How to Backup Surface Pro to External Hard Drive - 3 Tools

What is Microsoft Surface Pro

The Microsoft Surface Pro is a line of 2-in-1 detachable tablets designed and manufactured by Microsoft. It combines the portability and convenience of a tablet with the functionality and power of a laptop. The Surface Pro features a touchscreen display, detachable keyboard cover, and a kickstand, allowing users to use it as both a tablet and a laptop. It runs on the Windows operating system and is powered by Intel processors, offering a full computing experience in a compact form factor. The Surface Pro is popular among professionals, students, and creatives for its versatility, performance, and premium design.

During the process of backing up your Surface, this article offers different tools to protect the operating system and data.

Why Back Up My Surface Pro to an External Hard Drive

Backing up your Surface Pro to an external hard drive has many benefits:

• Data Security: Keep your important files, documents, photos, and other data safe from loss or damage.
• Disaster Recovery: Quickly restore your Surface Pro to a previous state quickly and easily, minimizing downtime and data loss.
• Portability: Take your backups with you wherever you go.
• Additional Storage: Store large files without using up space on your device.
• Versioning and History: Keep track of changes and recover older versions of files.
• Ease of Access: Easily access your backups without relying on an internet connection or cloud storage service.

Backing up your Surface Pro to an external hard drive is an essential practice to safeguard your data, ensure business continuity, and provide peace of mind.

How to Backup Surface (Pro) to External Hard Drive [3 Methods]

There are several methods you can use to backup your Surface Pro to an external hard drive. One option is to utilize the built-in Windows Backup and Restore feature, which offers a straightforward way to create and manage backups. Alternatively, you can explore third-party backup software options for more advanced features and customization.

Method 1. Professional Tools for Surface Pro Backup

AOMEI Cyber Backup and AOMEI Backupper are two reliable backup software tools that offer comprehensive solutions for backing up and restoring data on various devices, including Microsoft Surface Pro.

🚩 Option 1. Use AOMEI Cyber Backup

AOMEI Cyber Backup is a professional backup software designed to provide data protection for personal and business users. It offers features such as system backup, disk backup, file backup, and virtual machine backup, ensuring comprehensive data protection against system failures, hardware issues, and other unexpected events.

To image backup Surface Pro to external hard drive, please follow the steps:

*Note: Connect the external hard drive to your Surface Pro and make sure it is recognized by your device.

1. Navigate to "Backup" tab after opening this software, then choose "Create New Task" > "System Backup".

2. Select a system you want to back up. Then choose the connected external hard drive to save the backup.

3. Schedule backup method as full / incremental / differential backup and run the backup tasks at daily / weekly / monthly.

4. Configure retention policy to auto delete the old backup files and save storage space.

5. Click Start Backup to protect your system.

🚩 Option 2. Use AOMEI Backupper

AOMEI Backupper is a versatile backup and recovery software that allows users to easily backup and restore data on Windows PCs and servers. It offers features such as system backup, disk backup, file backup, partition backup, and clone utilities, providing users with flexible options for data protection and disaster recovery.

1. Connect the external hard drive to your Surface Pro and make sure it is recognized by your device.

2. Launch the installed AOMEI Backupper, click Backup > System Backup.

3. Click on the destination bar and select your connected external hard drive.

4. Review settings, and click Start Backup to backup Surface Pro to external drive with ease.

Method 2. Backup Computer to External Hard Drive with Windows Backup and Restore

The Backup and Restore feature can create copies of your files, documents, photos, and other essential data. Additionally, the Backup and Restore feature enables you to easily restore your Surface Pro to a previous state using the backup files stored on external hard drives or other backup destinations.

To backup computers to an external hard drive using the Windows Backup and Restore feature, follow these steps:

1. Connect your external hard drive to your Surface Pro.

2. Open the Control Panel and navigate to "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)."

3. Select "Create a system image" on the left side of the window.

4. Click on "Set up backup" and follow the on-screen instructions to select the external hard drive as the backup destination and choose the files and folders to backup.

5. Once the backup settings are configured, click "Save settings and run backup" to initiate the backup process.

*Note: After completing the backup process, it's essential to verify that the backup was successful and that all important data has been backed up properly. Take some time to navigate through the backup files on your external hard drive to ensure everything is intact. Additionally, consider testing the backup by restoring some files to your Surface Pro to confirm data integrity and accessibility.

Conclusion

In conclusion, backing up your Surface Pro to an external hard drive is a critical step in ensuring the security and integrity of your important data. By following the steps outlined in this article and implementing a regular backup routine, you can safeguard your data against unforeseen events and enjoy peace of mind knowing that your files are protected.