Creating a full backup on an external USB drive or HDD in Windows 11 / Recovery / Without programs

3 min read 6 months ago
Published on Apr 22, 2024 This response is partially generated with the help of AI. It may contain inaccuracies.

Table of Contents

How to Create a Full Backup on an External USB Drive or HDD in Windows 11

  1. Connect External USB Drive or Select a Hard Drive:

    • First, connect an external USB drive or select a hard drive on your computer that does not have system partitions.
  2. Access Control Panel:

    • Click on the search bar and type "Control Panel" then open the Control Panel application.
  3. Navigate to File History:

    • In the Control Panel, go to the section "System and Security" and click on "File History."
  4. Initiate System Image Backup:

    • At the bottom of the File History window, click on "System Image Backup."
    • Open "Create System Image" to start the process.
  5. Select Backup Storage Location:

    • Choose a location to store the backup copy of your computer. You can select a different hard disk if you have multiple disks.
    • Optionally, you can choose to burn the system image to a DVD, but it may require multiple DVDs and more time.
  6. Start Backup Process:

    • Click on "Start Backup" to begin creating the disk image of your system.
    • Note: If you encounter any issues during the archiving process, consider using an alternative method for creating a backup.
  7. Completing the C Drive Image Creation:

    • Once the backup process is completed, the program may prompt you to create another system recovery disk. You can choose "No" if not needed.
  8. Restoring Computer Using Disk Image:

    • If your Windows fails to start or gets stuck at the logo, follow these steps for disk image recovery:
      • Start by opening the System Recovery program on your PC.
      • Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Image Recovery.
      • Select the system image disk found by the computer and proceed with the restoration process.
  9. Final Steps:

    • After restoring the system using the disk image, your computer should work without issues.
    • If you need further details or troubleshooting, refer to additional resources provided by the video creator.
  10. Conclusion:

    • Congratulations! You have successfully created a full backup on an external USB drive or HDD in Windows 11 and learned how to restore your system using a disk image.

Remember to regularly back up your system to prevent data loss and ensure the smooth operation of your computer.