Backup and Restore Files in Windows 8

This guide explains how to create a backup of your files and restore those files on Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 system.

If you’re looking on how to use System Restore, go to our Windows System Restore – Windows 8 guide.

How to create a backup on Windows 8 or 8.1 system

Before you begin, make sure you’re logged in as an Administrator.

The instructions are:

1. Go to Settings
   

   Settings Icon in Windows 8

2. Go to Control Panel
3. Under System and Security, click Save backup copies of your files with File History
   

   Windows 8: System and Security in Control Panel

4. The utility software should now load
5. Select a destination where to save your backup
6. Click Turn on to start the backup process.

   You can save the backup either on an external disk drive or on a network.

   If you save the backup on a network, you need browse to add the desired location on the network, then type the network credentials and click OK.

7. The backup process will now start. This may take a while, depending on the final size of the file.

How to restore a backup in Windows 8 or 8.1 system

Before you restore a backup file, please log in as an Administrator.

The instructions are:

1. Click Search or press the and C keys to open the Charm Bar
2. Type restore in the search box
3. Click Restore your files with File History from the search results list
   

   Windows 8: Restore files with File History

4. The software should now load
5. Search and locate for your backup, select it, then click the refresh button at the bottom of the wizard to restore it
6. The restore process should now begin. This may take a while, depending on how large is your backup file.

Delete individual backup files

You can delete individual backup files already created by following the instructions below. In this case, Windows 8 is using the Windows 7 File Recovery utility.

This option is only available for Windows 8 users, not Windows 8.1. Users on Windows 8.1 will not have the Windows 7 File Recovery utility.

Like the instructions above, please make sure you’re logged in as an Administrator.

1. Click Search
2. Type Windows 7 File Recovery in the search box
3. Click on the Windows 7 File Recovery item from the search results list
4. In the Back up or restore your files screen, click Manage space
5. The utility wizard should now appear
6. Click View backups
7. Select the backup files you don’t want
8. Click Delete
9. Click Delete again to confirm that you want to delete the backup files
10. The deletion progress will now begin
11. Once the backup files are deleted, click Close
12. Click Close again to exit the Manage Windows Backup disk space wizard

More Information

Support Links

• Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows – our repair and recovery disk.
  
  It’s an easy-to-use and automated diagnostics disk. It’s available for Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista. It’s also available for Windows XP and Windows Server.

  Read more at Windows Recovery Disks.

• The NeoSmart Support Forums, member-to-member technical support and troubleshooting.
• Get a discounted price on replacement setup and installation discs: Windows 8.

Applicable Systems

This Windows-related knowledgebase article applies to the following operating systems:

• Windows 8 (all editions)
• Windows 8.1 (all editions)

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