Back up your files

1. Click to open Backup and Restore.
2. Do one of the following:
   • If you have never used Windows Backup before, click Set up backup, and then follow the steps in the wizard.  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
   • If you have created a backup before, you can wait for your regularly scheduled backup to occur, or you can manually create a new backup by clicking Back up now.  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Notes

To create a new, full backup

After you create your first backup, Windows Backup will add new or changed information to your subsequent backups. If youre saving your backups on a hard drive or network location, Windows Backup will create a new, full backup for you automatically when needed. If youre saving your backups on CDs or DVDs and cant find an existing backup disc, or if you want to create a new backup of all of the files on your computer, you can create a full backup. Heres how to create a full backup:
1. Click to open Backup and Restore.
2. In the left pane, click Create new, full backup.

   Note

   • You will only see this option if your backup is being saved on CDs or DVDs.

To set up backup after upgrading from a previous version of Windows

After you upgrade Windows, you will need to set up Windows Backup, even if you had a scheduled backup in the previous version of Windows. This is because there are several changes to the backup program. Instead of selecting file types to back up, you can have Windows back up data files saved in libraries, on the desktop, and in default Windows folders, or you can choose specific libraries and folders to be backed up. You can also create a system image of your computer. For more information, see How does Windows choose which files to back up?
To set up your backup, follow these steps:
1. Click to open Backup and Restore.
2. Click Set up backup, and then follow the steps in the wizard.  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.