Full Backup on Windows 10

[timberwoofers]

Can someone explain how to do a full backup of ALL data including operating system and all programs for Windows 10.

A few years ago I did a image backup for a secondary desktop and later one of the hard drives failed. I brought this desktop into the computer repair store with my back up external HD. Had them purchase new hard drives for that box and install them. When they went to do the backup they told me it was only a partial backup. None of the programs or operating system was backed up onto the external drive.

Everything I'm reading says an image backup is the correct way to do this. Did the backup just fail or is there another way to do a complete backup?

TIA

[C.G.]

You can do a full back up with Back Up and Restore (Windows 7) in your Control Panel, make sure you do a full backup with system image (and I usually have at least two on different back up drives). You can also clone a drive with free programs like Aomei Partition Assistant. I also do File History back up frequently, I don't remember if W10 had that feature, I think it did.

[timberwoofers]

First time I've been able to access the site again since your response. Thanks for letting me know this, I will take a look at the clone program you mentioned. And yes, I'm going to make at least two backups. Looks like some Crucial SSD externals I bought have a clone program in them.

[C.G.]

Crucial is a decent company so I imagine their clone program should work, I know the WD one works well enough.