Creating a backup image in Windows means having available disk replication where Windows is installed, on another disk. In this way, in the case of serious problems caused by system errors or even in the event of a total failure of the hard disk, you can always restart the PC using the other disk, without losing any important files.
Basically it is like a car that can be replaced with a spare tire, perfect for continuing the work pending more definitive repairs.
Since that of the backup image of Windows 10 and Windows 8 is an integrated function, all those who have a computer with two disks must absolutely activate it and leave it automatic if it has an internal disk in addition to the main one in the computer C.
Those who do not have two internal disks but have an external disk can still activate the backup image and remember to renew it periodically, at least every week, by attaching the external disk to the computer.
Those who do not have two disks could, in theory, activate the function on another partition of the disk (see here the guide to create partitions, resize volumes, format disks), but in this way it would not be safe in case the hard disk should break.
Without therefore using external backup programs, here it is explained how to activate the automatic creation of a system image in Windows 10 and 8.1
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In Windows 8.1, open the Control Panel -> and from the System and Security section, find File History .
I had already talked about this internal function explaining how to use File History in Windows 8 to recover lost, deleted or modified files .
From this screen, click on the small link at the bottom left where it says " Backup system images " which is instead the function to create a backup copy of the Windows disk.
The image can be used to restore the computer if the hard disk and the computer stop working.
In the configuration wizard you must select the location where you want to save the backup image by choosing an internal disk if available or an external disk connected via USB cable, with adequate space.
In this screen you can choose a network disk, if you have a hard disk connected to the router in the network, if you have a NAS or even if you have another PC connected to the network.
There is also the backup option on DVD, which will not be possible to renew (because DVDs cannot be rewritten) and which may require different discs depending on the space occupied by Windows on the main hard disk.
Going forward will indicate the space required by the Windows backup for the system image.
In my case there are 106 GB.
Keep in mind that the space required to create the system image is exactly the total space occupied on disk C, the one where Windows is installed.
Backup is indeed a perfect copy of the disk.
The backup is then started and after a short time an image file will be saved in the WindowsImageBackup folder on the chosen disk.
The hard disk used to save the Windows disk image will not be formatted and no data present will be deleted or modified.
After the procedure is complete, Windows will give you the option to create a system recovery disc, to be used to restart the PC if it no longer turns on.
This disk is absolutely recommended to facilitate any recovery operation.
To restore the system image and use Windows 8 backup, turn on the computer, and before it starts, repeatedly press F8 to display the advanced boot options screen.
The screen will open with the recovery and repair options for problems from which you can choose to restore the created system image.
READ ALSO: Restore, reinstall or reinitialize Windows 8 from a backup
In case you are unable to access the recovery section, you can also use the Windows 8.1 installation disc.
Starting the PC from the DVD, when the screen asking to install Windows arrives, press the link in the bottom left to restore the computer.
From the Advanced menu, you will be able to open Troubleshooting> Advanced Options> System Image Recovery to reload the backup and go back to using your computer.
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