Windows 10: Windows 10 Backup Options

My question is about backups.

I'm on windows 10 and need to set up a backup solution for my important files. Documents, pics, videos, music, etc. Plus some additional folders like projects, game saves, and stuff.

As best I can tell, there's two backup solutions built into Windows 10. The "File History" option, and "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)".

I don't really need versioning on my backups, so I'm not sure if file history is the right thing to do or not. What about the old Windows 7 Backup and Restore? I know that you could do specific files/ folders on that as well, but I'm just not sure what the differences between the two are.

I feel I should also point out that I do not need a system image backup. If the PC crashes that hard, I would rather do a fresh install of Windows anyways, as long as I still have my important files.

Lastly, what do you recommend for offsite (cloud) backup? Something affordable, but reputable.

Thanks!

:)

 

issue with backup options Windows 10

Hi David,

I will certainly help with the issue you are facing with backup option.

To assist you better, kindly provide the information:

• 
  How exactly are you trying to perform back up? Is it from the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) or File History?
  
• 
  Which drive have you selected to back up? Is it an external drive or a network drive or a local drive of the system?
  
• 
  When you say 'only allows me to do another backup with the same options', which options are you referring to?
  
• 
  Are you unable to select a different drive for a backup from the backup destination list?
  

If you are using a Backup and Restore (Windows 7) option then, I suggest you to follow the steps mentioned below:

• 
  Type backup and restore in the search bar and press enter.
  
• 
  Click on setup backup option.
  
• 
  Click on refresh button to check if the drives are visible in the
  backup destination list.
  
• 
  Choose the drive which you want to back up and click on
  next.
  

If you are trying to use file history I suggest you to un-plug it and restart your computer. Re-plug the external drive and check if the file history options are available.

Please get back to us with the information to assist you further.

Thank you.

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.

 

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.