The system image tool allows you to create a full backup to an external drive or network shared folder. However, it is best to use removable storage, which you can then disconnect and store in a different physical location.
To create a full backup of Windows 10 with the system image tool, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Backup.
Under the "Looking for an older backup?" section, click the Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7) option.
Source: Windows Central
Click the Create a system image option from the left pane.
Source: Windows Central
- Select the On a hard disk option.
Use the "On a hard disk" drop-down menu and select the location to export the Windows 10 full backup.
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- Click the Next button.
(Optional) Select any additional hard drives to include them in the backup.
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- Click the Next button.
Click the Start backup button.
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Click the No button.
Quick note: You'll also receive a prompt to create a system repair disc, but because most devices no longer include an optical drive, you can skip it. If you have to restore the machine, you can use a USB installation media to access the recovery enviroment.
- Click the Close button.
Once you complete the steps, the tool will create an image of the entire system that includes everything on the primary hard drive and other drives you may have selected.
While the backup is in progress, you can continue working on the device since it uses the "Shadow Copy" feature to backup files even if files are open and apps are running.
After the process is complete, you can disconnect and store the external drive in a safe place. If you have valuable data, you may want to consider keeping the backup in a different physical location.
If you need to replace the hard drive or hardware failure occurs, you can use one of the backups to recover the device and files.
To restore a backup on Windows 10, use these steps:
- Connect the drive with the full backup to the device.
- Connect the Windows 10 USB bootable drive to the computer.
- Start the computer.
On the USB bootable drive startup prompt, press any key to continue.
Quick tip: If the device does not start in the Windows Setup wizard, you will need to access the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) to change the boot order settings. You can use this guide to access the BIOS/UEFI, but the steps are usually different per manufacturer and device model. It is recommended to check your manufacturer support website for more specific details.
On the "Windows Setup" page, click the Next button.
Source: Windows Central
Click the Repair your computer option from the bottom-left corner of the screen.
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Click the Troubleshoot option.
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Click the System Image Recovery option.
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Select the Windows 10 option as the target OS.
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On the "Re-image your computer" page, select the Use the latest available system image option.
Source: Windows Central
Quick tip: You can use the "Select a system image" option if you have multiple backups and you are trying to restore an older version of the system and files.
- Click the Next button.
(Optional) Carefully select the Format and repartition disks option before restoring the backup (if you are restoring the backup on a new drive).
Quick tip: If you choose this option, use the Exclude disks option to prevent formatting secondary drives that may contain data.
(Optional) Check the** Only restore system drivers** option (if the backup contains a copy of multiple drives and you only want to restore the OS).
Source: Windows Central
- Click the Next button.
Click the Finish button.
Source: Windows Central
- Click the Yes button.