If you keep important files on your computer and have configured your system with lots of effort, you will definitely try not to lose them. For such cases, you can find different third-party software and built-in tools in Windows 11 that let you create a backup of your files and system and restore those files and settings if system failures occured.
Generally, you see two built-in features for creating a backup in Windows 11 if you open the Control Panel: one is File History, and the second feature is the Backup and Restore.
File history is a new feature in Windows 8 and later windows versions that backs up your files in the Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, and Desktop folders. We will write about the file history soon.
Meanwhile, in this session, I will write about creating a full system image backup using the Backup and Restore feature, which has been there since Windows 7. You will also read about how to restore files in windows 11 using the system image backup.
Related: How to upgrade to Windows 11 for free?
How to create a full system image backup in Windows 11
You can create a full system backup that contains all the installation and files from the Control Panel. To do that, follow the below steps:
- Prepare an external/internal drive or a network location to store the backup files.
- Open Control Panel from the Search box or any other alternative way.
- Adjust your view by category and click on the system and security.
- Click on the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) feature.
- You see three options related to the Backup in the Backup and Restore windows:
- Create a system image: This option creates a copy of the drives required for Windows to run by default. However, you can include additional drives too. If your hard drive or computer fails, you can’t choose individual items for restoration. Instead, you can restore the entire OS along with files and settings.
- Create a system repair disk: It is like a bootable CD/DVD that gives you the tools for restoring your computer from the system image backup.
- Set up Backup: This option is for automatic backup. If you want to take a regular backup from your file, use this option to schedule.
Here I click on the Create a system image option.
- Select the location; where do you want to save the Backup? Because I have an external hard disk, I choose the first option. From the drop-down menu, I select the DM-HD (the name of my external hard disk) and click next.
Note: Make sure to store your backup files on an external hard disk or on a network rather than on internal drives.
- If you want to add more drives to the backup, select the drive and click next.
- Confirm the backup settings and click on the Start Backup button.
- The processing time depends on the size of your data. A window asks if you want to create a system repair disk; click no.
You have successfully created a full system image backup in Windows 11. Go to the selected drive, and check a folder ‘WindowsImageBackup’ has been created.
How to restore files in Windows 11
If your files get lost or damaged, you can restore them quickly without any worries. Because you have already taken a full backup of your file and system. You must head to the Windows Recovery Page to bring back your files using system image backup. If your computer is running, follow the below steps:
- Open the system settings from the start menu.
- Scroll down and find the recovery option.
- Click the Restart now button in the recovery window and restart your computer.
- After a few moments, you see a green window that lets you choose an option. Click on Troubleshoot.
- Click on the System Image Recovery in the Advanced options.
- Select a system image backup; it will automatically be chosen if you have only one system image backup. Click the next button.
- You can choose an additional restore option; I click next without selecting anything.
- Confirm the settings and click finish. A small window shows that windows restore your computer from the system image backup. The process takes a few minutes.
Finally, your computer restarts automatically. After the restart, you see the sign-in window; everything has replaced with the information in the system image.
Restore your computer with installation media
Alternatively, if your computer is off, prepare a bootable USB, CD/DVD, or a system repair disk and boot your computer.
In the Setup Windows, click on the Repair your computer hyperlink instead of clicking on the Install Now button.
Connect the hard disk that contains the System image backup and follow the above procedures on the Windows recovery page.
Conclusions
To wrap up, having a secure data archive can save you and your business if you lose those data due to viruses, system damage, disk failure, or other strange causes. You can use the system image feature to create a full system backup and then restore your PC if your hard drive or computer stops working.
We are at the end of the session; I hope you like the article, and if you do so, share it with your friends and colleagues.
