Windows 10 backup to flash drive.

The regular functionality of bringing Windows back to life in critical situations, if the system crashes, or even does not boot at all, is not particularly popular. Microsoft itself involuntarily contributed to the fact that ordinary users would not find this tool in the wilds of system settings. Even in the version of Windows 10, where important system settings are moved to the Settings application, in the Update and Security section you will only see the option and the mode with special boot options, which allows you to restore Windows from a system image, in fact, from a backup copy. But the function of creating this very system image must be looked for inside the control panel, and preferably under the guidance of step-by-step instructions. This will be shown below. In this article, we will look at how to create a backup copy of Windows 10 with its regular functionality and how the system restore process takes place.

1. Regular Windows 10 backup functionality

The standard backup function was inherited by Windows 10 from Windows Vista. Like third-party backup programs, a backup created using the built-in functionality is a snapshot of the system with all its settings, boot sector, installed programs, and user files stored on the system disk.

All this can be restored from a backup if Windows fails. Even if the system stops booting, you can return it to working capacity from the recovery environment called by the F8 key when the computer boots. In this environment, you can start the process of restoring the system to the state from the backup. You can get into the recovery environment of an unbootable Windows 10, if not by calling the F8 key, then in two other ways. The Windows 10 Recovery Environment is included with the system installation disc. For critical cases, you can specially prepare a Windows recovery disk, this is provided for by the regular functionality of the system.

In terms of options for calling the recovery environment of an unbootable Windows, the standard functionality as a backup tool outperforms third-party backup programs. But this is his only winning moment. In all other respects, the native functionality, alas, is far from perfect.

However, backing up Windows and restoring it using standard functionality is the basics for those who want to master the potential of the Microsoft operating system.

2. Create a system image

In Windows itself, the term "backup copy", as in third-party backup programs, is not used, but the concept of "system image" is used. For the function of creating this very image, let's go to the control panel. To do this, use the context menu on the Start button.

In the Control Panel section "System and Security" we need a subsection "Backup and Restore Windows 7".

You can also directly get into this subsection - using the system search.

Click "Create a system image".

Next, the window for selecting the storage location for the image will follow. This can be a non-system disk partition, another hard disk (internal or external), as well as network resources. There is even the option to store the system image on multiple DVDs. In our case, a partition is selected on the second connected hard drive. This is a good option for choosing where to store important data, such as an operating system backup. In the future, Windows can be recovered even if the primary hard drive that hosts the system partition fails. Click "Next".

Regular functionality provides not only copying the system partition with Windows, copies of existing non-system disk partitions can be included in the image. Backing up non-system data using native Windows functionality is not the best way to ensure the safety of this data due to the waste of disk space. Still, to backup user data, it is better to resort to third-party software. Therefore, in our case, the system image will include a pre-installed configuration - a partition with Windows and the space reserved by the system. Click "Next".

In the confirmation window for archiving parameters, click "Archive".

When the image creation process is completed, Windows 10 itself will offer to prepare a recovery disk for the future.

This offer should not be rejected if we are dealing with a computer device with a CD / DVD drive. And, of course, if there is an empty CD or DVD disc available. If there are serious problems with the system, it will be easier to boot from the recovery disk than to use the F8 key when booting the computer. The response time of this key is difficult to catch due to the reduced startup time of Windows 10. The version of the system 10 inherited this feature from version 8.

After inserting an empty CD / DVD-disk into the drive, click "Create Disc".

You can return to the process of creating a Windows recovery disc at any time. In the control panel window from which we started the process of creating a system image, there is a button "Create a system recovery disk".

Close the system image creation window.

That's it - now the system image will be safely stored for itself until there is no need to resuscitate Windows 10.

If there are problems with the system, the first step will be to get to its recovery environment. It is in this environment that the opportunity to apply the newly created image will appear.

3. Paths to the Windows Recovery Environment

Working system

If you have problems with Windows 10, but they do not affect its ability to boot, you can get into the recovery environment using the Settings application. In "Settings" select "Update and security".

F8 key

If Windows does not boot, you can try to get into the recovery environment in the way mentioned above using the F8 key. The key must be pressed before the Windows logo appears.

