How to make a backup of your entire computer for Windows 10/11?

 Don’t forget to verify that the backup actually worked before making a backup of your entire computer.. Just because it completed doesn’t mean the data is intact or recoverable. It's important to test restoring files or the whole system from the backup periodically. 

Great question! Using PowerShell combined with WIM (Windows Imaging Format) Capture is a powerful, free, and built-in way to back up your entire Windows 10/11 system. This method creates a full system image (a .wim file) that you can restore later.

How to Use PowerShell + WIM Capture to Make a backup of your entire computer

  You’ll use the built-in DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool via PowerShell.
  The process creates a full system image stored as a .wim file.
  This image includes your OS, installed apps, and data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Make a backup of your entire Computer

1. Prepare a Destination Drive
   Connect an external drive or large partition with enough space (preferably larger than your used data).
Format it as NTFS if needed.
2. Open PowerShell as Administrator
   Search for PowerShell, right-click, and select Run as administrator.
3. Capture the System Image
   Use the DISM command with the ImageCapture option:

Dism /Capture-Image /ImageFile:"D:\Backup\WindowsImage.wim" /CaptureDir:C:\ /Name:"Windows 10 System Backup" /Compress:Max /CheckIntegrity

Parameters:

"D:\Backup\WindowsImage.wim" — Path where you want to save the image.
C:\ — The drive to capture (your OS drive).
"Windows 10 System Backup" — Name for the image.
/Compress:Max — Compression level.
/CheckIntegrity — Verifies image integrity.

Clonezilla is a free and open-source software that allows you to create complete backups (clones) of your entire computer or specific disks and partitions. It's widely used for system backups, recovery, and disk imaging. Here's how you can use Clonezilla to make a backup of your entire computer:

1. Download Clonezilla: Visit clonezilla and download the ISO file for creating a bootable USB or CD/DVD.

2. Create Bootable Media: Use tools or burn the ISO to a CD/DVD to create bootable media.

3. Boot from Clonezilla Media: Restart your computer and boot from the Clonezilla USB or CD/DVD. You might need to change the boot order in BIOS/UEFI. 

4. Follow the On-Screen Instructions:

    Choose device-to-image mode to save the entire disk or partition as an image.
    Select the source disk (your current drive).
    Choose a destination (external drive, network location, etc.) to store the backup.

Making a backup of your entire computer: Clonezilla will create an exact image of your disk, which you can restore later if needed. 

Using Windows PE (Preinstallation Environment) to make a backup of your entire computer is possible and can be a very effective method, especially if your system is unbootable or you want a clean, standalone environment for backup purposes.

What is Windows PE?
Windows PE is a lightweight version of Windows designed for deployment and recovery.
It can be booted from a USB drive or DVD.
It allows you to run tools without relying on your installed Windows OS.

How to make a backup of your entire computer?

1. Create a Windows PE Bootable Media
Download the Windows ADK (Assessment and Deployment Kit) from Microsoft, which includes Windows PE.
Use the Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment (a command prompt with specific tools) to create a bootable USB or ISO.

Steps:
Download and install the Windows ADK from Microsoft.
During installation, select the Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) component.
Use the MakeWinPEMedia command to create bootable media:

MakeWinPEMedia /ISO C:\WinPE_amd64 C:\WinPE.iso

Alternatively, create a bootable USB:

MakeWinPEMedia /UFD C:\WinPE_amd64 F:

(Replace C:\WinPE_amd64 and F: with your actual paths)

2. Boot into Windows PE
Insert the bootable USB or DVD.
Boot from it (change boot order in BIOS if needed).
Windows PE loads into a minimal environment with command-line tools.

3. Use Backup Tools in Windows PE
You can use DISM, ImageX, or third-party tools compatible with Windows PE.
Robocopy or xcopy can also be used for file-level backups.
For full disk image backups, consider using ImageW or Clonezilla (if integrated).

4. Store the Backup Safely
Save the image to an external drive or network location.
Ensure the backup is complete and verify integrity if possible.

