Windows 10: Windows 10 And Backing Up to an External Drive On A Laptop

When is Windows going to be configured to recognize that most of us are now using laptops which by definition are portable and therefore we don't leave an external hard drive for backing up constantly attached?

I had a Western Digital Passport which had software that allowed me to schedule a backup once a week at a specific time. The usb port eventually failed and I made the mistake of replacing it with a Seagate which came with no software at all. Then I bought another WD, but this time an Element, which also does not come with any software for scheduling back-ups.

So now I am forced to use the Windows 10 version of backing up. But there is only the option to back up once a day, not once a week. And I do not need to back up every single day. And it doesn't not play well with me detaching the external hard drive.

Backing up to the cloud is also out of the question. I will never do that except for files I don't care about and have no vital information in them.


So, when is Microsoft going to recognize that backing up to an external hard-drive needs a schedule beyond once a day and said external drive is NOT going to remain attached at all times?


Lastly, does anyone know of a software program which will do what the Western Digital Passport software did? In terms of providing a means to schedule back-ups for a specific day and time? And a means of adding password protection? I was really disappointed that WD didn't provide this software for any of their other external drives. Even SanDisk thumb-drives had password protection options on them!


Thanks

:)

 

Windows 10

no, you can't go back..
I suggest creating a backup image of your os drive

 

File back up to bitlockered external drive

Thanks John.

By trial and error the solution is,

• Set the file back up to the desired external USB drive, Back up using file history.
• Run backup to completion.
• Dismount, (Remove) the drive used.
• Remount (Plug in) the drive used for the file back up (Steps 1&2) and encrypt using Bitlocker.

Note you can only encrypt drives using some versions of Windows (Pro for eg not Home)

• Once the external drive has been encrypted dismount.
• Remount the drive, go to the file back up option, Open, Settings, Backup,
  Back up using file history.
• The drive should now still be visible and has been encrypted.
• Accessing the drive will be dependant on how it was set up in Bitlocker,
  Open with this PC, password, pin code etc.
• Repeat file back up as in the first two steps.

Hope this helps someone else.

 

unrecognised external hard drive on Windows 10

Since you already reinstalled the drivers of the External Hard Drive, let's run the
Hardware and Devices troubleshooter as it can resolve your concern. You can do that by following these steps:

• 
  Press the Start button.
  
• 
  Type and select Troubleshooting.
  
• 
  Click on View all on the left panel.
  
• 
  Select and run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter.
  

If the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter doesn’t resolve your concern, we suggest that you change the letter of the External Hard Drive. You can do that by following these steps:

• 
  Press the Start button.
  
• 
  Type and select Control panel.
  
• 
  Select System and Security.
  
• 
  Select Administrative Tools, and a new window will appear.
  
• 
  Double-click Computer Management, and a new window will appear.
  
• 
  Select Disk Management that is located under
  Storage in the left pane.
  
• 
  Right click on the External Hard Drive that is not showing on the File Explorer.
  
• 
  Select Change letter and network path, and a new window will appear.
  
• 
  Select Change, and choose the letter that you want for the External Hard Drive.
  

After changing the letter of the External Hard Drive, we suggest that you reboot your laptop for the changes to take effect.



Let us know how it goes.



Regards.