Restoring a Home Computer

Step 1: Create a backup of your home computer
Make sure to back up your home computer so you don’t lose any important files.

• Open the Windows Home Server Console and click the Computers & Backup tab to view your computers.
• Select your home computer and click Configure Backup.
• The wizard will examine your home computer, automatically exclude temporary files, and give you the option to exclude other large files that will slow the backup process.
• Once your backup is configured, click Back up Now.

Now, Windows Home Server has securely saved all your information so you can restore your computer later without losing files.

Step 2: Copy drivers for your home computer (optional)
When you back up a computer with Windows Home Server, it saves the essential drivers for your home computer, which you may need for the restore process. To access these drivers, open the backup for your computer and copy the drivers to a USB flash drive:

• In the Computer & Backup tab, select your home computer, and then click View Backups.
• Select the most recent backup and click Open. A window will appear, showing the files and folders in the backup.
• Connect your USB flash drive and copy the Windows Home Server Drivers for Restore folder from the open window and into your USB flash drive.

Now that your drivers are safely copied onto a USB flash drive, you can restore your original computer when you need to.

Step 3: Restore your home computer
You can now use Windows Home Server to restore your home computer system’s content, including all original settings, files, and folders.
Note: Your home computer must be connected to the home network with an Ethernet network cable before you begin the restore. In most cases, you cannot use a wireless connection.

• Place the Home Computer Restore CD in the optical drive of the home computer you want to restore. You have the option to restore one or more hard drive volumes.
• Restart the computer, boot from the CD, and follow the instructions in the Restore Computer Wizard to restore the hard drives on your home computer.
• The wizard may prompt you to insert your USB flash drive with your copied home computer drivers. If so, connect your USB flash drive and continue.

Your original content is now restored on your home computer. Remember to back up your computer content volume whenever you update your system, so you never lose your old computer.