Using Microsoft Windows to Backup to an External Hard Drive
Why reinvent the wheel or waste money on 3rd party backup software when Microsofts default backup program works well to an external hard drive.
You can even backup the files stored on Google Drive, protecting your data twice, to be sure, to be sure.
Windows 10 Backup
All set. Every hour, we'll back up everything in your user folder (C:\Users\username). To change which files get backed up or how often backups happen, go to More options.
Windows 7 and earlier Backup
Goto start-> Control Panel and select “Backup Your Computer” under “System and Security”
Just by plugging in your backup device you may get prompted to “use this drive for backup” but if you do not, use the backup options from control panel as detailed above
Select the backup drive you want to backup TO (usually E: F: or higher) ….NOT C:
Allow Microsoft to choose what to backup if you only have a small hard drive (40/80/160 MB) and a big external drive such 1TB or 2TB. Otherwise select “Let Me Choose“.
Click on “Setup Backup” to choose the files you wish to backup if you are being selective.
You need to select “Document Library” , “Pictures Library” and “Music Library” as a minimum plus “Video Library” if you have sufficient disk space on your backup drive.
If you wish to backup your google drive data, you can locate it under C: -> users -> Your Name -> Google Drive . make sure just the “Google drive” checkbox is selected so as not to backup all those other unnecessary files.
Now you have your files selected, you now need to tell backup when to work automatically. Microsoft backup default to every Sunday night at 7pm.
Change this to “Daily” and a time when you know the computer will be switched on.
You should now see your backup in progress click on “View Details” to see the files being copied or press the “Backup Now” button to start the backup at anytime
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