Windows Backup and Restore for CompTIA A+ 220-1102

System Restore creates snapshots (restore points) of Windows system files, registry, and installed programs — but NOT personal data files. Restore points created automatically: before driver installations, before Windows updates, before application installs (if enabled), weekly if no other trigger. System Protection must be enabled per drive (Control Panel → System → System Protection → Configure → Turn on system protection; set max disk space). How to restore: Control Panel → Recovery → Open System Restore, or boot to WinRE → Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → System Restore. Rolls back system to the selected restore point; reversible (undo a restore). Does NOT restore personal files. Use when: driver/software installation caused instability, Windows behaviors changed suddenly, settings became misconfigured.

File History continuously backs up files in user libraries (Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos, Desktop, Contacts, Favorites) to an external drive or network location. Setup: Settings → Update & Security → Backup → Add a drive. Configure: frequency (every 10 min to daily), how long to keep versions (1 month to forever). Restore files: Settings → Update & Security → Backup → More options → Restore files from a current backup, or navigate to the backed-up folder and use the green arrows. Right-click any file in a backed-up folder → Previous Versions (shows File History versions). File History replaces the older Backup and Restore feature for personal file protection. Requires dedicated external drive or network share — cannot use the same drive being protected.

Backup and Restore (called 'Windows 7 Backup' in Windows 10) creates full system image backups and scheduled file backups. Access: Control Panel → Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Create a system image: captures entire OS, programs, settings, and files into a VHD file. Stored on external drive, DVD, or network share. Restore: requires Windows Recovery Environment (boot from Windows installation media or recovery drive → Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → System Image Recovery). Schedule regular file backup: choose specific libraries/folders or let Windows choose. Restore files from backup: Control Panel → Backup and Restore → Restore my files. Both system images and file backups can coexist. System images are point-in-time; File History provides version history.

A Recovery Drive is a bootable USB drive containing Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) tools. Create: search 'Create a recovery drive' → choose whether to backup system files to the recovery drive (requires 16 GB+ USB) or just recovery tools (~500 MB). Uses: boot to WinRE when Windows won't start, run System Restore, System Image Recovery, Startup Repair, Command Prompt, Reset this PC. Recovery drive with system files can reinstall Windows without internet access (contains recovery image). Without system files: only WinRE tools, no reinstallation capability. Alternatively, boot from Windows installation media (DVD or bootable USB created with Media Creation Tool) for full recovery options.

Reset This PC reinstalls Windows while optionally keeping personal files. Access: Settings → Update & Security → Recovery → Reset this PC, or WinRE → Troubleshoot → Reset this PC. Options: Keep my files (removes installed apps and settings, keeps personal files in C:\Users — reinstalls Windows). Remove everything (full factory reset — removes all personal files, apps, and settings). Additional option (Remove everything): Just remove files (faster, but not secure — file recovery possible) vs. Remove files and clean the drive (secure wipe, takes hours — use before selling/donating a PC). Fresh Start (Windows 10): reinstalls Windows from Microsoft servers (clean install, no manufacturer bloatware). Reset This PC is the go-to solution for resolving persistent OS problems without a clean install from scratch.

3-2-1 backup rule: 3 copies of data, on 2 different media types, with 1 copy offsite. Why: protects against hardware failure, accidental deletion, theft, fire/flood. Media types: internal drive + external drive + cloud storage. Onsite vs offsite: local backup = fast restore but vulnerable to physical disasters; cloud/offsite backup = slow restore but protected from local disasters. Testing backups: a backup that has never been tested is not a reliable backup. Periodically restore test files to verify backup integrity. RPO (Recovery Point Objective): maximum acceptable data loss — how frequently backups must run. RTO (Recovery Time Objective): maximum acceptable downtime — how fast restore must complete. Encryption: encrypt backup media to protect data if physical media is lost.