Windows 10: Windows backup failed - file in use

Hi there. I am trying to backup my main PC through backup and restore in hopes of creating a similar environment on my laptop to carry around with me. I tried this more than once, the first time it hung up at 97%. I cleared up my external drive just a bit and it got past that, but this time errored out.


This is the error:




I'm not 100% sure what process or file it's referring to or how to fix it. I formatted a removable drive at the same time and at first got worried I accidentally formatted the backup drive, is the error referring to the removable drive I formatted?

:)

 

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.

 

Backup using file history

Thanks Robeline

I was going by other advice and articles that suggest that backing up under Update and security/backup is now the way to go. I will try your suggestion.

Doug

 

Backup using file history

Hi Doug,

There are limited options when using backup and restore. We suggest that you create a full backup using Windows 10 system image tool, you need to connect external storage with enough available space. See steps below:

• Open Control Panel.
• Click on System and Security.
• Click on Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
• On the left pane, click the Create a system image link.
• Under Where do you want to save the backup?, select the
  On a hard disk option.
• Using the "On a hard disk" drop-down menu, select the storage to save the backup.
• Click the Start backup button.

Note: Once you completed the steps, the wizard will proceed to create a full backup of your system, including everything that is stored on the main drive, as well as the system reserved partition.