Best way to backup files?

What is the best way to backup files?

Also could you direct me to guides or explain how to do the backup?

I have been looking it up and from what I read there is a system image and file history that does back ups. But which is the best? If I needed to put my external hard drive into a different computer, could I view the backup files with a system image or file history?

Also I have two drives in this laptop that I want to backup.

The external hard drive I have has been used before for a backup of a different laptop. Is it okay to use an external hard drive that has already been used on a different laptop? I have an unused external hard drive I can use if it is not okay to use one external hard drive for two laptops.

What I am most concerned about is I want photos, videos, and documents saved in another location in case something were to happen to this laptop. So if I wanted to access the files I could do so from any laptop/computer. But I also would like to be able to restore everything on this laptop onto a new one if I needed to.

Could I do a system image and a file history on the same external hard drive? Is that possible? That way I can restore the laptop exactly how it is and then keep backing up regularly using file history?



Could I also just copy and paste files (pictures, videos, and documents) onto the external hard drive (in addition to the system image and file history) so that I can view all the files on other computers? Or is a system image and file history able to be viewed on other computers?

Thank you

I recommend using Macrium Reflect Free and backing up to an external USB hard drive. 1TB drives are available for around $50 to $60 US.

Tutorial here: Imaging with free Macrium

Some may like the simplicity of a commercial product, like mentioned above. Windows also has built in options. I use robocopy to do nightly backups to another physical drive, and occasional full image with CloneZilla. My option is tedious, and requires some knowledge. There are many, many ways to keep your data safe. None would be best for everyone.

Windows is good and reliable to use for the backup, though? Or is a software better than using windows?

Use Macrium.

Windows system image backups are known to Fail, when trying the restore..

I would also suggest you make system backups with Macruim Reflect

To bypass Windows' explorer.exe and the busy-ness of Windows in general, the almost-ultimately-safe backup that is almost-always-restorable is the one made onto any external media via USB stick or DVD booted Macrium Reflect Pro, Acronis True Image, or something similar.
Any within-Windows backup sometimes, albeit seldom, can become a restore problem.
My restore ability/availability of OS and data's vital, so I spent some monies and received almost-always-guaranteed restorable backups.

Personally I use the Easeus Todo Backup Free but there are hundreds of such programs. You can set it up to do backups automatically. When needed, you can restore individual files, folders, or your whole system. It's fairly simple to use, and have help guides.