Forum Discussion
PeterGreen
Dec 29, 2025Iron Contributor
Th best windows backup software or utility for Windows 11/10 OS?
Hi everyone, I’m kind of a newbie here and I really need some advice. I want to make a full backup of my Windows 11 laptop because it has very important personal and work data on it. I’m a bit nervou...
AprilPatel
Dec 29, 2025Iron Contributor
When it comes the best Windows backup software. Using Borg combined with WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux 2) is a practical and cost-effective way to create a full backup of your Windows 11 laptop. Here's how it works in simple terms:
- Install WSL2 on Windows 11: First, you enable WSL2 on your Windows 11 system. This allows you to run a Linux environment directly inside Windows without needing a separate machine or dual boot.
- Set Up a Linux Distribution: Next, you install a Linux distribution like Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store within WSL2. This gives you a Linux terminal and environment on your Windows laptop.
- Install Borg Backup: Inside the WSL2 Linux environment, you install Borg, which is a free and open-source backup tool designed for efficiency and security. Borg supports deduplication, compression, and encryption.
- Create Your Backup: You then use Borg to back up your entire Windows filesystem. You can point Borg to your Windows filesystems (usually mounted under /mnt/c for C: drive) to include everything in your backup.
- Store the Backup: The backups can be stored locally on an external drive, a network share, or even in cloud storage if you set up appropriate mounts or remote repositories.
- Automate and Maintain: You can write scripts to automate backups, making them regular and hands-free, and Borg's features help keep backups efficient in size and secure.
Advantages:
- Free: Both WSL2 and Borg are open-source tools with no cost.
- Efficient: Borg's deduplication and compression save space.
- Flexible: You can choose where to store backups and automate the process.
- Seamless Integration: WSL2 runs smoothly alongside Windows, making it easy to access and back up your files.
Marek_Belan
Dec 29, 2025Brass Contributor
And how i restore this when my Windows broke?