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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 <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/windows-system-restore/#Restore_Windows_8">our Windows System Restore - Windows 8 guide</a>.

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<h2>How to create a backup on Windows 8 or 8.1 system</h2>

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

The instructions are:

<ol>
<li>Go to Settings

[caption id="attachment_2600" align="alignnone" width="145"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/10/windows-8-settings-item.png" alt="Settings Icon in Windows 8" width="145" height="40" class="size-full wp-image-2600" /> Settings Icon in Windows 8[/caption]
</li>
<li>Go to Control Panel</li>
<li>Under System and Security, click Save backup copies of your files with File History

[caption id="attachment_2601" align="alignnone" width="250"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/10/windows-8-system-security.png" alt="Windows 8: System and Security in Control Panel" width="250" height="96" class="size-full wp-image-2601" /> Windows 8: System and Security in Control Panel[/caption]
</li>
<li>The utility software should now load</li>
<li>Select a destination where to save your backup</li>
<li>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.</li>
<li>The backup process will now start. This may take a while, depending on the final size of the file.</li>
</ol>

<h2>How to restore a backup in Windows 8 or 8.1 system</h2>

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

The instructions are:

<ol>
<li>Click Search or press the [winkey] and <kbd>C</kbd> keys to open the Charm Bar</li>
<li>Type <code>restore</code> in the search box</li>
<li>Click Restore your files with File History from the search results list

[caption id="attachment_2602" align="alignnone" width="230"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/10/windows-8-restore-file-history.png" alt="Windows 8: Restore files with File History" width="230" height="42" class="size-full wp-image-2602" /> Windows 8: Restore files with File History[/caption]
</li>
<li>The software should now load</li>
<li>Search and locate for your backup, select it, then click the refresh button at the bottom of the wizard to restore it</li>
<li>The restore process should now begin. This may take a while, depending on how large is your backup file.</li>
</ol>

<h2>Delete individual backup files</h2>

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.

<ol>
<li>Click Search</li>
<li>Type Windows 7 File Recovery in the search box</li>
<li>Click on the Windows 7 File Recovery item from the search results list</li>
<li>In the Back up or restore your files screen, click Manage space</li>
<li>The utility wizard should now appear</li>
<li>Click View backups</li>
<li>Select the backup files you don't want</li>
<li>Click Delete</li>
<li>Click Delete again to confirm that you want to delete the backup files</li>
<li>The deletion progress will now begin</li>
<li>Once the backup files are deleted, click Close</li>
<li>Click Close again to exit the Manage Windows Backup disk space wizard</li>
</ol>

<h2>More Information</h2>
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