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To make a Windows PC recoverable with Ashampoo Backup Pro 27, create both a bootable rescue USB and a full backup of the system drive or its relevant partitions on separate storage. The rescue USB starts a PC that cannot boot normally; the drive backup supplies the data used to restore it. One without the other is not a complete recovery setup. Ashampoo’s support index and Backup Pro 27 product information describe this whole-computer use case.
Check compatibility before you begin
Ashampoo lists Backup Pro 27 for Windows 10 (64-bit) and Windows 11. Its requirements page says ARM systems and Windows Server are not supported, and lists a limitation for partitions or storage devices of 8 TB or more. Check the current system requirements for your setup before relying on a backup plan.
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The version shown in Ashampoo’s media-center listing is 27.7.0, released November 4, 2025, and updated August 21, 2026. Check the media center for the latest release information.
What you need for a full-system recovery
- A rescue USB stick: It boots the PC into a recovery environment if Windows will not start. Creating it formats the selected stick, so copy off any files you need first.
- Storage for the backup: Use an external drive or another supported destination with enough free space for the backup. The documented whole-computer example saves to an external USB drive. Keep the destination separate from the drive being backed up.
- A drive or partition backup: A full image is intended to restore a system drive or partition. A files-and-folders plan copies selected data instead and is not a substitute for a full-system image.
Ashampoo’s manual describes the rescue system this way: “The rescue system allows you to create a bootable USB stick or disc with which you can start your computer.” The rescue environment also needs access to a previous Backup Pro backup, ideally a full drive or partition backup. See the Backup Pro 27 manual and support resources.
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- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition 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.
Create the rescue USB first
- Open Ashampoo Backup Pro 27 and choose Rescue System.
- Select the USB stick you intend to use, then proceed through the creation prompts. The setup uses the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK); the program can download and install it if needed.
- Wait for the rescue medium to finish, then keep it available for recovery. The stick will be formatted during creation. If it is larger than 32 GB, the manual says its primary partition is reduced to 32 GB.
If creation fails because of outdated ADK components, Ashampoo’s manual recommends removing the old Windows ADK and Windows Preinstallation Environment add-on through Windows Settings, then trying again. Consult the official manual for the relevant troubleshooting instructions.
Build and run a drive-backup plan
Select the system drive and boot partitions
- In Backup Pro, start a new plan for drives, rather than a files-and-folders plan.
- Select the system drive. Ashampoo’s example selects C: and includes its boot information and hidden boot partitions. Check your own PC’s partition layout and include the partitions needed to boot and restore Windows; do not assume every computer has an identical setup.
Choose the destination
Select a local destination, then choose the external drive and folder where the backup should be stored. Backup Pro also supports cloud storage, but Ashampoo’s documented whole-computer example uses an external USB drive. Avoid selecting the source drive itself as the only backup location.
Rank #2
- 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.
Choose a storage format
Backup Pro offers a trade-off between ease of access and efficient, more complete storage. The more accessible format lets you browse files through Windows Explorer, uses more space, and ignores extended file attributes. The more efficient, program-only format uses less space and includes extended attributes such as permissions and symbolic links. Pick based on whether ordinary Explorer access or space use and preservation of those attributes matters more for your recovery needs.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Finish the plan and run it
Set the plan’s compression and encryption options, give it a recognizable name, and review the remaining settings. Ashampoo’s walkthrough disables automatic scheduling in its example, then selects Finish; the completed plan can be started immediately. If you leave scheduling off, run the plan again as needed. A one-time image only reflects the state of the PC when it was created.
Quick Recap
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Rank #4
- 【Upgraded version】 - The mirror logo strip is combined with the striped non-slip design. The rounded corners of the shell are more suitable for holding. The strips play a heat dissipation function to ensure a stable and fast transmission process.
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- 【Plug and Play】 - With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use.The hard disk chip is wrapped with an aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data.
- 【What You Get】 - 1 x Portable Hard Drive, 1 x USB 3.0 Cable, 1 x User Manual, Gift-type shell packaging ,Three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 4TB of 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
- 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.
Restore the PC if Windows will not start
- Connect the external drive containing the backup and insert the rescue USB.
- Start the PC from the rescue medium. The exact boot-menu key and procedure vary by computer; use the manufacturer’s instructions if the PC starts Windows instead.
- In the rescue environment, select the saved Backup Pro backup and follow the restore workflow. The manual describes dragging partition images onto existing partitions and disk images onto target disks.
- Verify the selected backup and destination before starting. Restoring overwrites data on the selected target, so choosing the wrong disk or partition can destroy files. Allow time for the recovery to complete.
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