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Top 4 Amazing Windows 10 Backup Tips (2020)

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Wait For Windows To Restore The Backup Image.

Backup # 1: How To Backup The Windows 10 Registry

Step-By-Step Instructions

Click On The Start Menu Button.
STEP 1: Click On The Start Menu Button.
Type System Restore Into The Search Box.
STEP 2: Type System Restore Into The Search Box.
Choose Create A Restore Point.
STEP 3: Choose Create A Restore Point.
Click Create.
STEP 4: Click Create.
STEP 5: Name The Restore Point.
Click The Create Button.
STEP 6: Click The Create Button.
Wait Until The Restore Point Process Completes.
STEP 7: Wait Until The Restore Point Process Completes.

Lesson Summary:

This lesson can be found within my book 27 Amazing Windows 10 Performance Boosting Tips: A Complete Visual Guide For Beginners, Intermediates & Experts. The goal of this lesson is to teach the user How To Backup The Windows 10 Registry in 2020. This lesson is performed using a complete visual guide. First, we will assess the primary skill one user will obtain through the lesson. Second, a brief risk analysis of how the lesson can impact system performance and security. Finally, we conclude with learning why this particular lesson is important.

Skills Obtained In This Lesson:

Skills Obtained In How To Backup The Windows 10 Registry
Skills Obtained In How To Backup The Windows 10 Registry (2020)

Risk Analysis Of This Lesson:

Risk Analysis Of How To Backup The Windows 10 Registry (2020)

Why Learning How To Backup The Windows 10 Registry (2020) Is Important:

Is The Windows 10 Registry Important?

The Microsoft Windows 10 registry is an essential part of the Windows operating system. Within the registry live critical settings, configurations, and references. It is the skeleton that keeps Windows functioning. Without a good registry, you run into system instability in performance issues. Instability, amongst other problems, is why it’s imperative to back up the registry. There are many different ways of performing this, all of which are good options. 

The first option is to open the registry and Export a copy of it. Now if you do this, you want to make sure you store that copy on an external device such as a USB stick or hard drive. Storing on an external device is vital just in case your registry becomes corrupt on your main drive. If primary drive corruption happens, you cannot access it. Without access to the registry backup, recovering your backup becomes far more complicated.

 Can The Registry Be Restored?

Another excellent method for backing up the Windows registry is to run the system restore. System restore can be launched right within the Windows operating system. It saves copies of your registry in basic Windows settings in what is called a system restore point. Mostly, Windows takes a snapshot of its current configuration, and that snapshot is recoverable at any point in time. The reason system restore points are the best method is because windows can use the recovery console on boot up to restore the snapshot. 

If you run into a Windows stability issue, there are no worries about manually restoring the registry. You can use the built-in recovery tools in the Windows operating system to restore Windows to a stable configuration. Before making any significant system changes, it is always a good idea to backup your system registry by creating a system restore point. To do this follow the steps below.

Backup # 2 How To Backup Critical Windows 10 System Files With OneDrive

Step By Step Instructions

Click On The Start Menu Button.
STEP 1: Click On The Start Menu Button.
Select The Account Picture.
STEP 2: Select The Account Picture.
Choose Change Account Settings.
STEP 3: Choose Change Account Settings.
If Given An Option Under Your Profile Picture, Click Sign In With A Microsoft Account Instead. If You Are Not Given An Option, This Means You Are Already Connected To A Microsoft Account And Can Skip Steps 4 and 5.
STEP 4: If Given An Option Under Your Profile Picture, Click Sign In With A Microsoft Account Instead. If You Are Not Given An Option, This Means You Are Already Connected To A Microsoft Account And Can Skip Steps 4 and 5.
Sign Into Your Existing Account Or Create A New Microsoft Account. If Prompted To Create A Pin, Do So.
STEP 5: Sign Into Your Existing Account Or Create A New Microsoft Account. If Prompted To Create A Pin, Do So.
STEP 6: After Successfully Logging In, Click On The Start Menu Button.
Type OneDrive.
STEP 7: Type OneDrive.
Select The OneDrive Application.
STEP 8: Select The OneDrive Application.
Navigate To Local Drive C > Users.
STEP 9: Navigate To Local Drive C > Users.
Left Click And Drag The Mouse To Highlight All User Profiles.
STEP 10: Left Click And Drag The Mouse To Highlight All User Profiles.
Right Click On One Of The Selected Items And Click Copy.
STEP 11: Right Click On One Of The Selected Items And Click Copy.
Navigate Back To OneDrive > Documents.
STEP 12: Navigate Back To OneDrive > Documents.
Right Click Within OneDrive > Documents And Select Paste.
STEP 13: Right Click Within OneDrive > Documents And Select Paste.
If Prompted By User Account Control, Check The Box Do This For All Current Items And Click Continue.
STEP 14: If Prompted By User Account Control, Check The Box Do This For All Current Items And Click Continue.
STEP 15: Wait For All Files To Copy Successfully.
Monitor OneDrive Sync From The Taskbar Until Sync Is Complete.
STEP 16: Monitor OneDrive Sync From The Taskbar Until Sync Is Complete.

