Windows 10: How do you do a System Backup prior to doing Full Devise Encryption on new computer...

Got a new laptop, and my IT department tells me I have to do a system backup followed by a Full Disk Encryption. I've got an external hard drive for storing the backup, and can't find any instructions on what to do next. My IT dept doesn't have instructions to share specific to Windows 11 and I'm not seeing the same options on-screen as I try to follow the path on a random instructions I found on line via google search. Anyone tackle this yet and know what to do? Thanks all.

:)

 

Using network hard drive for backup

It depends what sort of backup you want to do. If you're happy just backing up regular files, then there are a bazillion (really, that many!) different bits of freeware to do that. There is a good list here:

Download Back Up Tools for Windows - MajorGeeks

and pretty much all of them can do network backups. Some even have fancy options like encryption. Really, the most useful thing is just being able to schedule them and know they ran OK.

You may also want to make a system image backup too, and you'll find that software in the very same list.

I don't have Windows 8 as yet, so I'm afraid I can't suggest any for that platform. Personally, I use Clonezilla for image backups.

 

How do I ensure a full backup prior to installation


I want to do a full backup of my drive "C" in the event I have to recover. I'm running Windows 7 Home now. I have a number of apps on it from both Microsoft and Adobe, and I can't afford to loose them if the upgrade to Windows 10 goes bad. Are these the correct steps:

• Create a system image
• Create a system repair disk
• Copy all data file I can find from other hard disks (drives D, E, etc.)

Is this all I need to do to have a high level of confidence in the update?

Thanks,
Bob

 

How to Decrypt *.cerber3 files?

AFAIK it's still not possible to decrypt your files for free...

In addition to what has been mentioned in the prior posts, you might want to read this:

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cerber-ransomware-switches-to-cerber3-extension-for-encrypted-files/

And I strongly suggest to read/do:

• How to remove ransomware the right way: A step-by-step guide
• The smartest way to stay unaffected by ransomware? Backup!