How to Restore Files from Backup in Windows 7 Easily
Quick Navigation:
- What does Windows 7 backup actually backup?
- How to restore files from backup on Windows 7 - 2 Ways
- Better way to restore files from backup in Windows 7
- Final words
What does Windows 7 backup actually backup?
You may never want to use Windows 7 backup utility, but sometimes you do need its help. For example, you may want to restore files from backup in Windows 7 when your files are damaged or deleted mistakenly, or restore files from Windows 7 backup to Windows 10. Here comes some quetions: What does Windows 7 backup actually backup? Can I restore individual files from Windows 7 backup?
Windows 7 backup (Backup and Restore) contains a copy of drives required for Windows to start. Also, you can include other drives and data files saved in libraries, on the desktop, and in the default Windows folders. Thus, you can restore your computer when it stops working as well as restore files and folders from Windows 7 system image backup.In addition, Windows 8 and Windows 10 still retains this backup software, so you still can use it to restore files from 7 backup to Windows 8/10.
How to restore files from backup on Windows 7
Well then, you will learn how to restore files from backup in Windows 7 with Windows backup utility - Backup and Restore. There is no doubt that backup tools work with a restore tool, thus you need to create a backup before restoring. For detailed steps, please refers to this article: Create a System Image Using Windows 7 Backup and Restore.
Method 1: Restore files from backup in Windows 7
Step 1. Click Start and then select Control Panel -> System and Security -> Backup and Restore to access the back up or restore your files windows.
Step 2. Then, scroll down to the Restore tab and click Restore my files.
Step 3. Click Search, Browse for files, Browse for folders to select files and folders you want to restore.
Search: You just need to type part of the name of the files you want to restore, then click the found file or select all to restore.
Browse for Files: Click the backup name and the folder subsequently, then find the file in the folder and click Add Files.
Browse for Folders: Click this button to open a dialog box of folders, and then click the folder containing all the files you want to restore and click Add Folder.
Step 4. Select the location you want to restore the backed up files, you can choose between In the original location and In the following location. Then, click Restore to start the individual files restoration.
Method 2: Restore files from Windows 7 backup to Windows 10
To restore files from Windows 7 backup to Windows 8/10 is very similar to above process, but still slightly different. And you need a backup image created on external storage device, such as, hard drive, or USB drive. Then, let's have a closer look.
Step 1. Connect the external drive containing backed up files to Windows 10 and be sure it can be detected.
Step 2. Access the back up or restore your files window by Start -> Settings -> Update & Security -> Backup -> Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
Step 3. Scroll down to the Restore tab and choose Select another backup to restore files from.
Step 4. Select the Windows 7 backup on external drive, you can use one option among Search, Browse for files, Browse for folders.
Step 5. Select destination location to store the restored files, either original location or new one. After that, click Restore to restore backup files from external hard drive to Windows 10.
Better way to restore files from backup in Windows 7
As mentioned earlier, Backup and Restore allows you to include data files, but you cannot directly create a file backup. Fortunately, you can use best free file backup software - Qiling Disk Master Standard to make up for this shortcoming. It allows you to create a file backup within 5 steps, and backup files to multiple storage, such as, external hard drive, network drive, Google drive, OneDrive, USB flash drive, etc.
And it still supports many useful features benefit you, such as, schedule backup files at daily/weekly/monthly, backup only changes with incremental/differential backup, normal or high compression level, email notification, etc. To unlock all features, such as, event triggers, USB plug in, please upgrade to Qiling Disk Master Professional or advanced version.
If you don't have a file backup, please the best free file backup software to have a try. Then, continue to see below and learn how to restore files from backup in Windows 7. This software is also applicable to restore files from backup in Windows 8/8.1/10/11 and previous version, Windows XP/Vista.
Step 1. Open Qiling Disk Master Standard. Click Restore and Select Task. If the file backup does not be detected, you can click Select Image File to find it.
Step 2. Select a file backup in the list and click Next.
Step 3. Select the folders and files from image backup in the list tree and click Next.
Step 4. Select a location for your files, you can choose Restire to original location or Restore to a new location. Then, click Proceed to restore files from backup.
Notes:
• This software also support system backup, disk backup and partition backup, so you can use it to execute Windows 10/8/7 system image restore to different computer or entire disk image, even with dissimilar hardware.
• It's suggested to create a bootable disc for your computer, so you can restore files even if it's unbootable.
Except for directly restoring files from backup, you still can restore files from other backup solutions, such as, system backup, disk backup and partition backup.
In this way, you need to use Explore image feature. It will mount all the partitions to a virtual disk in Windows Explorer and then you can copy files in it to another location.
Final words
With the help of Windows backup utility - Backup and Restore, you can restore files from backup in Windows 7 to recover your data files. But you have to know that this software does not supports creating a file backup separately, which makes things complicated. Therefore, it's suggested to use the best free file backup software - Qiling Disk Master Standard to backup files directly and then restore it from backup.
In addition, this software also has many useful features which can make the backup task simple and effecient, such as, daily incremental backup, weekly schedule backup, differential backup, USB plug in, email notiftication, pre/post-command etc. If you happen to have this need, please download this software and try it yourself.
Related Articles
- How to Restore Files from Backup in Windows 10/8/7
- Easier Way to Automatic Backup Windows 7 to Network Drive
- How to Create a System Image Backup in Windows 7 Easily
- Restore Windows Backup to New Computer (Different Hardware Supported)
- Create Schedule Automatic Backup in Windows 10 [3 Ways Included]