Windows 10 installation disc

The recovery environment for the current system is provided as part of its installation disk. Naturally, we are talking about the official installation disk of Windows 10. Installation disks with "self-made" assemblies of Windows can only be intended for a clean installation of a new system and do not contain the functionality of restoring the current system. Booting from a USB flash drive or DVD with the Windows 10 distribution, we go through the welcome window.

Recovery disk

Failure to boot Windows 10 is a case of using the recovery disk mentioned above. We boot from it and press any key to continue booting from the CD / DVD.

Choosing a keyboard layout

4. Windows Recovery

By any of the methods discussed above, we will get the action selection menu. In this menu, select the "Diagnostics" section, and in it - "Advanced options".

The next step is "Restoring the System Image". This is the standard tool for restoring Windows 10 from a backup.

The system is preparing for the recovery process.

The step-by-step wizard for restoring Windows from a system image will start. By default, the last created image will be selected. But if the system needs to be restored from an earlier image, you must manually specify the path to it. Click "Next".

Now click "Finish".

We confirm the start of the Windows recovery process and wait for it to complete.

After successful completion, restart the computer.

That's it - Windows 10 will return to the state it was in when the image was created. The system will have the same settings, the same installed programs, the same user files on the C drive.

Have a great day!

The backup feature includes a copy of the entire system bit by bit. A windows backup includes a full installation of the operating system, application settings, personal data, even the desktop background. You can transfer all the information from your hard drive to another computer. Its main function is that you can restore the system after critical errors, hardware or software failure. The disadvantage is that you will not be able to recover individual files, but it is quite possible to extract some photos, documents. Remember! Backups should be done periodically so that in the event of a windows crash, you do not lose important files. For example, I had a problem when I converted partition styles from MBR to GPT and in my case everything went wrong. I connected a flash drive with a windows 10 backup and everything was left as it was.

How to back up a Windows 10 image

• Go to Control Panel and press system and safety.

• Select .

• Click on the bottom left.

• Left side.

• Choose exactly where you want to save your copy. It can be a local disk, a network computer, a USB flash drive, a CD-disk.

• I make a whole copy of the hard drive, but you can only have a separate local drive on which the system is located. Then you can go about your business at the computer and wait for the end of the process. After the end, you will still be prompted to create, from which you can boot and start the process from the backup, but it's better to create it manually.

Restoring a computer from a windows 10 backup

Connect the device on which a copy of your system is located, and restart the computer from the windows installation disk. See . During windows installation, press the button Further, then select Repair your computer, which is located in the lower left corner of the screen. Next click on Troubleshooting, click Extra options and select System Recovery Image. Select the system you want to restore, click Next and Finish.

So I decided to make a backup copy of the windows 10 hard drive for recovery, immediately describe what happens.

I will create on an external hard drive, but you can also use a flash drive, as long as there is enough space.

I have an external one and it already has a lot of important data, so I'll try to break it down.

To do this, I will use the windows 10 tools, although there are programs that work more efficiently in this regard (Acronis True Image).

You can do it easier - only there will be only a complete copy of the registry, although the registry can be said to be the basis and in most cases it will be completely enough for recovery.

I’ll immediately notice that I’m doing this on the top ten for the first time and haven’t tried it on a flash drive, the main thing is that the system can determine it.

It seems that there should be at least four gigabytes of space. Well, let's go break the disc.

How to partition a disk on windows 10 to create a backup

First of all, I go to the administration section and click on the "computer management" line (almost at the very bottom).

Then I select disk management and see that mine is there. Let's try to break it down. To do this, I will right-click on it and select the line to compress the volume.

I have 368 GB available for compression. This is a lot. Compress only 66 GB.

Everything worked out, now I have 68 GB of unallocated space. Let's try to distribute it to create a backup copy on it. To do this, I right-click on it and select the line “create a simple volume”.

The process has begun. The volume creation wizard has started.

In conclusion, I click done, wait a few seconds and as a result I get a new disk partition on which I will try to make a full backup of my windows 10.

