Backup

A backup is a copy of important data that is stored on an alternative location, so it can be recovered if
deleted or it becomes corrupted. Depending on how often the data changes, how valuable it is, and how
long it takes to back up determines how often to backup.

File History: it automatically creates incremental backups of files stored in Libraries to a different storage
device like an external hard drive or network share. You are allowed to add other folders to be backed
up or exclude certain folders. This feature is added on Windows 8 and later versions.

Backup and Restore: it enables users to create system image backups as well as file/folder backups. You
are able to restore your system and personal data from the backups created earlier. It was first included
in Windows Vista as the replacement of NTBackup. Removed on Windows 8.1, it is back on Windows 10.

File History Backup and restore

Backup contents takes a regular backup (hourly
by default) of your desktop,
documents, music, photos and
videos and other files contained
in your user folder.
Backup destination backs up files to an external
hard drive or your home
network.
Recovery creates a complete history of
your files. If the originals are
lost, damaged, or deleted, you
can restore them.
allows you to backup the
system, entire drives as well as
files in your user folder.
supports backing up to internal
or external hard drives and also
the network location.
enables you to restore files to
the version backed up on the
date you select. You can also
restore a system image when
your computer malfunctions.

Today, there are several ways to back up your information and mediums to keep your data. For
example, CD-R, DVD-R, USB thumb drives, external drives, and in the cloud are some of the most
popular places to back up your data.

Why should I back up my data?

A computer could stop working at any time, and data on a hard drive could become corrupted or lost if
the hard drive fails. When hardware or the computer stops working, data on the computer could be lost.
Any important files should be backed up to prevent loss of data and ensure you can recover those files if
needed.
Should I use "backup" or "back up" in my writing?

Both forms of the word are correct. However, when using the word as a noun or adjective, it should be
one word, and when used as a verb, it should be two words. Below is an example of how both forms of
the word could be used.

“Make sure to back up your important data and store it somewhere safe. If your important data is
deleted or lost, you can restore it from the backup.”

How to back up your computer

Backing up your computer is an important step every computer user should take if they do not want to
lose any of their valuable information. This page covers steps on how to back up your computer in case
your computer fails, gets stolen, or gets destroyed in a fire.

Do I need to back up?

Yes. Everyone has information on their computer that they may not realize is important until it's lost.
Examples of important information include Internet bookmarks, documents, financial information, saved
e-mail, music, pictures, and saved games. Also, your computer may appear to be working normally, but
it or the hard drive could fail at any time and without warning.

What should I back up?

For almost all computer users, the most important information to back up is anything that cannot be
replaced or reinstalled. Usually, that includes personal document files, letters, photos, finance
information, pictures, and saved games. Microsoft Windows users find most of this information in their
My Documents folder.

Backup strategies

Back up to an alternate medium - Backing up your information to an alternate medium, such as a blank
CD-R, blank DVD-R, or USB flash drive, is one of the easiest methods to back up your information.
Copying files to an alternative medium is the absolute bare minimum method of backing up your
information.

Store backups online or at another location - If your home or office got destroyed or someone stole your
computer and backups, everything would be lost. Making backups that are stored at a friend's house or
storing backups online is the absolute best method of protecting your information.
Ongoing backup - Having a computer with RAID or running software that makes backups as data changes
helps make sure data is protected as it is updated. An ongoing backup is the best solution for sensitive
information that is updated frequently. For example, if you were writing a book, having a backup that
was a week old could result in hours of lost work.

Clone your system disks - You can create a backup of an entire physical disk, or an entire partition on
that disk, using disk cloning software. To do so, you must have an external disk with a capacity at least as
large as the disk you're cloning. Or, you can clone one partition to another partition of equal size, on the
same or another internal disk. For example, if you have a 500 GB disk containing two partitions of 250
GB, you can clone the first partition to the second. The second partition contain a byte-for-byte copy of
the original that can be restored later.

Backing up information to an alternate medium

Copying data to an alternate medium, such as a CD-R, DVD-R, external hard drive, tape drive, or USB
thumb drive, is one of the easiest ways to make a backup.

Before backing up your information, decide what medium is best for you. In the past, floppy diskettes,
zip drives, and tape drives were popular. However, today these have all been replaced with CD-Rs,
external drives, and USB thumb drives. The chart below rates each of these mediums, with "3" being the
best rating and "1" being the worst rating. Overall, backing up all your information to a USB thumb drive
is the best solution.

