Before changing a Windows 7 computer, use Control Panel > Backup and Restore to save the files you need to a separate destination, such as an external USB hard drive. Choose the default selection for broad coverage or the custom selection to check specific locations, then review the backup summary and run the backup before making changes. Do not assume that a file backup includes every application setting or will recreate the profile exactly.
Choose where the backup will go
Use a destination separate from the files and system you are protecting. An external USB hard drive is one practical option. Make sure it has room for the selected files; if you also plan to include a system image, allow for that additional data. The required space depends on what you select, so check the actual contents rather than relying on a generic capacity estimate.
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A separate destination matters because a backup stored only on the computer being changed may not help if that computer or its system drive becomes unavailable.
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Choose the Windows 7 backup selection
Open Control Panel, select Backup and Restore, and follow the wizard. It offers two main content-selection choices:
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- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
| Wizard choice | What it is for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Let Windows choose | Microsoft describes this default selection as covering libraries and named default folders for user accounts. | Confirm that important files stored outside those locations are covered another way. |
| Let me choose | Choose particular folders or drives and decide whether to include a system image. | Inspect the locations selected and add any important folders that would otherwise be missed. |
Review what will be saved
Default selection
Microsoft’s Windows 7 guidance names libraries and these default user folders as part of the default selection: AppData, Contacts, Desktop, Downloads, Favorites, Links, Saved Games, and Searches. User-created libraries are included in the description of libraries. Check whether your important files are in those locations; files stored elsewhere may need to be selected through the custom option.
Custom selection
Choose Let me choose when you need to select specific folders or drives, especially if you keep important data outside the default locations. Review the selection rather than assuming that a profile folder contains every item you want to protect. The available guidance does not establish that copying the whole C:Users<name> folder manually guarantees a complete or application-consistent profile restore.
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Decide whether to include a system image
A selected-file backup and a system image serve different recovery purposes. The file backup saves selected personal files. A system image is intended for broader system recovery; it is not a substitute for checking that the personal files you need are included in the file backup.
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Microsoft says an image may be included with the default-choice behavior when the destination is formatted as NTFS and has sufficient space. With the custom choice, the wizard lets you decide whether to include one. Consider whether broader system recovery is relevant to the change you are planning, and check the destination’s format and available space if you choose an image.
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- Dual Socket Data Connection Cable: Equipped with USB 3.2 and USB-C dual socket data connection cable, suitable for more models.
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- Note: This is only compatible with Apple devices that have a USB‑C port (including iPhone 15 and later, as well as all iPads with USB‑C). Using a Lightning to USB‑C adapter will not resolve the compatibility issue.
Run the backup before making changes
- Connect or identify the separate backup destination.
- Open Control Panel > Backup and Restore.
- Choose Let Windows choose for the described broad default coverage, or Let me choose to inspect and select locations yourself.
- Review the selected files and folders. Add important locations that are not covered by the selection.
- Review the summary and any backup schedule shown by the wizard.
- Run the backup and allow it to finish before making the planned changes.
The Windows 7 instructions vary by edition or configuration, and this guidance does not establish that every application-specific setting, credential, or app state is included or can be restored exactly as before. Treat the backup as protection for the selected data, and verify that the locations important to you are included.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do not confuse a restore point with a file backup
A restore point is a different mechanism intended to undo certain system changes; it is not a separate copy of your personal files. If your aim is to protect documents and other user data, use Backup and Restore and check the selected content.
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- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Windows 7 is no longer supported
Windows 7 support ended on January 14, 2020. Microsoft says unsupported versions no longer receive technical support, software updates, or security updates. That does not change the steps for using Backup and Restore on an existing Windows 7 computer, but it is important context when deciding whether to keep using that computer.
Do not substitute current Windows Backup or OneDrive instructions for this wizard: those describe newer Windows workflows. Later Windows releases also deprecated and renamed Backup and Restore, although Microsoft documents ways to find files from an existing backup made with Backup and Restore (Windows 7). That does not establish that every user profile or application setting can be restored in full.
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