How to backup Windows System Image (win7/win10 etc) and Recover from the network drive
1. Create a shared folder
Go to “Control Panel” ＞ “Privilege Settings” ＞ “Shared Folders” and click “Create” ＞ “Shared Folder”.
Enter a name for the new shared folder and click “Create”. In this tutorial, we use “backup” as an example folder name.
2. Create a user account that will handle backup tasks
Go to “Control Panel” ＞ “Privilege Settings” ＞ “Users” and click “Create” ＞ “Create a User”.
Configure a username and password. Click “Create”. In this tutorial, we use “test” as an example username.
Go to “Control Panel” ＞ “Privilege Settings” ＞ “Shared Folders” and click the “edit shared folder permission” icon under the “Action” column.
Click “Add”.
Check “RW” (Read/Write) and click “Add”.
Click “Apply” ＞ “Close”.
Set up Windows 10
There are 2 methods for backing up data on a Windows 10 system.
- File History: Only backup files.
- Create a system image (compatible with Windows 7): Backs up files and the operating system.
1. File History
1.1. Map network drive
Mapping a network drive can let you access mounted NAS folders in “This PC” and is convenient for quick access to files. To do so, go to “This PC” and click “Computer” ＞ “Map network drive”.
Enter “\\＜NAS IP address＞\folder name” in the Folder field (where “folder name” is the shared folder you created earlier) and click “Finish”.
Enter the username and password of the account you created earlier and click “OK”.
1.2. Start to do a backup
Open the Start menu and open “Settings”.
Click “Update & security”.
Click “Backup” ＞ “More options”.
Click “See advanced settings”.
Click “Select a network location”.
Click “Add network location”.
Enter “\\＜NAS IP address＞\folder name” in the Folder field (where “folder name” is the shared folder you created earlier) and click “Select Folder”.
Confirm the information is correct and click “OK”.
Click “Turn on”.
Go to “Backup” ＞ “More options”.
You can decide what folders to back up and set a schedule.
2. Backup system image (compatible with Windows 7)
Open the Start menu and open “Settings”.
Click “Update & security”.
Click “Backup” ＞ Go to “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)”.
Select “Create a system image”.
Select “On a network location” ＞ “Select”.
A message will be displayed (“Backed up data cannot be securely protected for a network target”) but this can be ignored as the target folder has permission settings that only allow certain users to access it.
Enter “\\＜NAS IP address＞\folder name” in the network location field (where “folder name” is the shared folder you created earlier) and enter the username and password for the account you created earlier. Click “OK”.
Click “Next”.
Select the drives to backup and click “Next”.
Confirm the information is correct and click “Start backup”.
Choose whether to create a system repair disc or not. In this example choose “No”.
The backup will be successfully completed. Click “Close”.
You can check the backup files in File Station on the NAS.
Recovery
There are 2 methods to recover files
- Recover File History
- Recover a system image file (compatible with Windows 7)
1. Recover File History
Open the Start menu and open “Settings”.
Click “Update & security”.
Click “Backup” ＞ “More options”.
Click “Restore files from a current backup”.
Click the arrow icon and recover the files you need.
2. Recover a system image file
Open the Start menu and open “Settings”.
Click “Update & security”.
Click “Recovery” ＞ “Restart now”.
After the computer is restarted, select “Troubleshoot”.
Select “Advanced options”.
Select “System Image Recovery”.
You will be prompted that “Windows cannot find a system image on this computer”. As the system image is on the NAS you can click “Cancel”.
Select “Select a system image” and click “Next”.
Select “Advanced”.
Select “Search for a system image on the network”.
Enter “\\＜NAS IP address＞\folder name” in the Network folder field (where “folder name” is the shared folder you created earlier) and click “OK”.
Enter the username and password of the account you set up earlier and click “OK”.
After confirming the location is correct, select it and click “Next”.
Select the image to recover and click “Next”.
Depending on your needs you can choose whether to format and repartition disks or not. Click “Next”.
Confirm the information is correct and click “Finish”.
Your computer will recover the system image file and restart.