Windows Backup options include utilities for restoration, repair, full or partial recovery, and reset options to recover your data after a failure.
You don’t need a third-party app to keep your data secure. BinaryFork guides you through the included options available right inside Windows, all having one purpose: to keep your data safe.
Windows Backup
First, you need to save your data, just in case…
Windows Backup and Restore utility helps you save important files, and folders, plus can create a complete System Image. It can also work on a schedule, automatically.
Learn how to create a Windows System Image so you can fully restore your computer later on, in a few minutes.
You can enable System Protection in Windows, which will automatically create Restore Points during specific actions. By the way, it’s the same thing as System Restore, if someone asks.
Before doing something important, you can create a manual Restore Point you can go back to later on.
A password reset disk will help you reset the password of a local account in Windows.
Other passwords can be saved and restored later with the Windows Credential Manager utility.
It’s also super easy to backup a network drive to your local disk if that’s something you need to do.
Windows Restore
Restore your data back from an existing backup.
It’s possible to fully restore Windows from a System Image to exactly how it was before The Crash.
You can restore files and folders from an existing Windows backup at any time, in the same place, or to a different location.
You can revert to a previous Restore Point directly from Windows, or select a Restore Point from the Recovery Environment if Windows doesn’t start. Don’t know what the Recovery Environment is? You can find out here.
How long does System Restore take? We’ve tested this on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Use File History to keep older versions of your documents. Restoring them is a breeze with our comprehensive guide.
Windows Recovery
Try to recover as much as possible when your computer goes haywire.
Create a Recovery Drive first, or a System Repair Disc, so you can have a handy tool to troubleshoot and repair Windows.
If Windows boots directly into the blue Recovery Environment there are tons of options to try.
New Windows version causing trouble? You can roll back a Windows update to the previous build.
Windows is unstable after a rushed update? Try to uninstall Windows Updates.
Did a driver update cause the hardware to malfunction? You can roll back driver updates too in Windows.
Windows Reset
You may lose important data, but at least you can make your Windows PC boot again.
Use Windows Recover from a drive option to basically reinstall Windows. You can’t keep any existing files and programs.
You can reset a Windows PC from the Recovery Environment, with the option to keep your user files.
If your Windows install still works you can reset Windows from the Settings app. You can choose to keep user files.
Can’t log in because you forgot your password? You can use a Password Reset Disk to reset the Windows password for a local account. For Windows online accounts there’s a slightly different method.
Free Up Backup Space
Sometimes you just need more space.
If you need space, you can delete all Restore Points in Windows.
Turn off System Protection in Windows to completely disable System Restore and save precious disk space.
If you’re still confused about what Windows utility to use and when here’s an infographic that might help:
Feel free to share this with anyone interested.
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<figure><a href="https://binaryfork.com/windows-backup/" title="Windows Backup, Restore, Recovery, Repair, Reset Options Explained"><img width="1400" height="5600" src="https://binaryfork.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/binaryfork-windows-backup-infographic.jpg" alt="BinaryFork Windows Backup infografic"></a></figure>