How to Use Windows Server Backup and Its Alternative in 2024

Are you looking for a complete guide to back up Windows Server content? Then, we'll provide you with the complete guide that will help you install and back up the Window Server successfully on this page.

What Is Windows Server Backup

Windows Server Backup, known as WSB, is a Windows Server system's backup and recovery featured tool. It provides a data backup option to Windows Server users to successfully create backup images on the Server computer and protect business content from disasters.

Windows Server Backup is now available in Windows Server 2022/2019/2016/2012/2008, etc.

So how to install and make use of Windows Server Backup in your Server computer? Let's get started with the following guides.

How to Install Windows Server Backup

Step 1. Launch Windows Server Manager, click "Manage" at the right top corner, click "Add Roles and Features".

Step 2. At the Add Roles and Features Wizard, click "Features", tick "Windows Server Backup" and click "Next".

Step 3. Click "Install" at the confirmation window.

After this, you've successfully installed Windows Server Backup. You can then apply its features to start backup your content on Windows Server computers.

How to Backup Windows Server with Windows Server Backup

Here is a list of Windows Server Backup features that you can apply for Server computer data backup:

• Backup Schedule
• Backup Once
• Recover backup
• Backup full server
• Costume to backup volumes or files

Here we'll show you how to back up Windows Server content with the following steps.

Step 1. Type wbadmin.msc in the search menu and open Windows Server Backup.

Step 2. Click "Local Backup" on the Windows Server Backup left pane, and click "Backup Once".

Step 3. Click "Next" on the Getting Started window.

Step 4. Click "Select Backup Configuration" and click "Full server", click "Next" to continue. 

Step 5. Select "Specify Destination Type", and select the destination where you want to store the backups, such as:

• Back up to a hard disk is dedicated for backups
• Back up to a volume
• Back up to a shared network folder

And then, click "Next" to continue.

Step 6. Click "OK" to confirm, and click "Finish" at the confirmation window.

Aside from backing up the entire Server data, you can also select to back up specific drives or volumes in the Server computer at the Select Items for Backup column:

If you want to create a scheduled backup in Windows Server Backup, you can click "Specify Backup Time" to set up the plan.

Windows Server Backup Limitation and Its Alternative Recommendation

Here is a limit of Windows Server Backup limitations that you need to be aware of:

• Doesn't support Virtual hard drive backup.
• Support Hyper-V, but VMware and other hypervisors are not fully supported.
• Only store one backup to a network shared drive.

Based on these limits, is there an alternative solution that can efficiently replace Windows Server Backup and allow you to back up anything in your Windows Server flexibly, including applications, settings, etc.?

Sure! Third-party Windows Server Backup software is professional and capable of helping. Here, we'd like to introduce you to a reliable tool - EaseUS Todo PCTrans Technician, which can back up Windows servers for free.

Windows Server Backup with EaseUS Todo PCTrans Technician

EaseUS Todo PCTrans Technician is a basic file and app transfer software that you can apply this software to:

• Transfer files from Windows Server to Server
• Clean up system C drive
• Migrate user profile to a new Server computer
• Find Windows and install program product keys

Aside from these features, you can apply this software with its Backup and Restore feature to back up data, applications, and even accounts and settings in the Windows Server at no charge.

Step 1. Create a backup file. 

1. Connect your USB (flash) drive/external hard drive to your source computer. Launch Todo PCTrans, click "Backup & Restore > Start" on the main screen.

2. Select "Data Backup" to move on.

3. Hover over "Applications", "Files" and "Accounts" columns to choose the specific data, applications, etc., and click "Back up" to create a backup file. 

Step 2. Recover via the created backup file.

1. Plugin your USB drive which stores the created backup file to the target PC.

Ensure your target PC has EaseUS Todo PCTrans, open PCTransImage and double-click the backup file. Otherwise, click PCTrans_setup.exe to install this tool.

2. Now, you can select Applications/Files/Accounts you want to restore. Click "Restore".

3. Wait a while and click "OK" to finish the restore process.

Conclusion

On this page, we've provided you a full guide on how to install and use Windows Server Backup or Windows Server Backup alternative software to back up an entire Windows Server content to a local hard drive. Either method helps execute a successful Server computer backup, and you need to pick and follow the correct solution for help.

If you prefer to back up partial or the entire content on the Server computer, you can navigate to the "Select Items for Backup" option for help. If you tend to back up some essential content, applications, and even Server computer accounts and settings, EaseUS Todo PCTrans Technician is exactly what you need. Click the buttons below to learn full information about this useful software: