Windows 10: Need to create system backup to external hard drive

I've been instructed to do a factory reset on my Inspirion 16 Plus Windows 11 Pro to correct a going into recovery mode issue. Before doing that I need to create a system backup including all apps, documents, photos, video etc. How do I that to an external drive?

:)

 

Creating a backup on an external hard drive

Hello,

I wanted to create a backup on an external hard drive (Toshiba Canvio). When I connect the drive to the USB port (tried all of the available ones in my laptop), I can see the files stored in the drive, save files to the drive and basically perform all the operations on the drive too. The problem starts when I want to create a backup of the system on that drive: In the Settings->Create a backup->Add disk I can not list that external drive. How to create the backup on that drive?

Laptop: Lenovo y50-70
Windows: 10 v. 21H1

Best Regards

 

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.

 

Creating a system image on an external hard drive.

I simply would like to create a system image to put on an external USB Hard Drive. I believe I have formatted it correctly but I am not sure about that. I would appreciate it if someone would be able to assist me by providing me with clear, concise, step-by-step instructions on:

A. How to format the external USB Hard Drive to put the System Image on and,

B. How to put the system Image on the newly formatted external USB hard drive.

Thanks in advance and please forgive my apparent and obvious lack of technical aptitude. There might be some who read this who might recall a daily comic in the print papers called "Dilbert" who wasn't a very mechanically inclined individual. I am "Dilbert" ten times over as it is clear I am not technically inclined; I am also not mechanically inclined.