How to back up windows 10 recovery to external media

Now I go back to the control panel, open the "recovery" section and click on the line "create a recovery disk".

A new window appeared and the scan started.

So let's wait and see what happens. There is succeeded. I see a newly created volume. I select it and press next.

Now I see a warning that all data will be lost. Let them be, there is nothing there anyway - I press create.

I see the creation of a backup copy of windows 10 has started. Let's wait. After a few seconds, I see in the same window the inscription “copying the system”.

It's slow, but it's moving. It took about ten minutes and the option was ready.

I press. Let's see what happened. I see everything worked out, even the files in the trash were copied.

Now you can not be afraid of experiments - if necessary, you can quickly restore the system from a backup.

ATTENTION: if you use an external hard drive, all your files will be lost, so it's better to use a regular DVD.

Create a complete copy of windows 10

The method described above for creating a copy of windows 10, but not a complete one. A full copy means an image with all the files in it.

To do it, go to the same control panel and go to the "backup and restore" section.

In it, on the left side, click "create a system image." You will be given three options. On the hard disk, on DVD and on the network.

I do not like it. DVDs have little space, and network ones are unreliable - Internet is required. Therefore, I select an external hard drive and click next.

The window changes to another. I do not touch anything in it, but again I press further. Now the “archive” parameter has appeared - click on it.

I see it new. It is being prepared. Let it go - I'm waiting.

Now the process of archiving drive "C" has appeared - let's wait.

That's all. Described all types of windows 10 backup. Through a save point (see the link at the beginning of the article).

The second through the recovery disk (you can use a USB flash drive with a capacity of at least 4 gigabytes)

The third is through archiving - full copying with the preservation of all your files. This is the most advanced option.

It just needs an external drive. I needed 50 gigabytes. This despite the fact that I copied only the contents of the media "C".

If he wanted everyone, it would take as many as 500. There is such an opportunity - you just need to put the birds. Good luck.

Category: Uncategorized

Windows 10 is a priority for Microsoft. The corporation is making every effort to improve the security of the OS, trying to keep the privacy of users safe.
But sometimes the operating system may crash on the computer, and as a result, the user's personal data will be lost. Restoration requires use Windows 10 backup

What is a system backup image

Windows 10 backup serves as the best way to protect system files and your personal information. The first thing to do after adding important information to your PC or reinstalling the OS is create a working copy of user data and system settings.

Windows 10 has a built-in backup utility that allows you to create and load a system image.(The OS image is a complete copy of the system disk, by default it is Disk C. That is, all personal files and programs installed only on the system disk will be saved to the image).

How to back up Windows 10

System backup and restore

Built-in tool Windows 10 allows copy all files on the hard drive, including user programs and settings. This is the best way to protect important data in case of system corruption.

Before creating a working copy of Windows 10, make sure you are logged into your administrator account and connected a portable disk or flash drive to the computer.

1. Open the control panel on your computer, and select "System and Security" to do this, select the view by "categories" by default in Windows 10, view by "small icons" is set
2. Next, go to "Backup and Restore", there we click "Create a system image" on the panel on the left.
   
3. Next, click the "On the hard drive" button and select the drive or flash drive on which you will store the Windows 10 backup and click "Next".
4. The system itself will determine and install the disks and components necessary for launching. Now click "Start Archive" at the bottom to start the process.
   

After that, the system will prompt you to create a special partition on the disk containing system recovery tools, thanks to which you can return Windows 10 to a working state.

As soon as Windows backup is completed, disconnect the portable drive or USB flash drive from the computer.

How to recover files on Windows 10

If Windows 10 is damaged or does not start, then you can restore personal data from an existing operating system working image. Before performing the restore operation, connect the hard drive or flash drive with the Windows 10 backup to the computer.

1. Connect the disk with the system recovery files and restart the computer.
2. Click "Next" in the lower right corner of the displayed setup screen and select "Repair your computer".
3. On the next screen, click on the Troubleshoot link and click on System Restore to continue.
4. As soon as the screen changes, select the desired operating system and check the "Use the latest available copy of the system" box. Then click on "Next" and select additional options.
5. Click "Finish" and confirm the action to start system recovery.

