1. Backing up Windows 8
Many organizations today have data spread around the globe, from big
corporate data centers with various levels of backup and offsite
storage to laptops the sales force carry, which might not be backed up
regularly, if at all. By using tools built into Windows, you can ensure
that the organization’s information is safe in case of an emergency.
Windows has included a backup utility for several versions that
enables you to ensure that data stored on a computer can be backed up
and recovered without the need for third-party utilities.
To back up your Windows 8–based computer completely, you must
configure Windows Backup. To do so and create a backup job, complete
the following steps:
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From the desktop, select the Settings charm and then select Control Panel.
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Select Windows 7 File Recovery.
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Tap or click Set Up Backup.
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Wait for Windows Backup to start.
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Select A Removable Disk or select Save On A Network. It is recommended that you store backup data on an external disk.
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If you are saving to a network, enter the Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path to the share where your data will be stored and do the following:
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Enter the necessary credentials for the resource.
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Tap or click OK to continue configuring Windows Backup.
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If you use removable media, select the removable disk listed in the Setup Backup dialog box and tap or click Next.
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If the media to which you want to save your backup is not listed,
plug the media into the computer, tap or click Refresh, select one of
the following backup options, and then tap or click Next:
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Let Windows Choose (recommended) This option retains data from
common libraries, the desktop, and default Windows folders. In
addition, a system image is taken to enable full system restores if the
computer stops working.
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Let Me Choose This option enables you to select the folders and locations to include in the backup and to choose whether to include a system image.
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Review your backup settings:
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To modify backup settings, tap or click the Back button in the top-left corner of the Backup dialog box.
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To modify the backup schedule, tap or click Change Schedule in the middle of the Backup dialog box.
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When you are satisfied with the configured settings, tap or click
Save Settings And Run Backup to begin taking your first backup. While
the backup is running, the Windows 7 File Recovery Wizard displays the progress of the operation, as shown in Figure 1.
Note
EFS CERTIFICATES
During the backup configuration review process, Windows might note that Encrypting
File System (EFS) certificates aren’t included in the backup and that
you might need a recovery disk to use a system image. These options are
normal. You might not want to store your EFS data with your regular
backup data for security reasons, and recovery media might be needed to
start your system in the event of an error.
2. Creating additional images
You might want to create an updated system image backup of a
computer without modifying the regular backup schedule or options. For
example, when the marketing department purchases updated versions of
graphics applications, you might consider creating an updated system
image with the new versions. This way, if there is a problem in the
future that is not related to the installation, the computer can be
restored and the graphics application will be restored with it, thus
reducing the need for additional installations to ensure that the
affected computer is running properly.
To create a system image, complete the following steps:
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From Control Panel, select Windows 7 File Recovery.
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From the navigation pane on the left, select Create A System Image.
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In the Create A System Image Wizard, specify from the following options where to store the image:
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On A Hard Disk Select a hard drive on which to create the image.
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On One Or More DVDs
Specify the DVD drive containing blank media on which to write the
image; you will be prompted to insert additional media as needed.
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On A Network Location Specify the UNC path to a share to store your image.
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Tap or click Next when you have selected the location for the image.
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Select the drives you want to include in the system image and click Next.
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Review the options you selected and click Start Backup to create the image.
While the image is being created, Windows displays the progress bar shown in Figure 1.