Lesson Summary:

This lesson can be found within my book 27 Amazing Windows 10 Performance Boosting Tips: A Complete Visual Guide For Beginners, Intermediates & Experts. The goal of this lesson is to teach the user How To Backup Critical Windows 10 System Files With OneDrive in 2020. This lesson is performed using a complete visual guide. First, we will assess the primary skill one user will obtain through the less. Second, a brief risk analysis of how the lesson can impact system performance and security. Finally, we conclude with learning why this particular lesson is important.

Skills Obtained In This Lesson:

Skills Obtained In How To Backup Critical Windows 10 System Files With OneDrive
Skills Obtained In How To Backup Critical Windows 10 System Files With OneDrive (2020)

Risk Analysis Of This Lesson:

Risk Analysis Of How To Backup Critical Windows 10 System Files With OneDrive
Risk Analysis Of How To Backup Critical Windows 10 System Files With OneDrive (2020)

Why Learning How To Backup Critical Windows 10 System Files With OneDrive (2020) Is Important:

Is Backing Up Critical Windows 10 System Files Simple?

Unfortunately, very few people know how to back up critical Windows 10 files correctly. The sad part of this reality is that Windows has made it extremely easy to do so. Unless people know precisely how to do these things, there is no reason to expect him to do it. It’s effortless to take computers for granted. They keep copies of in retain information on our devices seamlessly. Often, we don’t realize just how much they do for us until they fail. It is unfortunate when a failure results in data loss. 

There are a couple of different methods by which you can pack up your critical Windows 10 system files. The first and easiest way is to let Windows use OneDrive to backup your data seamlessly. OneDrive is Microsoft’s Google Drive service. With OneDrive, your data storage is in the cloud. The reason this is beneficial is that you can access those files from anywhere and if one of your devices fail, then you can quickly restore those files onto any new device. OneDrive typically enables by default on Windows 10. 

Does OneDrive Require A Microsoft Account?

You do require a Microsoft account for this feature to be enabled. The good news is you can use any email address to create a Microsoft account. You do not need a Microsoft Outlook email address for the OneDrive feature. I created a Microsoft account using my Gmail email address. The second method for backing up critical system files is to do it manually. Now I’m a big fan of doing this because you have a physical copy on hand. It is also a far more secure method. Let’s say you have sensitive information, such as bank account information or accounting data. 

If this data is not something you should put on the cloud. For instances like this, it’s best to copy and paste your user folder on to a USB drive or external hard drive.

