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How to create disk image backup to Dropbox - Windows 10

Anonymous
2020-12-29T20:07:07+00:00

I want to use Dropbox (or OneDrive, or Drive... the actual cloud location is unimportant) as my backup location for the disk image of my computer. 

When I launch Control Panel>Backup and Restore, the only options for backup locations is external hard drives connected to the computer. 

If I click Save on a Network>Browse, there are no options to select a cloud location for the backup. 

Can this be done? If so, how?

Thank you.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Settings

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-12-30T18:04:06+00:00

    Morning from Wisconsin

    First, I'm no expert.

    At anything.

    So I offer no advice.

    I just wanted to share my personal experience.

    I hope it is of some little help to you.

    The answer to your question is yes.

    How do I know ?

    Cuz that's what I do on my Win 10 Laptop. (Been doing it for years.)

    I run WIn 10 Home version 20H2 (OS Build 19042.685).

    I use Google drive for my cloud storage.

    The first thing I needed to do was map a drive letter on my laptop that pointed to my Google drive cloud storage.

    (I choose "G:". Original huh ?)

    Once this mapping had been completed, all the apps on my laptop access my Google drive via the drive letter I assigned and they can't tell the difference between an actual local drive and my cloud storage.

    This goes for not only backup apps but office applications such as Word, Excel as well as others.

    I use the Macrium Reflect product to create images of my laptop.

    And it allows me to choose my "G" drive without issue.

    I am not aware of any way to create this mapping natively.

    So, I needed to download an app to my laptop that was designed to do exactly that.

    There are  a number of these apps available on the Internet.

    Some are free and some you need to pay for.

    I use a free app named "RailDrive Standard Edition".

    Here's a link to a video that explains the process for a paid version of this kind of app.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4TxjbGY6f8

    It's worth watching.

    Good luck to you.

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-12-30T13:40:41+00:00

    Thank you, I'm aware of how Internet upload/download speeds work and you have no knowledge of my setup. I'm also aware of what a disk image is. Thank you for assuming I'm stupid.

    Q: Can a disk image backup of a Windows 10 system be made to a cloud location? Yes, or no. If yes, how?

    Please only respond if you have an actual answer to the questions.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-12-30T04:46:54+00:00

    I want to use Dropbox (or OneDrive, or Drive... the actual cloud location is unimportant) as my backup location for the disk image of my computer.

    That's not the best idea, for two reasons:

    1- Most people's upload speed is a small fraction of their download speed. (Verizon FIOS is a notable exception.) In addition, cloud storage providers have the prerogative to slow your upload speed for load balancing. A disk image of your computer is likely to be many gigabytes in size, so it could easily take many hours to upload at those speeds.

    2- A disk image is a single file. If there should be an interruption in your internet service for any reason, you will have to start all over again.

    A better place for a disk image is an external hard drive or network attached storage on your local network.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-12-30T02:37:21+00:00

    That doesn't work. 

    I'm presuming you meant Create a recovery "drive", as opposed to unit.

    That method still requires a connected external drive. I want to have the backup performed to a cloud service, as I stated initially.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-12-29T20:49:55+00:00

    Hello RFPhotogCda, welcome to the Microsoft community, my name is Luiz Cruz, an independent consultant and I would be happy to help you.

    To perform a backup of the Windows image to solve future problems follow the steps below:

    Access the Control Panel.

    Click on System and Security

    Click on File History

    Wait for loading, and click "Recovery" in the bottom left corner of the screen.

    Click on "Create a recovery unit"

    Click Next

    And your backup will be performed.

    I hope I helped, any questions I am available.

    See you!

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