search
HomeSystem TutorialWindows SeriesHow to Backup an External Hard Drive before Formatting It

We often use external hard drive to store or backup valuable data on computer. But do you know that, in order to ensure the data safety, it's also necessary to backup your external hard drive?

Why you need to backup your external hard drive?

External hard drive faces the risk of formatting, which is one of the main reasons why you need to backup it.

1. External hard drive is portable, and because of this, it may be used on different computers. With the continually "plug in" and "pull out", it may produce errors, and you have to format the whole external disk in order to fix the drive errors.

2. Sometimes, you may want to change the usage of your external hard drive, such as making a bootable disk with it, which will format the external disk.

Formatting an external hard drive will cause all the data stored on it to be lost and difficult to recover. Thus, it's necessary to backup your external hard drive before formatting it.

How to backup an external hard drive before formatting it

Backup is not simply copying all files stored on the external hard drive to another location. Though feasible, this consumes much time and makes it very hard to maintain the copy of the data. To simplify the backup process of external hard drive, we highly recommend that you use the professional backup software iSumsoft Cloner. It enables you to easily backup your entire external hard drive as a single file, and restore all data from the backup whenever needed. Follow these steps.

Step 1: Download iSumsoft Cloner and install it on your Windows computer.

Step 2: Connect your external hard drive to your computer via a USB slot and then launch iSumsoft Cloner.

Step 3: Select the Backup option on the left side. Select the external hard drive volume you want to backup, select a path to save the backup file by clicking the Choose button, and then click on Start to begin the backup.

Tips: Make sure the destination location has sufficient space to save your backup. You can backup your external hard drive to another external hard drive or the computer's internal hard disk drive.

How to Backup an External Hard Drive before Formatting It

Step 4: Just wait until the backup process is completed. This takes around ten minutes, depending on the used space size of the external hard drive. When the backup is finished, you can safely format your external hard drive, without worrying about data loss.

How to restore all data from the backup of your external hard drive

As stated previously, the whole external hard drive is backed up as a single file (*.icg). You can use the backup file to restore all your data.

1. Run iSumsoft Cloner on your computer.

2. Select the Restore option on the left side. Select a location which you want to restore the backup to, select the backup file of the external hard drive by clicking the Choose button, and then click Start to begin restoring the data. If you want to restore all the data back to your external hard drive, connect the external hard drive to the computer and choose it as the restoration destination.

How to Backup an External Hard Drive before Formatting It

3. Wait until the restoring process is completed. This takes a few minutes, depending on the backup file size.

Summary:

That's the easiest way to backup an external hard drive before formatting it. In fact, in addition to formatting, there are some other situations that may make you lose the data stored on your external hard drive, such as physical damage, careless loss, unfortunate theft, incorrect operation and so forth. To summarize, the backup of external hard drive is necessary and should be done regularly.

The above is the detailed content of How to Backup an External Hard Drive before Formatting It. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

Statement
The content of this article is voluntarily contributed by netizens, and the copyright belongs to the original author. This site does not assume corresponding legal responsibility. If you find any content suspected of plagiarism or infringement, please contact admin@php.cn
How to Find the Product Key for Windows 10How to Find the Product Key for Windows 10Mar 04, 2025 am 01:46 AM

Retrieve lost Windows 10 product key: Two ways Have you lost your product key after installing genuine Windows 10? Don't worry, this article will introduce two ways to retrieve your keys so that you can reinstall the system in the future. Case 1: Windows 10 is installed but the key is lost Even if you get Windows 10 through a free upgrade or genuine installation, you can easily find the product key using the iSumsoft Product Key Finder as long as your computer works properly. Method 1: Use iSumsoft Product Key Finder Download and install: Download and install iSumsoft Product Key Finder to your computer. Find the product key: Start

Acer PD163Q Dual Portable Monitor Review: I Really Wanted to Love ThisAcer PD163Q Dual Portable Monitor Review: I Really Wanted to Love ThisMar 18, 2025 am 03:04 AM

The Acer PD163Q Dual Portable Monitor: A Connectivity Nightmare I had high hopes for the Acer PD163Q. The concept of dual portable displays, conveniently connecting via a single cable, was incredibly appealing. Unfortunately, this alluring idea quic

Top 3 Windows 11 Gaming Features That Outshine Windows 10Top 3 Windows 11 Gaming Features That Outshine Windows 10Mar 16, 2025 am 12:17 AM

