How to Back Up Files on a Laptop

Back up your laptop files regularly.

Since computers are so susceptible to problems, such as viruses or faulty hardware, it's important to back up your files. Doing so eliminates the risk of losing your important files should something drastic go wrong with the hard drive. While it may seem like a time-consuming process to go through your files and save them, a Windows backup wizard does all of the hard work for you and requires very little effort of your own.

Instructions

1. Log in to an Administrator account on the computer.

2. Open the Start menu and type "backup" in the search bar. Click on "Backup and Restore" at the top of the search results menu.

3. Click "Set up backup" on the right side of the new window.

4. Choose the location in which you want to back up the files. All of the available drives will be listed, whether it be a flash drive, external hard drive or CD drive. Make your selection and click "Next."

5. Choose which files you want to back up. The "Let Windows choose" option is recommended, as it backs up all the important files, such as default Windows folders and files on the desktop and any files or libraries that you have personally created. If you want to choose your own files to back up, select the "Let me choose" option and select the folders. Click "Next" to move on.

6. Choose a backup schedule on the new window if you want the computer to automatically back up files. You can set it to back them up daily, weekly or monthly. Click "Save settings and run backup."

7. Click "Back up Now" to confirm your settings and begin the backup. Do not close the window until you receive a notification that the backup is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are backing up files to CDs, you will likely need multiple discs to store everything. The computer will notify you each time you need to put in a new disc.

References

• Microsoft Support: Backing up Files