5. Restore the Image (if needed)
Boot into Windows PE again.
Use DISM or other imaging tools to restore your system from the backup.

Formerly known as Acronis True Image, this is widely considered the gold standard for personal backup. It combines robust local disk imaging with cloud backup and cybersecurity features (like ransomware protection). It is the "best" solution if you want a user-friendly interface that handles both backing up to an external hard drive and the cloud simultaneously, ensuring the 3-2-1 backup rule (3 copies, 2 media, 1 offsite) is met easily.

To make a full backup of entire computer on Windows 11 or Windows 10,  click the source icon on the main "Backup" tab,. Select "Entire PC" (this ensures all internal drives are included). 

Next, click the destination icon. You can choose an External Hard Drive for fast local recovery or Acronis Cloud for offsite protection.

Now, click "Options" to set a schedule (e.g., Daily or Weekly) and an encryption password for security.

Click "Back Up Now."

Go to the "Tools" tab and use the "Rescue Media Builder" to create a bootable USB drive. You will need this to restart your computer and restore the backup if Windows refuses to boot.

Pros:

Hybrid Backup: Seamlessly backs up to local drives and the cloud.

Security: Active protection stops ransomware from encrypting your backup files.

Universal Restore: Allows you to restore your system image to a completely different computer (different hardware).

Cons:

Cost: It is a subscription-based service (yearly fee), which can be pricey compared to one-time purchases.

Resource Heavy: The software runs many background processes (antivirus, updater, etc.) which can slightly slow down older machines. This means it takes more time for making a backup of your entire computer.

Windows includes a native, albeit somewhat hidden, tool for creating full system image backups. This integrated feature, called "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" in modern Windows versions, provides a no-cost, official Microsoft method to make a backup of your entire computer. It's a straightforward set-and-forget option for users who prefer to avoid third-party software. 

Step 1: Open the Control Panel, navigate to System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7). On the left pane, click "Create a system image".

Step 2: Select where to save the backup: on a hard drive (an external USB drive is strongly recommended), on DVDs (impractical for most), or on a network location.

Step 3: By default, it selects the system drive and any essential recovery partitions. You can include other internal drives if desired. Click "Next".

Step 4: Confirm your settings and click "Start backup". The process will run, creating a .VHDX virtual hard disk file containing your system's exact state.

Step 5: Upon completion, the tool will prompt you to "Create a system repair disc". You should do this on a USB drive, as it is the equivalent of rescue media for this backup method.

Step 6: Boot from the system repair disc/USB, select your keyboard layout, choose "Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Image Recovery", and follow the wizard to restore the entire image.

However, this trick only works for making a back up of Windows 7, Windows 10 and Windows 11. It works for both Windows PC and laptops.

For a comprehensive, all-in-one backup solution that captures your entire system—including the Windows OS, installed programs, settings, and all personal files, a disk imaging tool is the gold standard. Macrium Reflect Free is a powerful, reliable, and user-friendly application designed specifically for this purpose. It creates a complete snapshot or image of your hard drive(s), which can be restored in its entirety in the event of a catastrophic drive failure, severe malware infection, or major system corruption, allowing you to revert your computer to its exact state at the time of the backup.

How to make a backup of entire computer for Windows 10

1. Launch the application. In the main window, select the disk(s) you want to back up (typically your main Windows C: drive). Click "Image this disk...".

2. In the wizard, click "..." to choose a destination. This must be an external drive or a secondary internal drive with sufficient free space not the same drive you are backing up.

3. Click the "Schedule" button to set up automatic, incremental backups (e.g., daily or weekly). This ensures your backup stays current without manual intervention.

4. In the schedule settings, set a "Backup Retention" policy to automatically delete older images, preventing your backup drive from filling up.

5. Click "Finish", then "OK" to run the initial backup. The process may take an hour or more, depending on data size.

6. After the backup, it is critical to go to Other Tasks > Create Rescue Media and create a USB flash drive. This bootable drive is essential for restoring your system if Windows cannot start.

For me, this is one of the best ways to make a full backup of entire computer for Windows 11, Windows 10 and Windows 7.