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Copy or sync the personal files you need to keep to a destination separate from the PC, then confirm the copies are present and current before you reset. Microsoft advises users to “Back up important files before you begin.” Even if you plan to select Keep my files, make a separate backup: that option preserves personal files but removes apps and settings, while Remove everything removes personal files, apps, and settings.
1. Identify the files you need to keep
Start by checking where your personal files are stored. Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Music are common locations, but files may also be elsewhere on the PC—for example, in folders you created yourself. Windows Backup’s OneDrive folder options include Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Music; do not assume that choosing a backup route automatically covers every file on the computer.
2. Choose a backup destination
Pick a destination that has enough space, is available to you, and will remain separate from the PC being reset. Microsoft describes cloud backup as useful for accessing content across devices, and external or network storage as useful when internet access is unavailable or the files are large.
| Route | Useful when | Check before resetting |
|---|---|---|
| OneDrive through Windows Backup | You want selected folders available through your Microsoft account and across devices. | The intended folders are selected, the account is accessible, there is enough OneDrive storage, and sync or backup status shows completion. |
| External USB drive or hard drive | You want a local copy, have limited or no internet access, or need to copy many or large files. | The intended files are on the device and can be opened from it. Copy time depends on file size and quantity. |
| File History | You already configured File History to back up the folders you need. | The destination is connected or reachable and contains a recent backup of the intended files. |
OneDrive with Windows Backup
Windows Backup can sync selected Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Music folders to OneDrive, and can also back up certain Windows settings and preferences. The consumer Windows Backup flow described by Microsoft requires a personal Microsoft account; work or school accounts do not work with it. Folder syncing is the route for accessing those files in OneDrive; restoring Windows settings is a separate feature.
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- Easily store and access 2TB to 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 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.
Storage and sync status matter. Microsoft says a free Microsoft account includes 5 GB of OneDrive storage; the support page does not state a year for that figure. Microsoft also identifies insufficient OneDrive storage as a possible backup error. If the selected folders exceed the available space or syncing has not finished, do not treat them as safely backed up.
After a reset or when setting up a new PC, signing in with the same Microsoft account can offer restoration of Windows Backup settings. Files synced to OneDrive can be accessed by signing in to OneDrive.
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- 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.
Copy files to an external drive or USB device
Connect the external storage device, open File Explorer, locate the folders or files you identified, and copy them to the device. When the copy finishes, open the destination and check that the intended files are present; open representative files where practical. A generic USB flash drive or external hard drive can serve as a local destination. Choose capacity based on the files you need to preserve; hardware is not necessary if another backup route meets your needs.
Use File History only if it is already working
File History can save copies of personal files to an external drive or network location. It is not a backup merely because the feature exists: it must have been configured to cover the folders you need, and the destination must contain a recent copy. Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance says to reconnect a disconnected external drive; Control Panel also provides a manual Run now action. Confirm that a current backup exists before relying on it.
Rank #3
- 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.
3. Complete and verify the backup
- For OneDrive: Review the selected folders and the reported backup or sync status. Resolve any errors, including a storage-capacity problem, and wait for the intended files to sync.
- For an external drive: Copy the identified files in File Explorer, then inspect the destination and confirm the files you need are present.
- For File History: Check that the intended folders are covered and that the destination holds a recent backup; reconnect the drive or use Run now if needed.
- For any route: Confirm you can access the backup destination independently of the PC you are about to reset. Do not proceed on the assumption that a copy or sync completed without checking.
4. Check encryption and understand the reset choices
Before starting, locate your BitLocker recovery key if the device is encrypted; Microsoft warns that it may be required during reset. Then read the reset option screens carefully. Keep my files preserves personal files but removes apps and settings. Remove everything removes personal files, apps, and settings. The choices for downloading Windows from the cloud or reinstalling it locally concern the Windows installation source, not whether your personal files have been backed up.
Do not count on a Windows.old folder as a fallback. Microsoft states: “The Reset this PC feature doesn’t create a Windows.old folder.”
Rank #4
- 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.
Windows 10 support status
If you are resetting a Windows 10 PC, note that Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. Microsoft says free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes are no longer provided after that date; the PC continues to work. This lifecycle date does not change the need to back up files before resetting.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to expect during reset
Microsoft says the screen can remain black for an extended period during a reset, occasionally for more than 15 minutes. Manually restarting the PC during that time can cause the reset to fail, so do not interrupt it merely because the screen is temporarily black.
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