About choosing a backup type

There are two types of backups available:

  • Drive-based backup: Backs up an entire hard drive

  • File and folder backup: Backs up only the files and folders that you select

You can use the following guidelines to determine which type of backup to choose:


Drive-based backup

Use this backup type to do the following:

  • Back up and recover your computer’s system drive (typically, the C drive, which includes your operating system).

  • Back up and recover a specific hard drive, such as a secondary drive (which is a drive other than the system drive on which your operating system is installed).

  • Recover lost or damaged files or folders from a specific point in time.

File and folder backup

Use this backup type to do the following:

  • Back up and recover specific files and folders, for example personal files that are stored in the My Documents folder.

  • Back up and recover files of a specific type, for example music (.mp3 or .wav) or photographs (.jpg or .bmp).

  • Recover a specific version of a file from a specific point in time.

See Before you back up.

About choosing a backup type