#How to backup pc to the cloud install#
#How to backup pc to the cloud full#
#How to backup pc to the cloud windows 10#
#How to backup pc to the cloud free#

#How to backup pc to the cloud full#

Your best option: do a full disk-image backup on a regular basis, with data included, using software that can read images and selectively pull files for restoration when necessary. (Yes, you should have two sets of backups running.) That data should be backed up separately. Keep in mind, however, that this is like going back to the factory settings-albeit your own-which means the restoration willР’В notР’В include data accumulated after the original imaging. Then, when it starts acting wonky (it happens) you can revert the drive back to its original settings. Imaging/cloning is a great way to back up a brand-new computer. When used for restoration, the clone/image overwrites the existing system and the hard drive reverts to the state it was in at the time of backup. An image is a replica of all of your data-every file and folder, even the programs and system files-taken like a snapshot of the drive at a given moment. This means you get everything, even if you don't need it, but it is easy to keep up-to-date and restore select files from it as needed.Р”Р„ better method is to make anР’В imageР’В or clone of the drive. The first: use software to copy all the individual files from the drive to another (larger) drive. There are several ways to back up an entire hard drive. Names in this area include IDriveР’В and Acronis True Image, both PCMag Editors' Choice picks. Because the storage is online, you can typically read files via the browser, or restore the files to other systems, as needed.

#How to backup pc to the cloud install#

Install online backup software on a PC, tell it which files/folders to keep backed up, and it does the rest in the background. They may throw in some file syncing, but you're more likely to see enhanced security as the bigger option. Unlike the above services, which also include a file-sync option, straight backup products lean toward direct transfer of files from aР’В hard driveР’В to online/cloud storage, with easy restoration options. We're in the era of the cloud, so online backup, once a bit specialized, is now the norm for important files. All of them provide a few gigabytes of online storage for free, typically 2GB, but you can get a lot more by paying a monthly or yearly fee. There are many others, including our other Editors' Choice award winner, IDrive. It's the ultimate in redundancy.Р”В«ig names in this area include Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive the latter earned a perfect five stars inР’В our latest review. Make a change to a file and it's automatically sent to all the other PCs using the account, even on other operating systems. Cloud Storage and File-Synchronization ServicesР”Р„ must for anyone with more than one computer or device in use, synchronization software ensures you have the same files on all your PCs (and they're usually accessible on mobile devices, too).

#How to backup pc to the cloud windows 10#

Windows 10 can also back up files to OneDrive, Microsoft's online backup and synchronization offering (More on that below).

File History is easy to set up, but it's limited in scope. Then, you can restore only the version of a file you need to recover, when necessary. It lets you back up items using the file history, which offers recurring copying of files (from every 10 minutes to every day) to a secondary drive as backup. Find it via the Settings >Р’В Update & Security > Backup Backup.

#How to backup pc to the cloud free#

There's plenty of free software to take care of this for you, including Windows 10's integrated feature. You need at leastР’В twoР’В copies.) To be safe, back up entire folders on a recurring basis to ensure that newly created or updated files get backed up at a later date. (Remember, simply moving a file isn't backing it up. If you only need to back up specific data, use software that will let you pick and choose which files you want to save. But what you need for redundancy, security, and access dictates what kind of backup you should use. Types of PC BackupР”В«acking up can be as simple as copying a file from one spot to another-from a hard drive to a removableР’В USB flash drive, for example. Here's a quick look at the types of backup available, as well as the tools you'll need to pull it off, with as little work as possible. But thanks to new software, hardware, and services, it's easier than ever. The reason is, backing up takes some effort. Why? Computers get infected and accidents happen, but even after losing an important document, irreplaceable photo, or entire sets of financial records, some folks still don't take the time. Redundancy, people, redundancy!Р”Р„s the organizers of World Backup Day note, people produce quadrillions of files ever year but fail to take adequate steps to preserve their data.

It's essential for peace of mind, but one copy of a file on your computer does not a backup make. We all know we're supposed to back up our data.