A backup of your entire system is your best strategy against hardware failure, software issues, and malware that can not only damage your installation but more importantly, corrupt your files. If you don't proactively create regular backups, you could end up losing relevant documents, irreplaceable photos, and custom configurations that you may have spent hours setting up.
Apr 17, 2018 Click Back up files under Back up files or your entire computer. Select where you want to store the file backup, and then click Next. Select the disk or disks that you want to back up, and then click Next; Select the file type or file types that you want to back up, and then click Next. Click Save Settings, and then start the backup.
On Windows 10, there are a lot of ways to create a backup, which can range from manually copying your files to external storage, to storing files securely in the cloud, to using third-party backup solutions. However, if you don't want to use third-party tools or messy manual methods, you can also create a full backup using the built-in legacy System Image Backup tool.
A system image is a copy of everything stored on your device, including the Windows 10 installation, settings, apps, and your files. The primary benefit of this method is that you can use it to restore your entire system from hardware or software problems quickly using the same or different drive.
In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to create a full backup that includes all your custom settings, apps, and files using the built-in system image tool.
Windows 10 System Image Backup feature notice
Starting with Windows 10 version 1709, Microsoft is no longer maintaining the System Image Backup feature. You can still use the tool to create backups, but in the future, it may stop working. Also, as a deprecated feature, the company can decide to remove this tool in future releases completely.
Super mario 3 free download. This guide aims to help you create a full backup while the feature still available to create temporary backups, or to backup older releases of Windows 10 or older versions, such as Windows 8.1 or Windows 7.
If the time comes when you're no longer able to use this feature, it's recommended to switch to a third-party solution. If you need additional assistance, you can check this guide with six effective ways to back up your PC.
Vista Backup To Windows 10 Windows 7How to create a System Image Backup on Windows 10
Although you can save a backup to a network location or a secondary drive, the best option is still to use removable storage, which you can disconnect and store in a safe place quickly.
To create a full backup of your computer using the system image tool, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the tool will create a backup of your device, including everything on the main hard drive as well as system reserved partitions, and the other drives that you may have selected.
The tool uses the 'Shadow Copy' technology that allows the creation of backups while files are open and applications are running, which means that you can continue to work on your computer during this process.
As the process finishes, you'll get a notification prompting to create a system repair disc, which you can use to restore a backup in case that your device isn't able to start correctly. However, because most computers no longer include an optical disk drive, you can skip this option, because you can use a bootable USB flash drive to access the recovery options.
The last thing left to do is to disconnect the external drive with the backup and store it in a safe place.
How to restore a System Image Backup on Windows 10
If the unexpected happens and you can't start your computer, or you're in the process of replacing the main hard drive, you can use a previous backup to restore your system.
To restore an image backup on Windows 10, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the recovery process will begin. The time to finish the restoration will depend upon the amount of data and your hardware configuration. Also, any interruptions or failure may prevent the recovery from completing successfully making your computer unbootable, as such avoid disruption of any kind and make sure your computer is connected to a battery backup. Or in the case of a laptop, make sure the device is plugged into a power outlet before proceeding.
If it's been a while since the last time you created a full backup, it's recommended to go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and click the Check for Updates button to download the latest security patches.
Wrapping things up
A System Image Backup can come in handy in many scenarios. For example, if you're about to upgrade to a new release of Windows 10, creating a copy of your entire system can help you to roll back to a previous version, and even recover your files if something goes wrong. Also, it's recommended to create backups regularly in case you need to quickly recover from system or hardware failure, malware, or other problems.
However, there are a few caveats to consider using this particular tool. For instance, you have to be proactive in making new backups, as you can only restore your system and files since the last full backup you created. Any data, settings, and apps created, changed, or installed after the previous backup won't be recoverable through this process.
Also, this is a feature designed to recover your entire system, not to restore files, settings, and applications individually. If you want to keep an up-to-date copy of your files, you should be using the system image tool in combination with File History or OneDrive.
Also, System Image Backup is now a deprecated experience on Windows 10, which means that while you can still create backups, the feature may suddenly stop working or it can be removed from future releases.
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For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
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