How to Back Up a Windows Computer

Method 1 of 2:

Backing Up Personal Data

Connect another hard drive or flash drive to the computer. This method will help you back up your personal files and folders to another location. This is a faster option that doesn't include a Windows image. If you're backing up to an external or flash drive, make sure it's connected to the computer before you begin.
Press ⊞ Win+S. This opens the search bar.
Type control panel.
Click Control Panel.
Type backup into the search field. It's at the top-right corner of the Control Panel.
Click Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Don't worry about the 'Windows 7' part, that's just the name of the tool.
Click Set up backup.
Select a backup location. If you're backing up to a drive, select that drive now. Otherwise, click Save on a network… and then select the network location.
Click Next.
Choose which files to back up. This depends on your needs:
1. Select Let Windows choose (recommended) to automatically select everything in your libraries (such as documents, music, photos, and default folders).
2. Select Let me choose to select files and folders manually.
Click Next. A summary of your backup will appear for your review.
Click Save settings and exit. Windows will now back up the selected files and folders to the other location. The amount of time this will take varies by file size and amount.

Method 2 of 2:

Creating a System Image

Connect another hard drive or flash drive to the computer. This method will help you back up the entire system to another location. If you're backing up to an external or flash drive, make sure it's connected to the computer before you begin.
Press ⊞ Win+S. This opens the search bar.
Type control panel.
Click Control Panel.
Type file history into the search field. It's at the top-right corner of the Control Panel.^[1]
Click the File History title.
Click System Image Backup. It's at the bottom-left corner of the window.
Click Create a system image. It's in the left panel.
Select where you want to save your backup. You can back up to another drive, network location, or series of DVDs.
Click Next. Now you'll see a summary of what's about to be backed up.
Click Start backup. An image of your computer in its current state will be copied to the selected location. Depending on the amount of data and backup location, this may take a long time.

Micah Soto

Update 04 March 2020

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How to Back Up a Windows Computer

Backing Up Personal Data

Creating a System Image

You should read it

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