A backup or system backup is a Windows 10 image that contains a complete installation of the operating system with settings for applications, services, games, and personal files. The System Image Backup tool was added in Windows 8.1. The disadvantage of system backup is that it is impossible to restore a file separately.

Method number 1. Using the standard utility

You can back up your Windows 10 drive using the built-in Backup and Restore utility, which is located in the Control Panel.

Having opened this element, select "Create a system image" in the left menu.

In the next window, you should choose the storage location for the Windows 10 backup. For this purpose, you can use a USB flash drive, a separate SSD or HDD drive, or a network folder. In the utility, put the mark "Hard disk", select the media from the list and click "Next".

By default, the C drive and the System Reserved partition will be added for archiving. You can also add drive D. Click "Archive".

After the backup is complete, a notification will appear prompting you to make a backup or system recovery disc. We press "Yes".

After a few minutes (from 20 minutes), a system backup will be created. Disconnect the flash drive and use it as needed.

Method number 2. Creating a system recovery disc using the DISM utility

To create a recovery image of OS Windows 10 using the built-in utility DISM.exe, do the following:

• Right-click on the Start menu and select "Command Prompt (Admin)".

• On the command line, enter in order:
• diskpart;
• list volume (remember the disk with Windows 10);
• exit;
• Dism /Capture-Image /ImageFile:D:\my-softikbox.wim /CaptureDir:C:\ /Name:"Windows"

my-softikbox.wim: is the name of the copy of the Windows 10 disk image (you can set your own parameters, only the .wim extension must be left).

D:\ - the location where the image is saved.

C:\ - partition with installed operating system.

The image will be saved on disk D with the name my-softikbox.wim.

Method number 3. Creating a disk backup using LiveCD Aomei Backupper Standard

Making a backup of Windows 10 using this program is quite simple. You need to download it on the site and run it on your PC. Next, we do the following:

• Select the "Backup" section and the "System Backup" option.

• Enter the name of the Windows 10 backup. You must also specify the drive where you can save the image. Then click "Start copying".

• The image creation process will start.

How to restore Windows 10 using a system backup?

If you need to restore drive C after a critical error and you previously made an image of Windows 10 through the Backup and Restore utility in the Control Panel, perform the following steps:

• Click "Start", go to the "Shutdown" section, hold down the "Shift" button and click "Restart". The computer will restart and the Advanced Options menu will appear. Select "System Image Recovery".

• A new window will open. The system will start searching for the backup file. Therefore, the flash drive, disk must be connected to the PC. You can also manually specify the storage location for the disk image.

• At the next stage, the system will prompt you to select partitions for formatting.

• Next, the system restore from the image will start.

If you made an image using the DISM.exe utility, you need to restore Windows 10 as follows:

• Enter diskpart at the command prompt with administrator rights;
• list volume and remember the drive letter C and the "System Reserved" partition;
• select volume 2, where 2 is the system disk number;
• format fs=ntfs quick is a command for formatting.

• select volume 1 - where 1 is the number of the section "Reserved by the system";
• format fs=FS quick - where FS is the partition's actual file system;
• assign letter=Z (we assign the letter Z to the section, it will be needed later);
• exit;
• dism /apply-mage /imagefile:D:\my-softikbox.wim /index:1 /ApplyDir:E:\, where my-softikbox.wim is the system backup, D is its storage location and E is the partition where we restore , that is, drive C.
• bcdboot E:\Windows /s Z:, where E is the Windows 10 system drive and Z is the System Reserved partition.
• diskpart;
• select volume 1 - section "Reserved by the system";
• remove letter=Z - to remove the letter of the reserved partition;

After restarting the PC, Windows 10 will be restored from the image.

If you backed up Windows 10 using the Aomei Backupper Standard program, we restore it as follows:

• We launch the program and go to the "Restore" section. If the disk with the copy is connected to the PC or the copy was saved to disk D, then the program itself will find and set the correct path to the backup. Otherwise, you will have to specify the path yourself.

• Click "Start Restore".

You can also create a Windows 10 backup image using other programs.

To learn how to back up Windows 10, see the video: