Why do I need to backup computer files?
It is a nagging question while some users still don't attach importance to files backup. They always think 'data loss will never happen to me'. But I have heard too manytragedies of people who lost all files because of system crashes, hard disk failure, powersurge, or natural disaster, and get badly influences. So, if you spend much time on yourcomputer, backup should be a must-have job during your computer experience.
- The My Book Desktop External Hard Drive from Western Digital, while large, fits the bill for business owners in need of serious space: It comes in 3, 4, 6, 8, or 10TB varieties and offers Western Digital's own backup solution for Windows users. It's also compatible with Time Machine for Mac users (though you may need to reformat).
- Anyone who uses a PC should have an external drive. It's both a useful means of data backup and storage, and a way to transport files from your desktop or laptop to another device.
- If you don't get this prompt, you can just go to the Start Menu, type 'backup' in the search box, and hit Backup and Restore. From there, click the 'Set Up Backup' button. Pick the external drive.
If you want to protect data stored on your computer, you should regularly back up the contents of the hard drive using the best external hard drive backup software. These programs help you quickly copy all passwords, photos, documents, and even messages to recover them in one click in an emergency. Jul 31, 2020 Anyone who uses a PC should have an external drive. It's both a useful means of data backup and storage, and a way to transport files from your desktop or laptop to another device.
Files backup can help you return things to normal when disaster strikes. By backing up files,you have a copy of your files. In this way, if your computer crashes or is attacked by avirus, you are still able to restore files from backup images to your computer. Unlike diskbackup, file backup only backup the files which are of the most importance to you or cannoteasily replaced, such as financial information, digital photos, music, videos orprograms.
Should I save backup files to external hard drive?
There are many possible locations for backing up your computer files such as CD/DVD, externalhard drive, NAS device, and online storage. How to choose a backup location for computerfiles? There are some advices in the following:
Separately from your computer. As mentioned above, computer relatedissues, such as, system crash, will result in data loss. So, you'd better choose astorage device outside computer.
The price is affordable. Nowdays, external hard drive is veryreliable and reasonably cheap nowadays. The price of CD/DVD is also acceptable, but itsstorage space is not big enough.
The device is portable and can take everywhere. This is veryimportant for users who need to use backup files at different places, such as, home,office.
Save backup time. Compared with NAS or online storage, backing upyour files to external hard drive does not require a good internet connection. So, thebackup time will be less.
Based on the above conditions, it's easy to see that external hard drive will be the bestchoice to backup your computer files. Xbox 360 technical support phone number. To enhance the safety of your backed up files, It'srecommended to createa schedule backup for your files and prepare for two external hard drives - bringone to office, and the other stays at home.
How to backup files to an external hard drive (3 ways)?
Speaking of how to backup all files on external hard drive in Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7 and olderversion, you may think about using Windows built-in tool, such as, Backup and Restore, FileHistory. And I'll introduce you about how to use them later. But before that, I'll introducethe easiest way first.
Method 1: backing up your files in Windows with AOMEI Backupper Standard(Easiest)
AOMEI Backupper Standard is afree software to backup files to external hard drive for Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP.And it still offers you more advanced features during the backup process. Then, I'llintroduce in details.
Support schedule backup. This feature can continuously protect yourfiles and avoid data loss owing to forgetting to backup files. You can choose to createa daily backup, weekly backup, month backup or only backup changed files with incrementalbackup.
Support email notification. This feature is very useful, especiallywhen you don't want to wait until the backup task complete. It will tell you the finalresult or any error message during the process.
Support compressing your backup. If your file is very large or youhave many files or folders, you can consider compressing the image file to save diskspace.
To backing up your files in Windows, use the following steps:
1. Connect your external hard drive with computer and make sure it can beaccessible.
2. Download, install, and launch AOMEI Backupper.
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3. Choose 'Backup' and 'File Backup'subsequently.
4. Click 'Add File' or 'Add Folder' to select files youwant to backup. Also, you can type a new task name in the box if you want to distinguishfrom other backups
5. Click the folder shaped button, and then select the connectedexternal disk to store file backup image.
6. To backup files to external hard drive automatically, click 'Schedule'and select one or more settings.
7. When you are ready, click 'Start Backup' to back up files tothe selected external hard drive. Then, click 'Finish' when the operationhas been completed successfully.
Tips:
If you want to backup files based on a specific event, such as system startup, youcan use the 'Event triggers' schedule mode (available in paid versions). Forthis backup schedule, you have 4 choices, including system startup, system shutdown,user logon, user logoff.
If you only want to backupchanged files per day, you can combine general settings and advanced settings, suchas daily incremental backup.
If you are troubled by low disk space, you can use 'Scheme' feature. It has 5 choicesaccording to your backup type and you can select the suitable one to deletebackup files. Upgrade to higher editions to enjoy this feature.
Now, you can disconnect your external hard drive and put it in a safe location. If youreplace your computer with a new one, you can also connect the external hard drive andrestore files.
Method 2: backup file to external drive with File History
File History is a free built-in file backup tool, which was launched since Windows 8. Thistool allows you to backup all the default and custom Libraries (including Public Folders),plus Contacts, Desktop and Favorites folders. And Windows add a new feature called 'AddFolders' in Windows 10, which can help you backupspecific folders.
To backup files with file history, use the steps below:
1. Connect the external drive to your computer, and ensure it can bedetected.
2. Click 'Start', type backup in the search box and selectit.
3. Click 'Add a drive' and select an external drive. Then, it will turn on theslide button under 'Automatically back up my files' link.
4. Click 'More options' to set up backup settings. Scroll down to 'Backup my files', 'Keep my backups', 'Exclude thesefolders' and select any setting you like. Xbox one billing phone number. After that, go back to the top of backupoptions and click 'Back up now' to backup your files immediately.
Method 3: backup files to external hard drive with Backup and Restore
In Windows 7, there is still a free backup software named 'Backup and Restore', which allowsyou to backupindividual files or entire system as you like. And this tool is kept in Windows 8and later version.
3. Choose 'Backup' and 'File Backup'subsequently.
4. Click 'Add File' or 'Add Folder' to select files youwant to backup. Also, you can type a new task name in the box if you want to distinguishfrom other backups
5. Click the folder shaped button, and then select the connectedexternal disk to store file backup image.
6. To backup files to external hard drive automatically, click 'Schedule'and select one or more settings.
7. When you are ready, click 'Start Backup' to back up files tothe selected external hard drive. Then, click 'Finish' when the operationhas been completed successfully.
Tips:
If you want to backup files based on a specific event, such as system startup, youcan use the 'Event triggers' schedule mode (available in paid versions). Forthis backup schedule, you have 4 choices, including system startup, system shutdown,user logon, user logoff.
If you only want to backupchanged files per day, you can combine general settings and advanced settings, suchas daily incremental backup.
If you are troubled by low disk space, you can use 'Scheme' feature. It has 5 choicesaccording to your backup type and you can select the suitable one to deletebackup files. Upgrade to higher editions to enjoy this feature.
Now, you can disconnect your external hard drive and put it in a safe location. If youreplace your computer with a new one, you can also connect the external hard drive andrestore files.
Method 2: backup file to external drive with File History
File History is a free built-in file backup tool, which was launched since Windows 8. Thistool allows you to backup all the default and custom Libraries (including Public Folders),plus Contacts, Desktop and Favorites folders. And Windows add a new feature called 'AddFolders' in Windows 10, which can help you backupspecific folders.
To backup files with file history, use the steps below:
1. Connect the external drive to your computer, and ensure it can bedetected.
2. Click 'Start', type backup in the search box and selectit.
3. Click 'Add a drive' and select an external drive. Then, it will turn on theslide button under 'Automatically back up my files' link.
4. Click 'More options' to set up backup settings. Scroll down to 'Backup my files', 'Keep my backups', 'Exclude thesefolders' and select any setting you like. Xbox one billing phone number. After that, go back to the top of backupoptions and click 'Back up now' to backup your files immediately.
Method 3: backup files to external hard drive with Backup and Restore
In Windows 7, there is still a free backup software named 'Backup and Restore', which allowsyou to backupindividual files or entire system as you like. And this tool is kept in Windows 8and later version.
To backup files with 'Backup and Restore', follow the detailed steps below:
1. Connect your external hard disk, and then type backup in the search boxand select it.
2. Then, click 'Set up backup' to add the first backup task.
How To Backup External Hard Drive
3. Select the connected external drive, and click Next.
4. Tick 'Let me choose' and click Next.
5. Check the folders you want to backup and click Next.
6. Click 'Change schedule' to modify the backup settings. After that, click'Save settings and run backup' to start this task. You just need to wait patiently until theoperation is completed 100%.
Note: The schedule backup is set to 7:00 PM every day. If you are not convenient at thistime, you can change it to another time.
Seagate Backup External Hard Drive
Written in the end
About how to backup files to external hard drive in Windows 10, 8, 7, you can use Windowsbuilt-in tool, such as, Backup and Restore, File History. Also, you can consider using afree but professional backup software like AOMEI Backupper Standard.
By comparison, backing your files with AOMEI Backupper is the easiest way. It has anintuitive interface that make users can easily and quickly understand the operation. And thebackup process does not have any obstacle. Besides, it offers you more useful features, suchas, daily backup, incremental backup, email notification, etc.
