file backup

Question

I have read that Microsoft may in the future eliminate file history from windows 10, and I am wondering if the following process will work to back up files.  I prefer not to use One Drive or third party software.  So will the following process work to back up files.  Drag and drop (copy and paste) the documents folder in ‘file explorer’ to a folder on an external hard drive in ‘This PC > My Passport > File backup 4_9_2018’ (see screenshot below).

Two questions (1) would this process work to restore files to the existing computer, and if so what would be the process, and (2) would this process work to transfer files to a new computer, and if so what would be the process?

I realize this process will  need to be repeated on a regular basis and will not automatically back up changes to existing documents.

Answer 1

Manual backup using drag and drop or copy and paste is another way of backing up. The restoration process is pretty much the same way. Here is an article that explains how to do it:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Answer 2

You can also use Macrium to do this.
It’s free and what a lot of us recommend.
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

And you are right in assuming that file history will be gone soon.

Answer 3

Hello,

Yes, putting your files on an external drive and dragging and dropping them into the existing computer after the update will be safe and transferring them to another computer also works that way.

Answer 4

* Merged *

I have read that Microsoft may in the future eliminate file history from windows 10, and I am wondering if the following process will work to back up files.  I prefer not to use One Drive or third party software.  So will the following process work to back up files.  Drag and drop (copy and paste) the documents folder in ‘file explorer’ to a folder on an external hard drive in ‘This PC > My Passport > File backup 4_9_2018’ (see screenshot below)

Two questions (1) would this process work to restore files to the existing computer, and if so what would be the process, and (2) would this process work to transfer files to a new computer, and if so what would be the process?

I realize this process will  need to be repeated on a regular basis and will not automatically back up changes to existing documents.