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I’ve previously discussed why making backups, i.e. taking regular copies of your important files is a good idea and so now I want to cover how that can be easily accomplished.

Over the years, Microsoft have included a number of different utilities for making backups, File History is one of two options that have been included with Windows 10 and Windows 11  at no extra cost.  The other option uses OneDrive and I’ll  cover that in a separate post.

Setting up File History

The first thing that you need  in order to get File History up and running is somewhere to store the copies of your data.   This can be an internal disk drive, an external disk drive or a network location.  You could even try using a USB thumb drive.

Once you have established where your backups will be stored, users of Windows 10 can proceed as follows.

Windows 10 File History configuration

Use the following steps to navigate to the Backup configuration screen in the Windows 10 Settings.

1. Click on the Start button
2. Click on Settings (the gear / cog icon)
3. Click on Update & Security
4. Click on Backup

The first time that File History is used you must click on the “Add a drive” button to specify where the backups will be stored (see figure 1).  Once this has been completed, the screen will change to that shown in figure 2.

If File History has been configured previously, make sure the “Back up using File History” toggle switch is on (see figure 2).

By default, File History will backup all the files and folders in the current user’s home folder e.g. C:\Users\SOME_USER. It will do this once per hour.

It will not…

• backup the home folder of other user accounts that may exist on the PC
• backup files or folders that are located elsewhere on the PC
• nor will it delete any of the backups that it has made

The last point means that without manual intervention, File History will eventually consume all of the available space on the backup drive.  That’s something to keep in mind if you specified an unrestricted network location earlier.

 

 

Clicking on the “More options” link (as seen in figures 1 & 2)  will display the Back-up Options screen as seen in figures 3 & 4.  This is where  the File History’s default behaviour, can be customised.

Using this screen folders can be explicitly excluded from the backup or the backup location can be changed.

Before leaving the “Backup Options” screen remember to scroll back to the top and press the “Backup now” button (see figure 3) to test your File History configuration.

Next I’ll cover how to restore a file or folder from a File History backup.

Following on from my previous blog post about backups, today’s post looks at creating a Windows system image backup. A Windows system image is a type of full backup that includes all of the data, applications system files and drivers needed that your PC needs to function properly.

How are the images used?

They are used to restore your PC to its exact state as at the time the image was created. It will restore all data and applications without the need for their original installation media.

When should you create a system image?

The best time to create a system image is just before any significant change is made to your PC. For example, when upgrading your PC from one version of Windows to another or before installing new hardware with its associated drivers.

Where should an image be stored?

As with any backup, system images should be stored securely and they should be verified so that you can be sure they will work whenever they are needed.

How are images made?

1. Launch the Control Panel application by pressing the Start button and searching for Control Panel

2. Now select Save backup copies of your files with File History option

3. Click on System Image Backup in the bottom left corner of the File History screen

4. Choosing the Create a system image option will open the following window.

   

   Fill in the details as required and press the Next button to create the image

Final thoughts

• Make sure to include all of the internal storage drives when creating a system image, as any that are excluded will be erased when the image is used

• It’s a good idea to create an up-to-date system repair disc whenever you create an image, because you will need it to restore an image to a new or empty disk drive

We store ever increasing amounts of our data digitally and we trust our technology to keep that data safe until we require it. However, data stored this way is still vulnerable to loss from erasure, corruption, encryption by ransomware or technology failure. Therefore, measures must be taken to protect it.

What is a backup?

For our purposes, a backup is just an enduring copy of our data that protects us against some or all of the aforementioned vulnerabilities. It can be created manually or automatically; it can be full or partial.

Given this definition, it follows that by creating a copy of an important document and storing it in another folder on the C: drive you would not have made a backup. This is because if your C: drive fails, both copies of that document will be lost.

The “Enduring” nature of your backup will be subjective and will inform the sophistication of the backup method you use. For example, should you wish to defend against accidently deleting information whilst editing a document, then a simple approach will suffice. On the other hand, if your data changes frequently and you intend to defend against any loss a more sophisticated solution will be required.

How are they used?

Having a backup enables us to restore our data to a known state if it becomes unavailable. Should the storage in our PC become damaged, it can be replaced, and our backup used to restore our important data.

When should a backup be made?

The amount of data that you are prepared to lose will determine how frequently a backup needs to be made. For example, if a document only changes once a week, then a backup need only be taken immediately after its creation and then again after every revision is published.

Where should a backup be stored?

The short answer is on another device, preferably in a different location. Depending on your circumstances and the value that you place on the data to be protected, this could be anything from a SD card that is put in a drawer, to a Cloud based solution. Whatever you choose, remember to keep the backup safe and secure.

How are backups made?

There are many options for creating backups ranging from in-house scripts, through Windows built-in utilities to third-party offerings. Each will have its own requirements, performance characteristics, cost and nuances.

Final thoughts

Having made your backup, remember to verify it. This will ensure that you know that your backup is a good one that can be relied upon.

If your data is important, valuable or impossible to replace then making a backup should be very high on your to-do list.

In this series of blog posts, I’ll be exploring some of the backup solutions that ship with Windows, so register for updates or search through our archives for other backup related content.