Friday, August 07, 2015

Windows 10: What are the new/old backup and recovery tools options

Windows 10 includes many different backup and system recovery tools to make it is easier to recover from a lost file, lost app, failed update, and lost hard drive scenario. Lets take a look at all available options:

1. File history- Windows can automatically create backup copies of your files on a second drive or partition. You can use it to restore all your files if you ever lose them, restore a single file, or roll back a file to an older version. Keep in mind that this feature only backs up files located in your user account’s libraries, so add other folders to library if you want to back them up.

2. Reset This PC: In Windows 8, there were “Refresh this PC” and “Reset this PC” options. In Windows 10, it’s just a single “Reset this PC” option.You can tell Windows to keep your user files and reset the operating system (a “refresh”) and installed programs to its default state, or remove everything (a “reset”).

Recovery partition is not needed : Windows 10 has a new recovery system that works in an entirely different way. Windows 10 does not create a separate recovery partition (like it used to in Win8) Which means computer manufacturer will not be able to modify the main Windows recovery image and you can reset your PC back to the its pristine default state without any Manufacturer's added drivers and software. PC manufacturers will still be able to customize the computer’s state after the refresh or reset — for example, adding their own hardware drivers and any other software they want.(but not in the main image)

This gives the flexibility to user. If you do not want these manufacturer provided bloatware then you’ll just need to remove a manufacturer-provided package of changes and refresh or reset your PC to get a fresh Windows system. In previous version of Windows getting a fresh image requires performing a full reinstall of Windows using iso/dvd.

Here’s how Microsoft explained it:
“We are also redesigning Windows’ Refresh and Reset functionalities to no longer use a separate recovery image (often preinstalled by manufacturers today) in order to bring Windows devices back to a pristine state.”

3. Backup and Restore (Windows 7) feature is back: You can use Windows Backup to more easily create a backup of practically everything on your hard drive.This was deprecated in Windows 8 and removed in Windows 8.1, but it’s back. It’s also known as “Windows Backup.”

4. System Image Backups: Unlike other solutions, this allows you to create an entire image of your current Windows system, including your operating system, installed programs, settings, and user files. This backup can be stored on an external hard drive, on several DVDs, or on a network location. If you ever need to get your computer back to a specific state, you can restore this backup.if you want to create a system image backup, you don’t need third-party tools like Norton Ghost or Acronis TrueImage


What is the difference between Full backup (Win7) and System image backup? Well, A system image is an exact copy of a drive. By default, a system image includes the system drives required for Windows to run
Full backup you have to manually select the files and folder to be backup up and you can not backup the system drive

5. Advanced Startup Options:To access them, open the Settings app, select Update & security, select Recovery, and click “Restart now” under Advanced startup. You can also hold the Shift key as you click Restart in the Start menu.


6. Recovery Drive or System repair disk: You can create a USB recovery drive that will allow you to access these advanced startup options, even if your Windows 10 installation becomes completely damaged and you can’t access this menu.
Creating a System Repair Disc (CD/DVD):The ability to create a USB recovery drive is new in Windows 8 and 10.To open the disc creation tool, press the Windows key, type recdisc, and press Enter.
A recovery drive will normally not be necessary. If your computer fails to boot several times, Windows 8 or 10 will automatically bring up the advanced startup options, which allows you to troubleshoot and fix it. But it does not then a recovery or system startup repair disk comes very handy - so create and keep a copy in usb disk.


7. OneDrive: It’s now integrated into WIndows itself. Files you store in OneDrive will be stored in your OneDrive account online