Lose your personal files due to a failure in the HDDfrom your pc It can be a devastating experience. To avoid finding yourself in this situation, it is essential to carry out regular backups of your most important data. In this guide how to make a Backup complete your PC with Windows 11, we will show you the different options you have to make complete or partial backup copies of your PC with Windows 11Both in the cloud as on a hard drive external.

Cloud backup with OneDrive

Windows 11 offers a built-in tool called Windows Backup which allows you to automatically store your data, applications, preferences and settings in the cloud using Microsoft's OneDrive service. To use it, you will need:

• Associate a Microsoft account to your pc
• Install and configure the OneDrive app in Windows 11
• Have enough storage space on OneDrive (Microsoft offers 5 GB free, but you can expand by contracting Microsoft 365)

Once these requirements are met, go to the Windows Backup settings and make sure you have options enabled to sync your apps and preferences. Then, adjust OneDrive folder sync to your needs. Finally, start the backup process, which may take several hours depending on the volume of data and the speed of your connection.

Backup to an external hard drive

If you prefer to have a physical copy of your files, you can choose to make the backup to a external hard drive USB or network drive. The drive must be formatted with a compatible file system (NTFS, exFAT or FAT32) and properly connected to your PC. You have several software options to make the copy:

Windows 7 Backup and Restore

Although it is not the most recent tool, Backup and restore Windows 7 It is still available in Windows 11 and allows you to create and schedule backup copies of your files on external or network drives. You can choose which folders to include and exclude, as well as create a system image. The data is saved in a "volume" that makes it easy to restore later.

SyncBack Free

If you are looking for a free third-party alternative, SyncBack Free It is a simple and effective program to make backup copies. With an intuitive interface, it allows you to create copy profiles, select source and destination, filter files and schedule tasks. You will be able to access the copied files directly from Windows Explorer.

Other backup solutions

In addition to the options mentioned, you can also:

• Copy manually your files and folders to the external drive using the classic copy and paste
• Use others specialized backup programs for Windows
• Completely clone the disk of Windows if you are going to replace the hard drive for an SSD

Whichever method you choose, the important thing is that make backup copies periodically to keep your valuable personal data safe from any unforeseen event. With the right tools and a little discipline, you can sleep peacefully knowing your files are protected.