How to Perform File and Folder Backups with MiniTool ShadowMaker Free

One of the most important things that all computer users should be doing is backing up their computers on a regular basis. It is a very important task and should be a part of everyone’s file and folder management routine. And if your computer crashes and you need to do something drastic such as reinstall Windows, at least you know you will have a current copy of your important files.

There are two main types of backups that most people perform. One is a Windows system image backup that backs up the entire Windows drive including Windows itself, your programs and your files. This is good to do once in a while in case your Windows becomes corrupt and won’t start. Then you can restore your system image and be up and running again. But the type of backup you should be doing on a regular basis is to backup your important personal files. In this article, we will be showing you how to perform file and folder backups with MiniTool ShadowMaker Free.

Configuring your Backup with MiniTool ShadowMaker Free

Once you download and install the software, you will need to run it and then go to the Backup section. From here, click on the large Source button to configure what files and folders will be getting backed up.

Next, you will need to click on Folders and Files. The Disks and Partitions option is what you would use for Windows image backups.

The next step involves adding any files and folders you want to be backed up to your new backup job. If you click on the User section that will show you the common Windows user folders such as Documents, Pictures and Music. If you want to see all the folders on your computer so you can select different ones, you can click on the Computer section. To select a file or folder, simply click in the box next to the name so it has a checkmark.

Back at the first screen, you can click the Options button to configure how your backup will be performed. You can set the compression level if you want to save hard drive space by making the backup file smaller. Just keep in mind that it will make the backup take a bit longer. You can also assign a password to your backup so that nobody can restore any files from it.

The Backup Scheme option is where you can choose between full, differential and incremental backups. The Schedule Settings option is used to schedule your backup job, so it runs automatically at specified dates and times.

Before you run your backup, you may want to change the Task Name so it will be easier to recognize if you have multiple backup jobs configured.

Once you have everything set, simply click on the Backup now button to start the backup job. Or if you have scheduled your backup, you can simply wait for MiniTool ShadowMaker to run the job on its own. Just make sure your computer is turned on at the time you have scheduled the backup.

Restoring your Backup with MiniTool ShadowMaker Free

Once you have some backups created, you can easily restore some or all the files and folders within that job as needed. To restore your backup job, you can do so from the Manage section or the Restore section. If you click on the ellipsis (…) next to the backup job name, you have several options such as deleting the backup job and its files, verifying the job and editing its schedule and scheme.

You can also run the job again from here by clicking the down arrow next to Back Up Now and then deciding if you want to run a full, incremental or differential backup.

You can also go to the Restore section and click the Restore button next to the backup job.

If you have more than one instance of the backup job, you will be able to select which one you want to restore from by clicking on the job with the correct date.

Then you can choose which files and folders to restore, or you can restore everything if needed.

Then you will need to choose where to restore the files to. You can restore them to their original location or make a copy of them somewhere else on your computer.

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