Backup # 3: How To Backup Critical Windows 10 System Files To A USB Drive

Step By Step Instructions

Insert An External USB Drive And Click The Start Menu Button.
STEP 1: Insert An External USB Drive And Click The Start Menu Button.
Type In File Explorer.
STEP 2: Type In File Explorer.
Open File Explorer.
STEP 3: Open File Explorer.
Navigate To Local Drive C > Users.
STEP 4: Navigate To Local Drive C > Users.
Left Click And Drag The Mouse To Highlight All User Profiles.
STEP 5: Left Click And Drag The Mouse To Highlight All User Profiles.
Right Click On One Of The Selected Items And Click Copy.
STEP 6: Right Click On One Of The Selected Items And Click Copy.
Connect And Navigate To An External USB Thumb Drive Or Hard Drive.
STEP 7: Connect And Navigate To An External USB Thumb Drive Or Hard Drive.
Right Click Anywhere Inside The Drive And Choose Paste.
STEP 8: Right Click Anywhere Inside The Drive And Choose Paste.
If Prompted By User Account Control, Check The Box Do This For All Current Items And Click Continue.
STEP 9: If Prompted By User Account Control, Check The Box Do This For All Current Items And Click Continue.
Wait For All Files To Copy Successfully.
STEP 10: Wait For All Files To Copy Successfully.

Lesson Summary:

This lesson can be found within my book 27 Amazing Windows 10 Performance Boosting Tips: A Complete Visual Guide For Beginners, Intermediates & Experts. The goal of this lesson is to teach the user How To Backup Critical Windows 10 System Files To A USB Drive in 2020, This lesson is performed using a complete visual guide. First, we will assess the primary skill one user will obtain through the lesson. Second, a brief risk analysis of how the lesson can impact system performance and security. Finally, we conclude with learning why this particular lesson is important.

Skills Obtained In This Lesson:

Skills Obtained In How To Backup Critical Windows 10 System Files To A USB Drive
Skills Obtained In How To Backup Critical Windows 10 System Files To A USB Drive (2020)

Risk Analysis Of This Lesson:

Risk Analysis Of How To Backup Critical Windows 10 System Files To A USB Drive
Risk Analysis Of How To Backup Critical Windows 10 System Files To A USB Drive (2020)

Why Learning How To Backup Critical Windows 10 System Files (2020) To A USB Drive Is Important:

Do Many Users Know How To Backup Critical Windows 10 System Files?

Unfortunately, very few people know how to back up critical Windows 10 files to a USB drive in 2020 correctly. The sad part of this reality is that Windows has made it extremely easy to do so. Unless people know precisely how to do these things, there is no reason to expect him to do it. It’s effortless to take computers for granted. They keep copies of in retain information on our devices seamlessly. Often, we don’t realize just how much they do for us until they fail. It is unfortunate when a failure results in data loss. 

There are a couple of different methods by which you can pack up your critical Windows 10 system files. The first and easiest way is to let Windows use OneDrive to backup your data seamlessly. OneDrive is Microsoft’s Google Drive service. With OneDrive, your data storage is in the cloud. The reason this is beneficial is that you can access those files from anywhere and if one of your devices fail, then you can quickly restore those files onto any new device. OneDrive typically enables by default on Windows 10. 

Do You Require A Microsoft Account For This Backup Method?

You do not require a Microsoft account for backing up to a USB drive, only to Microsoft OneDrive. The good news is you can use any email address to create a Microsoft account. You do not need a Microsoft Outlook email address for the OneDrive feature. I created a Microsoft account using my Gmail email address. The second method for backing up of critical system files is to do it manually. Now I’m a big fan of doing this because you have a physical copy on hand. It is also a far more secure method. Let’s say you have sensitive information, such as bank account information or accounting data. 

If this data is not something you should put on the cloud. For instances like this, it’s best to copy and paste your user folder on to a USB drive or external hard drive.