  Cost Speed Ease Capacity Compatibility Portability Total

CD-R and DVD-R 3 1 1 1 3 2 11

discs
External hard drive 1 3 3 3 2 1 13

USB thumb drive 2 2 2 2 3 3 14

Backing up to a CD-R or DVD-R

Backing up to a blank CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, or other writable disc is easy, but it requires CD/DVD writing
software capable of writing data to the discs. These types of backups also require the disc be inserted
into the computer each time you want to make a backup.
Backing up to an external hard drive

Backing up to an external hard drive is the best solution for anyone who needs to back up large amounts
of data and needs to back up frequently. If you work with media like videos, you may also consider a
NAS or a product like a Drobo for backup or media storage.

Backing up to a USB thumb drive

To back up to a USB thumb drive, copy and paste the files you want to be backed up to the thumb drive.

Store backups online or at another location

Backing up data to another medium is great for keeping your data safe. If your home or office got
destroyed in a fire or flood, all backups could be lost, unless backed up in an alternate location or online.
Today, there are many places online you can store your files. Some of those online locations are listed
below.

Automatic online backup services

BackBlaze - Automatic backup for unlimited data for $60 a year.

Carbonite - Automatically back up of all data with unlimited backup space for $24 a month.

CrashPlan - Automatic backups for unlimited backup space for $10 a month.

How to Back Up Your Files in Windows 10

1. Attach your external drive to your computer. Plug the USB end of the external hard drive's cable
into one of your computer's USB slots.

If you're using a flash drive, plug it directly into the USB slot.
 2. Open the Settings app. Click the Start Image titled Windowsstart.png button at the bottom-left
and select the settings gear Image titled Windowssettings.png.

You can also press the ⊞ Win+I keys at the same time.

3. Click  Update & security. It's a symbol of two circling arrows. You'll likely find this near the
bottom of the Settings window.

4. Click Backup. This tab is on the left side of the settings app.

5. Click Add a drive. It's a grey button at the top of the Backup page. Doing so will scan your
computer for a removable drive—in this case, your external hard drive or flash drive.
6. Select your drive. Click your external drive's name in the Add a Drive drop-down menu. This will
set it as your backup drive.

7. Click the "More options" link. It's right below the "Add a drive" section. Doing so will open a
page with your backup options.

8. Click Back up now. It's a grey button at the top of the page. This will prompt Windows 10 to
begin backing up your files to your attached drive.

You can see how much space a backup will take next to the "Size of backup" heading near the top of
the page. If your drive's free space is less than this number, delete some files from your drive before
continuing.
 9. Change your backup frequency. Click the drop-down box below the "Back up my files" heading,
then select an option in the drop-down menu.

For the least amount of disturbance, select Daily in the drop-down menu.

10. Change your backup frequency. Click the drop-down box below the "Back up my files" heading,
then select an option in the drop-down menu.

For the least amount of disturbance, select Daily in the drop-down menu.
How to Do a System Restore

1. Open Start Image titled Windowsstart.png. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of
the screen.

2. Type system restore into Start. Doing so searches your computer for the restore point menu.

3. Click Create a restore point. It's the monitor-shaped icon at the top of the window.
 4. Click Create…. This option is in the lower-right side of the System Restore window. A new
window will open.

5. Enter a restore point name. Click the text box in the middle of the window, then type in your
restore point's name.

You don't have to enter a date or time, as System Restore will note the date and time at which the point
is created.

6. Click Create. It's below the text box. This will create your restore point, though the restore point
may take a couple of minutes to create.
7. Click Close when prompted. This is at the bottom of the window.

8. Click OK. It's at the bottom of the System Restore window. Doing so will close the System
Restore window. You can now proceed with restoring your computer whenever need be.
Restoring from the Desktop

1. Open Start Image titled Windowsstart.png. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of
the screen.

2. Type recovery into Start. Doing so will search your computer for the "Recovery" program.

3. Click Recovery. It's a blue computer monitor-shaped icon at the top of the Start window. This
will open the Recovery window.

4. Click Open System Restore. This link is near the top of the Recovery window. Doing so opens the
System Restore window.
5. Click Next. It's at the bottom of the window.

6. Select a restore point. Click your restore point's name in the middle of the page. Make sure that
the date to the left of this point is correct before continuing.

7. Click Next. This is at the bottom of the page.

8. Click Finish. It's at the bottom of the System Restore window. Doing so will prompt your
computer to begin restoring. This process may take several minutes to over an hour, and your
computer will restart at least once during the process.