integrated windows backup tools You no longer excite users. Microsoft has stopped working to improve older backup tools and plans to phase out the Backup and Restore tool. The company introduced Windows Backup as a new cloud-based solution, but it relies on OneDrive. Most users prefer a third-party solution like Macrium Reflect or other popular tools over what Windows has to offer. However, I seriously tested the built-in backup tools as a primary backup option and the results showed that they are not as bad as some users believe.
Backup and restore
The oldest backup tool
My earliest memories of the Backup and Restore tool date back to 2011, when I was using Windows 7 on my laptop. Back then, there was no setup app or dedicated cloud backup tool like Windows Backup with OneDrive integration. All we had was Backup and Restore, and that was enough. Despite 15 years, the legacy tool still resides in the Control Panel, awaiting a planned retirement.
Backup and Restore works with a simple concept. Creates a system backup of all user data, with the option to select other folders or create a full system image. It is the most comprehensive local backup tool for Windows if you have an external hard drive that has enough storage to save your personal and operating system files. I didn’t have to do much except plug in a hard drive formatted in NTFSand the tool recognized it immediately.
When you try to start a system backup, you have two options. You can let the tools take care of everything (which folders to include, creating a system image, setting automated backup timing) or choose the custom option that gives control over all of these things. I chose the latter and only chose data files which includes files from the libraries folders and the option to create a system image.
You can also choose other drives, but my primary data resides on drive C and I was interested in backing up that instead of other drives. The tool runs for quite a long time because when copying windows and user data files are time-consuming, regardless of their size. Once the backup is complete, I just need to make sure the external drive remains connected to my system when it comes time for the backup. The Control Panel also handles the restore process if the need arises. I can choose to restore the image backup while installing Windows or use the Control Panel page to launch the tool and restore the image.
The tool is quite flexible with what the user wants to restore, whether it is a folder, a file, or an individual drive. The Backup and Restore tool does not store the backup image in an encrypted format. Since it creates a system image, you can keep your installed software and system settings, so you won’t need to spend time setting everything up again. Backup and Restore does not support versions like Macrium Reflect, but Windows has a separate tool to close the gap.
File history
Useful for version backups
File history It takes a different approach than Backup & Restore and does not attempt to be a comprehensive backup tool. Instead, it is useful only for backups of specific folders where you need to keep different versions of the same file. A good example of this is document files, which may need modifications or new entries from time to time, such as an Excel sheet to track your expenses.
it’s like System Restore which keeps creating automatic restore points, and when you encounter a problem or need to roll back to a previous state, there are several versions to choose from. I have used System Restore to prevent problematic app updates and installations, and it is not advisable to keep the feature disabled. File History adopts the same principle for essential files and folders.
I found it faster than Backup and Restore because it doesn’t focus on creating huge backups of system images along with user files. It simply focuses on what’s important and continues to create backups every hour or whatever time period you specify. The disadvantage is that it can only save files, but cannot save system settings, preferences, or installed applications.
Windows Backup
The Modern Cloud Backup Solution
So you already have two local backup tools in the operating system and Windows Backup tries to be a modern backup strategy. Instead of using an external backup drive or saving only essential files (with or without multiple versions), Windows Backup combines your Microsoft account and OneDrive. An earlier version of this idea existed in the Settings app, but instead of breaking everything up into options, Microsoft consolidated everything into the Windows Backup tool for convenience.
Windows Backup You can keep your system settings, preferences, network details, and app list in your Microsoft account. All of these settings can be restored while setting up a new Windows PC. You’ll have the option to choose between preserved systems and Windows will pre-configure everything before booting to the desktop. I use Windows Backup for my virtual machines, which keeps my system settings and preferences consistent across multiple systems.
I’m not a fan of using OneDrive to back up personal files and folders, and this option can be avoided entirely in Windows Backups. If you want to use it, the free 5GB storage limit is enough only for personal or work documents. Windows Backup also doesn’t support the use of other cloud backup tools, which is a shame. Still, you have the option to recreate the same system with all Microsoft settings and applications by signing in to your Microsoft account.
Multiple backup options
Windows 11 has multiple backup options, but older tools are slowly disappearing from the spotlight. If I were to use a backup strategy in Windows, I would use File History to back up personal data from multiple locations to an external USB hard drive. If I need to perform a clean install, I can restore my settings and preferences using Windows Backup, while File History can recover my files. You would still need to reinstall third-party software, but that’s a small problem compared to losing everything. Creating backup images sounds cumbersome, and unless you hate reinstalling software or need a full system recovery, I wouldn’t use the Backup and Restore tool.