Upgrade to Windows 11: Enhance Your PC Gaming Experience Windows 11 offers exciting new gaming features that significantly improve your PC gaming experience. This upgrade is worth considering for any PC gamer moving from Windows 10. Auto HDR: Eleva

Mozilla Thunderbird 136 Is Here, Switching to Monthly Updates by DefaultMozilla Thunderbird 136 Is Here, Switching to Monthly Updates by DefaultMar 07, 2025 am 01:19 AM

Firefox 136 and Thunderbird 136: Enhanced Security and Performance The latest releases of Firefox and Thunderbird bring significant improvements in video playback smoothness, browsing security, and overall user experience. Let's delve into the key u

How to Create a Dynamic Table of Contents in ExcelHow to Create a Dynamic Table of Contents in ExcelMar 24, 2025 am 08:01 AM

A table of contents is a total game-changer when working with large files – it keeps everything organized and easy to navigate. Unfortunately, unlike Word, Microsoft Excel doesn’t have a simple “Table of Contents” button that adds t

How to Change Windows SmartScreen Settings in Windows 10How to Change Windows SmartScreen Settings in Windows 10Mar 04, 2025 am 02:48 AM

Windows SmartScreen: A shield that enhances computer security Windows SmartScreen helps you improve your computer security by issuing warnings before running unknown applications and files from the Internet. When you download an unknown file or open any potentially unsafe file, Windows displays a warning and confirms that you are aware of it before accessing the file. If an application or file is blocked by Windows SmartScreen, you can choose to unblock based on the level of trust. This article will introduce three ways to enable or disable Windows SmartScreen: Control Panel, Windows Security

Why I Use Listary to Vastly Improve Windows SearchWhy I Use Listary to Vastly Improve Windows SearchMar 05, 2025 am 03:01 AM

Listary: Supercharge Your Windows Workflow Listary is a powerful tool that significantly enhances Windows productivity by offering lightning-fast file searching, versatile system control, and seamless cross-application integration. Its intuitive des

This Wild Ultra-Wide Alienware Monitor is $300 Off TodayThis Wild Ultra-Wide Alienware Monitor is $300 Off TodayMar 13, 2025 pm 12:21 PM

Alienware AW3225QF: The best curved 4K display, is it worth buying? The Alienware AW3225QF is known as the best curved 4K display, and its powerful performance is unquestionable. The fast response time, stunning HDR effects and unlimited contrast, coupled with excellent color performance, are the advantages of this monitor. Although it is mainly aimed at gamers, if you can accept the shortcomings of OLED, it is also suitable for office workers who pursue high efficiency. Widescreen monitors are not only loved by gamers, but also favored by users who value productivity improvement. They are great for work and enhance anyone’s desktop experience. This Alienware monitor is usually expensive, but is currently enjoying it

See all articles

Hot AI Tools

Undresser.AI Undress

Undresser.AI Undress

AI-powered app for creating realistic nude photos

AI Clothes Remover

AI Clothes Remover

Online AI tool for removing clothes from photos.

Undress AI Tool

Undress AI Tool

Undress images for free

Clothoff.io

Clothoff.io

AI clothes remover

AI Hentai Generator

AI Hentai Generator

Generate AI Hentai for free.

Hot Article

R.E.P.O. Energy Crystals Explained and What They Do (Yellow Crystal)
2 weeks agoBy尊渡假赌尊渡假赌尊渡假赌
Repo: How To Revive Teammates
1 months agoBy尊渡假赌尊渡假赌尊渡假赌
Hello Kitty Island Adventure: How To Get Giant Seeds
1 months agoBy尊渡假赌尊渡假赌尊渡假赌

Hot Tools

SublimeText3 Linux new version

SublimeText3 Linux new version

SublimeText3 Linux latest version

MinGW - Minimalist GNU for Windows

MinGW - Minimalist GNU for Windows

This project is in the process of being migrated to osdn.net/projects/mingw, you can continue to follow us there. MinGW: A native Windows port of the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC), freely distributable import libraries and header files for building native Windows applications; includes extensions to the MSVC runtime to support C99 functionality. All MinGW software can run on 64-bit Windows platforms.

SAP NetWeaver Server Adapter for Eclipse

SAP NetWeaver Server Adapter for Eclipse

Integrate Eclipse with SAP NetWeaver application server.

VSCode Windows 64-bit Download

VSCode Windows 64-bit Download

A free and powerful IDE editor launched by Microsoft

Notepad++7.3.1

Notepad++7.3.1

Easy-to-use and free code editor