Backup # 4: How To Create A Windows 10 Recovery Backup Image

Step By Step Instructions

Click On The Start Menu Button.
STEP 1: Click On The Start Menu Button.
Type Control Panel Into The Search Box.
STEP 2: Type Control Panel Into The Search Box.
Select The Control Panel To Launch The Control Panel.
STEP 3: Select The Control Panel To Launch The Control Panel.
If Necessary, Modify The View By To Sort The Control Panel By Large Icons Instead Of Categories.
STEP 4: If Necessary, Modify The View By To Sort The Control Panel By Large Icons Instead Of Categories.
Select Backup And Restore (Windows 7).
STEP 5: Select Backup And Restore (Windows 7).
Connect The External USB Hard Drive. The External Hard Drive Must Be The Same Size As The Used Disk Space Of The Drive Or Larger. Windows Will Notify You If The Drive Is Too Small. After The Drive Is Inserted, Click Create A System Image.
STEP 6: Connect The External USB Hard Drive. The External Hard Drive Must Be The Same Size As The Used Disk Space Of The Drive Or Larger. Windows Will Notify You If The Drive Is Too Small. After The Drive Is Inserted, Click Create A System Image.
Select The On A Hard Disk Radio Button And Choose The External Hard Drive From The Drop Down Menu.
STEP 7: Select The On A Hard Disk Radio Button And Choose The External Hard Drive From The Drop Down Menu.
Click Next.
STEP 8: Click Next.
Select All Of The Partitions On The Drive To Backup. Do Not Select Any Partitions On The Backup Disk Itself. Windows Warns If The User Attempts To Select A Partition On The Already Existing Backup Disk. Click Next.
STEP 9: Select All Of The Partitions On The Drive To Backup. Do Not Select Any Partitions On The Backup Disk Itself. Windows Warns If The User Attempts To Select A Partition On The Already Existing Backup Disk. Click Next.
Confirm The Selections And Select Start Backup.
STEP 10: Confirm The Selections And Select Start Backup.
Wait For The Backup Image To Create Successfully.
STEP 11: Wait For The Backup Image To Create Successfully.
When Prompted To Create A System Repair Disk, Select No. For System Image Recovery We Use The Windows 10 Recovery Drive Included With The Windows 10 Installation.
STEP 12: When Prompted To Create A System Repair Disk, Select No. For System Image Recovery We Use The Windows 10 Recovery Drive Included With The Windows 10 Installation.

Lesson Summary:

This lesson can be found within my book 27 Amazing Windows 10 Performance Boosting Tips: A Complete Visual Guide For Beginners, Intermediates & Experts. The goal of this lesson is to teach the user How To Create A Windows 10 Recovery Backup Image in 2020, This lesson is performed using a complete visual guide. First, we will assess the primary skill one user will obtain through the lesson. Second, a brief risk analysis of how the lesson can impact system performance and security. Finally, we conclude with learning why this particular lesson is important.

Skills Obtained In This Lesson:

Skills Obtained In How To Create A Windows 10 Recovery Backup Image
Skills Obtained In How To Create A Windows 10 Recovery Backup Image (2020)

Risk Analysis Of This Lesson:

Risk Analysis Of How To Create A Windows 10 Recovery Backup Image
Risk Analysis Of How To Create A Windows 10 Recovery Backup Image (2020)

Why Learning How To Create A Windows 10 Recovery Backup Image (2020) Is Important:

Are Hard Drive Images Powerful?

Hard drive images are powerful because they are a snapshot of the existing operating system in that specific moment in time. This snapshot contains all software currently installed on the operating system as well as their corresponding licenses. On top of that, an image contains all critical system and user files. So a backup image contains almost everything a user might need to recover from a data catastrophe.

Image backups are, by far, my personal favorite when it comes to system backup. In fact, it is not uncommon for me to create multiple images throughout the year. I generally keep these images stored on several external hard drives. Backup images are the best method to allow for absolute recovery from a crisis. An image is a reliable snapshot to fall on no matter what situation may arise.

Is Backup Image Creation Easy?

Thankfully, Microsoft makes the creation of recovery images a snap. This feature is included with the Windows operating system as far back as Windows 7. Once upon a time, users had to rely on 3rd party companies to create stable and reliable backup images. The difficulty for most users was recovering the image once it is created. Image backups are created through the Backup and Restore utility included with Windows.

Microsoft made tremendous strides in the area of recovery as well. The integrated recovery console for Windows 10 allows for a quick restore of image backups. The only downside of this method of recovery is the need for an external hard drive large enough to store an entire image of the hard drive. The drop in the cost of small, external drives makes this a much smaller barrier than it once was.

How To Windows 10

Author:Craig Chamberlin

Craig Chamberlin is an active professional IT Administrator, E-Commerce Web Developer and SEO Expert at Precision Electric, Inc. The basic motto of "Always improving towards the ever elusive ideal" guides his approach to teaching, life as well as business.