The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →To recover individual files, open Ashampoo Backup Pro and use Restore to choose the backup date, select the items, and specify where to put them. If Windows will not start, use bootable rescue media and a prior system image to restore the disk; that operation overwrites the selected target.
Choose the recovery path that matches your situation
| Situation | Recovery method | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Windows starts and you need selected files or folders | Restore items from inside Backup Pro | The backup plan and a backup containing the items |
| Windows will not start and you need to recover the PC | Boot into a rescue environment and restore a disk image | Bootable rescue media and a usable system-drive backup, ideally a full drive or partition backup |
A file restore and a disk restore are not interchangeable: restoring a disk or partition replaces data on its selected destination. Ashampoo’s Backup Pro 27 manual distinguishes item recovery from partition and disk recovery.
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Restore files or folders while Windows runs
- Open Ashampoo Backup Pro and choose Restore.
- Select the backup plan that contains the missing items.
- Browse the available backup dates, expand folders as needed, and select the files or folders to recover. Backup Pro 27’s manual describes selecting entries for recovery and proceeding with Next.
- Choose the destination for the restored items. Selecting a separate location can help avoid overwriting a current file with the same name.
- Review the summary and start the restoration.
The detailed file-and-folder walkthrough is for Backup Pro 26, while the current manual is for Backup Pro 27; exact labels can vary by installed version. See Ashampoo’s Backup Pro 26 support walkthrough.
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 →Restore the entire PC if Windows will not boot
This process starts the computer from rescue media, locates a system image, and writes that image to a target disk. Ashampoo says the rescue system can start a computer from a bootable USB stick or disc and requires a previous backup, ideally of a full drive or partition. Its Backup Pro 27 recovery walkthrough describes the following sequence.
#1 Best Overall
- 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.
- Boot from the rescue USB. Restart the PC and open its boot menu. Ashampoo lists F12, F2, F8, or Esc as possible keys, depending on the device. If none works, use the computer maker’s boot-menu instructions.
- Open Restore and locate the backup. In the rescue environment, choose Restore and identify where the recovery data are stored.
- Check drive mapping. Drive letters in the rescue environment may differ from the letters you normally see in Windows, so identify the drives by their contents and role rather than assuming the letters match.
- Select the backup. Connect or select the drive holding the backup, refresh the list if necessary, and choose the backup that contains the system drive.
- Choose the disk-level recovery option and target. Select Disks, entire disks including boot information, then assign the backed-up disk to the intended target. Confirm the target before proceeding: the selected destination is overwritten, and a whole-disk restore can replace boot information.
- Complete the restore and restart. Wait for the operation to finish, close the recovery windows, remove the USB stick, and restart the computer.
Understand the overwrite risk before restoring a disk
Ashampoo’s Backup Pro 27 manual says existing partitions or disks are overwritten during recovery. A Backup Pro 26 walkthrough also warns that confirming the restore begins replacing all data on the selected target with the selected backup. Check both the backup and destination carefully before confirming.
Do not cancel an in-progress disk restore casually. Ashampoo warns that interrupting the operation can leave affected drives unreadable and requiring formatting. If the target selection or backup is uncertain, stop before starting the restore and verify it first.
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.
Prepare rescue media before you need it
Create and test the rescue media while Windows is still available, if possible, and keep the system image on storage the rescue environment can access. Backup Pro uses the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) to create rescue media; the manual says it can download and install the ADK if it is absent, while outdated ADK components may cause errors. It also allows special hardware drivers to be imported into the rescue system.
Use a spare USB drive for rescue media. Ashampoo’s standalone Backup Rescue Disc page says writing the rescue system to USB deletes the drive’s existing contents. The page lists rescue-system version v1.35 and an alternative download for very old computers (from 2009 or earlier) or computers without a 64-bit processor. This is a separate utility; do not assume it is interchangeable with every Backup Pro version or backup format. Follow the instructions for the software and backup you actually use.
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.
The Backup Pro 27 walkthrough uses an external drive as backup storage. The sources do not establish a universal capacity requirement: the space needed depends on the size of your actual backup.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- High capacity in a small enclosure – The small, lightweight design offers up to 6TB* capacity, making WD Elements portable hard drives the ideal companion for consumers on the go.
- Plug-and-play expandability
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps)
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.
- 【Ultra-thin and quiet】 - The motherboard adopts JMicron 578 noise-free solution, giving you a quiet working environment. Lightweight and portable size designed to fit in your pocket for easy portability.
- 【Ultra-Fast Data Transfers】 - Pairing this external hard drive with JMicron 578 solution USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 interfaces enables blazing-fast data transfer. It boasts theoretical read speeds of up to 125MB/s and write speeds of up to 103MB/s.
- 【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.
Sources and version notes
- Ashampoo Backup Pro 27 manual, dated November 18, 2025 and updated; covers rescue media and disk or partition recovery.
- Ashampoo Backup Pro 27 recovery walkthrough, dated January 8, 2026; covers the rescue-environment restore sequence.
- Ashampoo Backup Pro 26 support walkthrough, dated November 20, 2024; provides file-recovery steps and corroborates the selected-target overwrite warning.
- Ashampoo Backup Rescue Disc; its download and version details may change.
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