Are you tired of the Windows backup tool and the current third-party tools out there?
Allow us to present another commercial piece of software: Veeam Agent.
How’s that interesting?
Unlike the competitors, though, Veeam Agent is free.
However, Veeam Agent is friendlier, easier on your PC’s resources, and effortless to use.
you could download Veeam Agent fromits official sitefor free.
Note, though, that the site will ask you to register before doing so.
For fans of Chocolatey, the installation is easier since it skips that boring part.
So, connect something like an external HDD or a large USB flash drive to your PC.
Veeam Agent will notify you thatRecovery media has not been created.
So, press that notification to do so.
Check the rest of the available options if you’d prefer to use a internet share instead.
After answering positively at that prompt, Veeam Agent will display a summary of the procedure.
choose Create to proceed.
However, Veeam Agent offers some extra options that affect how it works.
Then, chooseSettingsfrom the menu that shows up.
If you ever decide to pause Veeam Agent for a period, place a checkmark onDisable scheduled backups.
Veeam Agent will stop taking new backups until you disable that option.
Below that, ensure thatThrottle backup activity is active when system is busyis active.
This option lowers Veeam Agent’s process priority to avoid slowing down your PC when taking a backup.
Feel free to leave the rest of the options as they are.
The most significant limitation is that it only allows setting up a single OS backup job.
Still, that’s more than enough for securing your Windows installation.
To set it up, tap on Veeam Agent’s menu button and chooseAdd New Job.
Start by entering a name and description for your backup.
Veeam Agent’s default backup mode is Entire computer.
However, that means that the backup will includeeverything, including non-essential data.
Plus, you’ll need to dedicate to it almost as much storage.
Thus, change the backup’s mode fromEntire computer (recommended)toVolume level backup.
We suggest you also enableShow system and hidden volumesand test whether it missed something.
Leave the backup’s destination asLocal storageto save it in a secondary storage gadget directly connected to your PC.
Veeam Agent also supports web link backups.
choose the Advanced button to further customize your backup.
The defaults on theBackuptab should work fine for most people.
We consider the options self-explanatory, so we won’t linger more on them.
VisitStorageif you want to adjust your backup’s compression level and optimization strategy.
Those options will be tuned optimally for local storage, so you don’t have to tweak them.
To save space, you might choose a more “connection-friendly” compression level and storage optimization strategy.
Those produce smaller files but need more resources during backup and recovery.
Proceed to the next step and set up a schedule for your backup.
We suggest you go for daily backups.
Leave the rest of the options as they are.
Finally, check the operation’s summary, and hit Finish to create your backup job.
Each backup is represented by a storage graph that shows how much space it occupies.
If you ever decide to change your backup’s tweaks, punch Veeam Agent’s menu button.
Your backup job will now be listed there.
Select it and chooseEdit jobfrom the sub-menu that will show up.
And with that, you’re set.
So, connect it to your PC and boot from it.
Veeam Agent’s recovery media takes a while to load.
When its interface appears, choose Bare Metal Recovery.
Leave theBackup Locationset toLocal storageif your backup is stored on a local drive.
If Veeam Agent can’t find it automatically, click onBrowseto locate and select it manually.
Select theRestore Pointto which you want to revert your PC.
Change theRestore ModefromEntire computertoSystem volumes only.
punch Yes if you’re sure you want to proceed.
When the process completes, Veeam Agent will ask if you want to reboot your gear.
As the gadget further degrades, it’s a given you’ll run into similar problems in the future.
Disk Dump, as is its full name, is a Linux tool for cloning disks.
Even if Veeam Agent works flawlessly, it wouldn’t hurtalsotaking an occasional full backup with dd.
If anything, consider it the equivalent of a secondary parachute.
You normally don’t need it, but when you do, you’ll be glad it was there.
It’s better to take preemptive action now, for this is the “beforehand”.
Thanks to Veeam Agent, backing up your OS can be painless and free.
