Windows 7 Backup and Restore Tool

How to Create a Backup

1. Click on Start and type "backup" without the quotes in the Search bar.
   
   
   
   
2. Once the Back and Restore tool has opened, select "Set up Backup".
   
   
   
   
   
3. The next step is to select where the backup file will be saved. Removable drives are usable, but you will not be able to set a disk image backup there. The drive selected for the Backup cannot contain the data that you wish to backup.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Click Next.
5. Next choose the way the files will be selected for the backup.
   
   
   
   
   
   • Let Windows Choose (recommended)
     Allows Windows to backup a default set of folders and user setting files as well as a System Image. This is the recommended setting.
   • Let me choose
     Provides options for you to choose which files and folders are backed up and whether or not to include a system image.
6. Click Next.
   
   
   
   If "Let Windows choose" was selected, click "Save settings and run backup".
   
   You can change the schedule for backups by selecting the Change schedule link. There are options for Daily, Weekly, and Monthly as well as the Day of the week and hour of the day.
   
   
   
   
   If "Let me choose" was selected, choose the files and folders as well as whether or not a system image is desired.
   
   Certain types of media such as flash drives do not support the creation of system images.
   
7. Click Next.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Verify the selections that are made and select "Save settings and run backup".
   You can change the schedule for backups by selecting the Change schedule link.
   There are options for Daily, Weekly, and Monthly as well as the Day of the week and hour of the day.
   
   
   
   
   Windows will show the progress of the backup.View Details will reveal the actual progress and percentage of completion of the backup.
9. When the backup has completed, click Close to exit.
   
   
   

Restoring Files or Folders from a Backup

1. Click on Start and type "backup" without the quotes in the Search bar.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Click on "Restore my files".
   
   
3. If you know the name of the file, click "Search".
   
   
   
4. Enter the name of the file in the text field and hit Search. All files matching the criteria will be returned. Select the files you want and hit OK.
   
   If you want to restore a single file, click "Browse for files".
5. On the left side of the Window, open the backup and navigate through the folders to find the file. Highlight the desired file and click "Add Files".
   If you wish to restore an entire folder "Browse for folders".
6. On the left side of the Window, open the backup and navigate through the folders to find desired folder. Highlight the folder and click "Add Folder".
   All files or folders selected will be shown in the window.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Click Next.
8. Now choose where to restore the files. The default option is in the Original location. This puts the files back where they were to begin with.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   You can also select another location to restore the files to.
9. Once you have made your choice, click "Restore".
   
   
   
   
   
10. When the restore is complete, click Finish to return to the Backup and Restore Center.