Last Updated on October 17, 2026
If you are not backing up your computer on a regular basis, you really need to start right away. If you have a hardware or operating system failure, you may find it hard to recover your important data or you may not be able to recover it at all. When it comes to backing up your files, you can save them to the cloud using a service such as OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox or Box, just to name a few. You can also backup your data to external devices such as a USB flash drive or hard drive. And if you still have a DVD drive, that is also an option.
There are several ways to backup your data, so need to choose the method that works the best for you. For example, you can perform file level backups using apps such as Windows File History or third party backup software. You can also do system image backups which will backup your entire computer including Windows, applications and files. Then if you have a computer failure, you can restore the image once you get things up and running again. Or if you need to go back to a previous point in time, you can do that as well. In this article, we will be showing you how to create and restore a Windows system image backup with Hasleo Backup Suite.
One thing to be aware of when doing system image backups is that they are only as good or as current as the date they were created. So, when you go to restore an image backup, it will return your computer to the state it was in when the backup was created. So, any changes you have made or programs or files you have added will not be there. To create a system image backup, you will first need to download and install the free Hasleo Backup Suite software.
Creating a System Image Backup with Hasleo Backup Suite
1. Select the System Backup Option
When you run the program the first time, it should ask you to choose your default backup location which you do not need to do if you do not have it figured out yet. To start the system image backup, you will need to go to the Backup section and then to System Backup. This initiates the primary imaging tool for your main operating system drive.
2. Choose Your Source and Destination
The program should choose the C (Windows) drive for you and select all the partitions needed by Windows itself. It will then create its own backup task name and description which you can change yourself if you do not want to use the default name. It will also select the backup location you chose when you ran the program the first time or you can change it to a different directory.
3. Configure Advanced Backup Options
If you want to change some of the settings for the backup, you can click on Backup options and go through the choices as needed. Here you can set things such as the compression level, encrypt the backup and set up email notifications when the backup has completed. Modifying these settings helps you manage your available storage space effectively.
4. Set Up an Automated Schedule
If you plan on performing the same system image backup on a regular basis, you can add it to a schedule and set retention policies such as full, incremental and differential. Automating this process guarantees your files stay protected without requiring manual intervention. Consistent backups save you from catastrophic data loss.
5. Start the Image Creation Process
When you are ready to begin the backup, simply click on the Proceed button to have it start. The length of time required to perform the backup will vary depending on the size of your drive and how much data you have on it. Solid state drives will finish this process much faster than older mechanical hard drives.
6. Verify the Saved Image File
If you then go to the backup folder on your computer, you will be able to see the backup image file with the default name or the name you chose at the beginning. Checking this directory confirms the software successfully wrote the data to your target destination. You now have a reliable restore point ready for emergencies.
Restoring a System Image Backup with Hasleo Backup Suite
1. Locate Your Backup Task
If you ever need to restore your backup image, you can do so by opening Hasleo Backup Suite and going to the Restore section. You can then choose to restore a previous backup task or browse to your backup image file and restore it that way. Both ways work the same but if for some reason you do not have a backup task but have the backup image file, you can use the second method.
2. Confirm the System Mode
When you load the backup image, it will show you the partitions within the backup and should be set to System mode by default. This ensures the software restores the hidden boot partitions alongside your visible data. Leave this setting alone unless you are performing a highly specific custom recovery.
3. Select the Target Location
After you click on the Next button, it should automatically choose the same location as the backup was made from. You can also check the box that says Restore to original location. This guarantees the software overwrites the exact hard drive that failed.
4. Adjust Partition Sizes
The next step is optional and is used if you want to change the size and location of where the image will be restored to. This proves incredibly helpful when moving your operating system to a smaller or larger replacement drive. You can manually drag the sliders to fit the new hardware capacities perfectly.
5. Acknowledge the Data Destruction Warning
Once you click the Proceed button, you will be informed that all the data on your drive will be destroyed since the program will be restoring the entire drive from the backup. Anything you have on your computer that is new since the image was made will not be there after the image is restored. Ensure you have copied any recent personal files to an external flash drive before continuing.
6. Boot into the Pre-OS Environment
In order to restore the system image, Hasleo will need to boot into the Pre-OS (WinPE) mode to continue since you cannot restore a Windows system image while Windows is running. The application builds a temporary operating system in your computer memory. This isolates the recovery process from active system files.
7. Inject Necessary Hardware Drivers
The next step is optional as well in case you need to add some drivers for some new hardware that was not installed when the backup image was made. Supplying these files ensures your storage controllers function properly during the restoration. You can usually skip this screen if you are restoring to the exact same computer.
8. Wait for the WinPE Image Creation
The WinPE image will then be created. The progress bar tracks the compilation of the necessary boot files. Do not interrupt your computer while it prepares this critical recovery environment.
9. Execute the System Recovery
Your computer will then reboot into the WinPE image and start the restore process. The program will then restart the computer when it’s finished unless you change the option at the bottom of the window. Grab a cup of coffee while the software overwrites your drive sector by sector.
10. Boot Back into Windows
Once Windows boots back up, your computer will be restored back to the date and time that the system image was created. Your operating system will look exactly as it did on that specific day. You can now resume your normal computing tasks.
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