Windows 10: How to restore personal files after system restore when “backup” doesn’t recognize backup...

My Windows 10 had some issues and i had to restore windows, effectively resetting my computer.


I have a backup external HD, that I backup my personal files.


After doing all the necessary windows updates, I tried the backup for my personal files but the backup in system tools doesnt recognize there is a file history.


When I look at the external drive itself, it shows there is 850 GB used, but doesnt show me the folder/files—all it shows are the files/folders tjat came with the HD.


How do i access my backed up personal files—either from the HD itself, or allowing back-up to restore them directly?

:)

 

Free hard drive backup/restore program?

I am looking for a free (freeware) program that will back up and restore a hard drive. I'm looking to clone a few external hard drives. If the program will backup the used space instead of the whole drive this will be awesome! Thanks for any suggestions.

 

Backup utility

Cobian backup will do file backups locally or to ftp, with or without encryption and compression. However it doesn't do image backups, which is really what you need if want to fully restore your system.

I've used the W7 back up program and Acronis a few times to restore a system and both work great. With Acronis though, you need to burn the recovery cd they suggest FOR EACH and EVERY machine you use it on.

One problem with W7 backup is that seems to break easily. On one machine I did an upgrade re-install and the backup utility doesn't work. No luck in trouble shooting it either. So I now rely on Acronis exclusively for image backups. But I use Cobian for file backups to ftp.

 

Free hard drive backup/restore program?

Obviously you're looking for something besides your Xp Pro utility that does this?