How To Create Live USB To Backup Files

Is your PC unbootable? Do you want to backup data from unbootable PC? Would you like to backup Windows and other data from your PC without booting into Windows? Worry not; you can easily backup your data from unbootable computers.

About two years ago, we talked about backing up data from unbootable computers with the help of Windows installation media. If you have a Windows installation DVD or USB, that’s the easiest way to back up your PC and you don’t need the help of third-party tools. About a year ago, we reviewed an application called Redo Backup, a free bootable CD/DVD that can be used to backup data from unbootable computers. Today, we are here to share another awesome program to backup data even if your PC isn’t bootable.

You probably have used or at least heard about the free version of Paragon Backup and Recovery. The good news is that the latest version of Paragon Backup and Recovery allows you create a live USB drive containing utilities to easily backup and recover data from unbootable PCs.

Paragon Backup and Recovery 2014 Free includes recovery media builder with WinPE support. In short, you can use the WinPE-based rescue media to access and backup files even from a unbootable computer.

With the help of live USB recovery media, you can backup an entire hard drive or partition to a virtual disk container, restore data from virtual disk, perform incremental backup to virtual disk, and backup files to a special secured place (called capsule). Besides, you can backup files to external drives and networked locations as well.

Create live USB containing backup and recovery tools

Creating the live USB is relatively easy. Simply follow the given below instructions to create your live USB.

Step 1: Visit this page of Paragon and download Paragon Backup & Recovery 2014 Free. Note that separate downloads are available for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows. Be sure to download the right version to avoid issues.

Step 2: Run the downloaded setup file and follow the simple on-screen instructions to get it installed.

Step 3: Connect your USB drive that you want to prepare as live USB drive and please backup all data before proceeding further.

Step 4: Launch Paragon Backup and Recovery Free 2014. On the home screen (yes, it looks similar to the Start screen) click on the tile labelled Recovery Media Builder to launch RMB wizard.

Click Next button to continue.

Step 5: Here, select either Microsoft Windows PE or Linux as recovery media platform and then click Next button to proceed to the next step.

Step 6: Finally, select your USB flash drive before clicking the Next button to begin creating live USB drive containing Paragon Backup and Recovery tools. Once your live USB is ready, you’ll see “You have successfully created the recovery media” message. That’s it!

In order to boot from live USB, your PC should support booting from USB and you need to enable the same under BIOS/UEFI. Go through our how to boot from USB and how to boot from USB drive even if your PC doesn’t support booting from USB guide for detailed instructions.