up. Since you are just backing up your files, you don\u2019t want to have the Windows<\/strong> folder included. <\/li>
- Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7)<\/strong> \u2013 Clicking this just takes you to the Recovery window mentioned in the Image Backup section. <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
- More options<\/strong> \u2013 This will allow you to select which folders you want to include when you back up. Since you are just backing up your files, you don\u2019t want to have the Windows<\/strong> folder included. <\/li>
- In the Settings window, select Update & Security<\/strong>, then Backup<\/strong>. <\/li>
- On your Windows task bar, click Start<\/strong>, and select Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>
- In the Backup and Restore window, click Create system image<\/strong> and choose the hard drive you want to back your system up to. <\/li>
- Recover a File Backup<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- File Backup<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- What is a File Backup?<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>