Backup options in Windows 10: Which is the best choice?

Backup Your Windows 10 PC – The Best Data Protection Solution

When it comes to backups, there are different schools of thought. Some believe that backing up all your data is the best way to protect your information, while others think that backing up specific files and folders is enough. Regardless of which category you fall into, you can't deny the importance of having a backup plan – especially if you use a Windows 10 computer.

Windows 10 offers several backup options, each with its own pros and cons. In this article, we'll examine all the backup options available in Windows 10 and compare them. By the end, you should have a good idea which backup option suits you and your needs best.

1. Full Backup Option - Tools Todo Backup

When it comes to backing up your computer, most tech enthusiasts would advise you to create a full backup, including important files, system, disks, and partitions. Built-in backup tools hardly meet your needs. So, you should look for a comprehensive third-party backup utility. Todo Backup is the perfect choice. Why? Keep reading.

What can Todo Backup protect?

One of the concerns users have when choosing backup software is what types of data it can back up and whether it allows creating a full backup with a single tool. Todo Backup is capable of backing up entire hard drives and computers.

It supports backing up files and folders, systems, disks, and partitions, as well as emails – pretty much everything important on a computer. So, yes, Todo Backup is a comprehensive backup tool.

How much do you pay for Todo Backup?

Price is another aspect that users consider when choosing backup software. After all, free built-in backup utilities can meet basic backup needs. So, how much does an all-rounded tool like Todo Backup cost? The answer is zero.

Tools Todo Backup comes in both free and paid versions. With the free version, you can create full backups, incremental backups, and differential backups, and save your backup files to external backup drives, cloud drives, and NAS. This means that Todo Backup Free offers more in terms of what it can back up and the options available, all for no cost, compared to the backup options that come with Windows.

Of course, the paid version comes with many advanced features that you might be interested in, such as system cloning, migrating your system to another PC, and backing up files to cloud drives. For more detailed information about what's included in the free and paid versions of Todo Backup, check out the link below.

Comparison of Tools Todo Backup Free vs Home

This article compares Tools Todo Backup Free and Home editions. After reading, you'll understand the features of both versions and can decide which one suits you best.

How to create a backup with Todo Backup?

According to user feedback, Todo Backup is one of the most user-friendly backup programs out there. You don't need to spend too much time learning how to use this software, thanks to its clean and straightforward user interface. Detailed screen wizards also guide you through creating your first backup with Todo Backup.

Download Todo Backup below for free to see just how easy it is to create backups with it.

1. Launch Todo Backup, then click "Create Backup" on the main interface and then click "Select what to backup".

**Step 2:** Click on **Operating System** among the four options to start the recovery.

Step 3: The system partition will be selected automatically, you just need to choose the location.

4. You can save the backup to a local drive, cloud storage, or NAS. You can also connect an external hard drive to save your system backup.

5. Under the "Options" in the lower left, you can customize settings. Click "Backup Now" to begin.

* After the backup is complete, you can check the status, restore, open, or delete the backup by right-clicking the backup task on the left.

2. Built-in file backup option – File History

File History was originally designed for Windows 8, but it's still available in Windows 10. It's a backup feature that allows you to restore your files if they become lost, damaged, or accidentally deleted. Once you set it up, File History will automatically back up your files on a regular basis, and you can also create backups manually at any time.

File History is a feature that lets you back up the contents of your “Documents,” “Pictures,” “Videos,” and “Music” folders on your desktop. In Windows 8/8.1/10, you could add more folders to customize what was backed up. However, in Windows 11, Microsoft no longer allows you to customize these permissions. It will also back up your OneDrive files, so if you want to back up from OneDrive to your PC, File History is a good choice.

Advantages:

1. Ease of installation and use
2. Runs automatically in the background
3. Ability to back up files to an external drive or network location
4. Support for backing up OneDrive files on your PC

Disadvantages:

It backs up only certain types of files by default (though you can add others). It requires an external drive or network location for storing backups.

How to Set Up and Use File History in Windows 10

Setting up File History simply involves telling it what to back up, and where to save the backup files. See the guide below for instructions on setting up and using File History for backups.

Method 1: Go to Control Panel > System and Security.

2. Connect your backup drive to the computer, then click the “Open” button to launch File History.

3. Select or add a drive to use as your File History backup drive.

4. The File History feature will now begin its first backup. You can change the backup schedule in Advanced Settings.

<img src="/images/en/screenshot/todo-backup/guide/running-file-history-windows-11.png" width="533" height="291" alt="Set up and use File History">

3. Built-in system image backup options – Backup and Restore (Windows 7)

File History, as the name implies, focuses on protecting computer files. However, if you want to create a complete backup, a system image is indispensable. A system image can help you restore your system or boot your computer in case of system crashes or unbootable computers. Backup and Restore was the backup feature first introduced in Windows 7. In Windows 10, it's called “Backup and Restore (Windows 7).” In addition to system images, Backup and Restore (Windows 7) can also help you back up files.

Advantages:

It can back up everything on your computer, including the system, files, and settings. Supports creating a system image backup.

Disadvantages:

Available only for Windows 7/8.1/10 Home and Pro (not for Windows 10 Home S).

How to create a system image backup (Windows 7)

Follow the steps in this article to learn how to create a system image backup with Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

**Step 1.** Open Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

2. Click the "Create a system image" link in the left panel.

Step 3: Choose where you want to save your backup, then click Next.

Step 4: Choose the content you want to back up, then click “Next.”

5. Review your backup settings, and then click Start Backup.

<img src="/images/en/screenshot/todo-backup/guide/windows-backup-and-restore-5.png" alt="Create system image with Backup and Restore" width="614" height="541" />

4. Cloud Backup Option - OneDrive

OneDrive is a cloud-backup service that comes with most Microsoft accounts. If you have a Microsoft account, you likely already have 5 GB of backup storage space ready for your files. You can use this backup storage space to upload your files to the cloud, and then access them from anywhere. OneDrive also offers more storage space for a monthly fee.

Advantages:

1. Offer free backup storage space with a Microsoft account
2. Let you back up files from multiple devices

Disadvantages:

1. Paid storage can be expensive.
2. Five gigabytes of free storage may not be enough for some users.

How to Back Up Files to OneDrive

Backing up your files to OneDrive is straightforward. Follow these steps.

Step 1. Go to the OneDrive website and sign in with your Microsoft account.

Then click "Upload File."

Step 3: Select the files you want to back up, then click "Open".

Now your file is uploaded to OneDrive and can be viewed or downloaded from anywhere.

Which Backup Option in Windows 10 Is Best?

Now that we're familiar with all the backup options in Windows 10, it's time to compare them and see which is best.

The following table compares the backup options in Windows 10.

As the table above clearly shows, Todo Backup is the best backup option for Windows 10. It offers comprehensive backup options and works with all versions of Windows 10, including the latest Windows 11. Backup and Restore (Windows 7) comes in second, but it's limited to Home and Pro editions of Windows 10 only.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What backup options are there?

It offers several backup options, including external drives, cloud, and network drives.

What types of backup options are available in Windows 10?

There are typically three types of backups: full, incremental, and differential. In Windows 10, you can use Backup and Restore (Windows 7) to create a full backup on your computer. The File History feature helps Windows 10 users create incremental backups. Tools like Todo Backup are all-in-one backup utilities that let users create all three types of backups.

Conclusions

Windows 10 offers many backup options, and the best one for you will depend on your needs. If you just want to back up your files, File History or OneDrive will do. But if you want to back up your whole system, you should use Backup and Restore (Windows 7) or the third-party tool Todo Backup.