How to take a backup from my old to new HP computer? Windows 10 provides a simple and efficient tool to backup and restore your files and data. You can easily take a backup of all your files and data from your old computer and restore them to your new HP computer using Windows 10 File History and Backup tools. This article will guide you in how to perform a full backup or schedule full backups and restore a backup on your new HP computer.
First, you have to back up your files that are existing on your old computer. To do so, follow the steps below. Remember to take the backup on an external device that you can switch between the two computers, preferably an external hard disk drive. A USB pen drive may be too small in capacity to accommodate all your backup files.
Backup using File History on Windows 10
- Look for the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner and click it.
- You may also search for Settings using the Windows search bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Select Settings. Then click Updates and Security and then click Backup.
- Click Add a drive.
- In the new window, choose the drive where you wish to back up your files and data. You may also choose an external drive or a network drive but make sure that they are connected and working before attempting a backup.
Configure automatic backups on Windows 10
If you use your old computer in parallel to your new HP computer and need to occasionally transfer some important files to your new HP computer, then you may schedule auto-backups on your old computer using Windows the File History and Backup tool.
- Look for the search bar and type Settings.
- In the Settings page, click on Updates and Security.
- Click Backup.
- Under the section Looking for an older backup, click Backup and Restore.
- Click Set up Backup option on the right.
- Choose your drive to store the automatic backup data.
- Click Next.
- Under What do you want to backup section, select Let me choose.
- Click Next.
- Select all the necessary files under the Data files Select the primary Windows drive under the Computer section. It is generally the C Drive.
- Make sure to check or tick the option Include a system of drives: System Reserved, (C:)
- Click Next, and then Change the schedule.
- Check or tick the option Run backup on a schedule.
- Choose the time of taking the backups and the frequency of the backups.
- Click OK and then click Save settings and exit.
Now your computer will be automatically taking backups at the specified time and using the frequency that you mentioned in the settings. You may always click View Details to see all the details of the backups. The Backup section will display information of all the backups that are taken- including the size of the backup file, date of the backup and the drive location.
It is now time to restore this backup on your new HP computer. Power on your HP computer and follow the steps below to perform a restore process.
Restoring a backup file on your new HP computer
Before you begin, make sure that your external drive is connected to your new HP computer and that it has a complete backup of your files and data from your old computer.
- Search for Settings using the Windows search bar and open the settings page.
- Go to Updates and Security > Backup.
- Under the section Looking for an older backup, go to Backup and Restore
- Under the Restore section, select Restore my files.
- Click the option Browse for files.
- Select the files that you wish to restore on your new HP computer.
- Click Add Files.
- Click Browse for Folders.
- Now select the folders that you wish to restore on your new HP computer.
- Click Next.
- If your user directory is the same as in the old computer, then you may choose In the Original location Otherwise, select In the following location and click Browse to choose the location. Make sure all the options and data are correct.
- Click
- Click Restore. The restoration process will initiate now. Once it is complete, click Finish to finish the restore process.