Getting Started: Back Up and Recovery

Let us show you how to back up your data on a Windows PC using Windows backup, OneDrive, or an external hard drive. And, if your Dell PC does not startup or boot into Windows, learn how to recover your Windows PC.

Helpful links:
Learn how to restore your Dell PC using SupportAssist OS Recovery.
Download Dell OS Recovery tool in Windows to create a USB recovery media for your Dell PC.
Learn how to download the Dell OS recovery image, and create a recovery media in Ubuntu, Linux, or MacOS.

Chapter 00: Intro

In this video, we’ll show you 3 ways you can back up your data and then give you 2 ways to recover Windows.

Chapter 01: Windows Backup

When you turn on Windows backup, Windows saves settings you select across all Windows devices that are logged in with your Microsoft account. To turn on this backup, click on the Windows Start button and navigate to Settings. Click on Accounts and select ‘Windows backup’. In the Windows backup screen, click on ‘Manage sync settings’. Choose the files you want to back up to OneDrive, then click ‘Start backup’. While the backup is in progress, toggle on or off ‘Remember my apps and ‘Remember my preferences’ to your liking.

Chapter 02: OneDrive Backup

Backing up your files to OneDrive ensures they are protected and available across all your devices. Click on the OneDrive icon in the right corner of your taskbar. Click on the ‘Settings’ icon and then select ‘Settings’. Go to the ‘sync and backup’ tab and click on ‘Manage backup’. Select any folder that says ‘Not backed up’ and then click ‘Save’ to back it up.

Chapter 03: External Hard Drive Backup

You can also manually select and copy files over to an external drive. You’ll need to turn on File History to do this. Click the Windows start button and search for and open ‘File History’. In the file history window, make sure the correct drive location is chosen, and then click on ‘Turn on’. Select ‘Run Now’ to back up your current files.

Chapter 04: SupportAssist OS Recovery

The SupportAssist OS Recovery environment enables you to diagnose hardware issues, repair your computer, back up files, and restore your computer to factory defaults. Click on the link in the description to learn how to restore your computer using SupportAssist OS Recovery.

Chapter 05: USB Recovery Media

You can also create a USB recovery media to download the operating system recovery image. This image is customized for your Dell device and includes the operating system and factory-installed drivers and applications.
Go to Dell.com/support/osrecovery. Use the Dell OS recovery tool on a Windows computer to download the operating system recovery image and create a USB recovery media. If you do not have a Windows computer, use the link in the description to download and create a recovery media using a non-Windows device.