In this article, we’ll learn how to easily backup your entire computer to your Amazon S3. Not just files (those you can just drag to Amazon S3); we are talking about having a backup of your programs, applications, accounts, settings, profiles, personalization and all files (not just the ones in your Amazon S3 folder).
Amazon S3 already serves many of its users as an impromptu backup solution, for some of the more important files. However, it is in no way a complete backup product. Out-of-the-box, Amazon S3 only allows you to manually sync a file with other computers and with Amazon S3 Cloud storage. You cannot tell it to backup all of your files, it is not automatic, and you cannot really backup anything which is not a simple file (apps, user profiles, settings etc.).
This tutorial demonstrates how to use a combination of Amazon S3 and Zinstall FullBack software to create a powerful backup, which automatically protects your entire computer, and saves your backup both locally and on Amazon Cloud. Backups are done automatically: you don’t need to “babysit” them or remember to run a backup. You just have everything stored in your Amazon S3 (backups are encrypted, so even in the unlikely event of Amazon getting hacked, your stuff is safe). Most importantly, when disaster strikes, you can restore your stuff to a completely different computer, including applications, program files, apps, settings, profiles, emails, accounts, passwords, documents, pictures, music and, of course, all of your files.
So what happens now? Zinstall FullBack will first make a full backup of your entire Windows 11 or Windows 10. This means every file, every program, every setting you have there – all backed up and protected. It will be safely stored in your Amazon S3 Cloud Storage.
After that, it will keep backing up any changes you make to the computer, once every hour. So if you change a file, or install a new program, your backup will be updated accordingly within 60 minutes. This is all done completely automatically. In fact, you probably won’t even feel it running. It is very efficient in handling just the changes made, and even protects the hard drive’s health, by minimizing the amount of IO operations (this makes the drive live slightly longer)
Of course, the real reason you have a backup is the restore part. How do you restore a single file that you’ve misplaced? And how do you restore everything, including program files, if your computer crashes? Read on to find out.
So you were working on an important document, and now it’s gone. Fear not – that’s exactly why you have set up an automatic backup of your entire Windows 11 or Windows 10! Here is what you do:
That’s it – your file is back and unharmed.
This is something you can only do if you have used Zinstall FullBack. It can actually restore all the stuff from your backed up computer (programs, settings, files, emails, accounts, password, favorites, documents, pictures, music, etc.) onto a completely different computer and completely different Windows. Even if you’ve backed up a Windows 7 32bit Dell, and your replacement PC is a Windows 11 64bit HP, Zinstall will still restore everything you’ve got.
To do that, install Zinstall FullBack on the replacement computer. Select your Amazon S3 as backup source, and follow the prompts for complete restore. When finished, just restart the computer, and you’ll see all the programs, settings and files from your crashed computer.
Video demo – restore from Amazon S3 backup
Amazon S3 is one of the best consumer Cloud storage solutions on the market. By using Zinstall FullBack and Amazon S3 together, you get a complete, automatic, always-on Cloud backup of your entire Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC, including all programs, settings and files.
It is extremely easy to set up. You do not have to connect any equipment to the computer itself, or even remember that you have a backup. It is all automatic.
And when you accidentally delete a file, or when your computer crashes, you will be able to recover efficiently and completely – and will thank yourself for taking the right precautions well in advance.