As you see, System Restore is not the best way to protect the system or user data. There is a similar and more straightforward mechanism supported by all Windows server versions - System State backup<\/a>. It also supports command-line interface<\/a> for better flexibility.<\/p>\n System State backup contains copies of the Windows registry and the most important system files and drivers necessary to create and save documents, as well as other Microsoft Apps content:<\/p>\n System State can help fix many system failures if the OS can boot up successfully. If not, \u00a0you will need additional tools to use this backup type.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The following is \u00a0how to create a System State backup in Windows Server 2008 (R2):<\/p>\n 1<\/var> Launch Windows Server Backup<\/b> using All Programs<\/i> menu. Click either Backup Schedule<\/b> or Backup Once<\/b>, depending on your case. We will use the Backup Schedule as an example. 2<\/var>On the Select Backup Configuration<\/i> step click Custom<\/b> and proceed.<\/p>\n 3<\/var>Click Add Items and select System State in the new window. You can also include additional files or folders in the same backup. 4<\/var>The Specify Backup Time<\/i>step allows you to configure the backup schedule. We suggest creating a System State backup every day to minimize RPO - this backup type will not last 5<\/var>Choose the backup destination on the next step - either use the entire hard drive<\/b>, dedicated volume<\/b>, or network share<\/b>. If choosing the network share, you need to create a few backup jobs to keep the last N backups, since Windows Server Backup will overwrite backup files every time. 6<\/var>Add the desired volume on the next step and click Finish. The backup is now configured.<\/p>\n Windows Server Backup is free to use, but please note its peculiarities<\/strong>:<\/p>\n If you need more flexibility and a full-featured solution, consider using a third-party backup tool.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to create a point-in-time backup with ystem State <\/i>scope using MSP360 Backup<\/b>.<\/p>\n MSP360 Backup is a cloud backup tool that supports point-in-time backups for the whole server or for only a few files or apps.<\/p>\n To create a local or cloud System State backup:<\/p>\n 1<\/var>Launch MSP360 Backup and click the Image Based<\/b> button at the top-left corner. 2<\/var>Select Local or Cloud backup<\/b> and click next.<\/p>\n 3<\/var>On the Select Backup Storage<\/i> step, you can select cloud storage or connect local\/network folder. In this example, we will use the local folder on one of the server volumes. 4<\/var>Select File System<\/b> in the new window. Type the backup target name and select storage path by clicking the three-dots button. 5<\/var>Proceed to the Select Backup Type<\/i> step and select the System State<\/b> option. 6<\/var>Select one of the available drives for temporary snapshot storage on the next step, and proceed to the Advanced Options<\/i> step. 7<\/var>The Full Backup Options<\/i> step allows planning a Full backup. If you have previously chosen the Block-level backup option, MSP360 Backup will create only incremental data copies after the initial backup. Click Schedule Full Backup<\/b> to select when you would like to create a full data copy. We suggest scheduling Full backups to keep the backup chain the least possible, thus simplifying possible restore operations.<\/p>\n You can leave the rest of the options on their defaults and finish backup plan configuring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n You can use System State backup<\/b> as a super-powered server version of the System Restore Point feature. System State covers most OS-critical files and configurations, which allows you to include additional folders in the same backup.<\/p>\n![\"CTA\"](\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/5442029\/a517fd49-a215-4771-a61d-d355da642ebf.png\")
<\/a><\/span><\/span>\n<\/div>\n![\"WP](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Full-System-Backup-WP-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWindows Server 2008 System Restore Point with Windows Server Backup<\/h2>\n
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\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image1-2.png\")
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\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image3-2.png\")
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\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image2-2.png\")
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\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image5-2.png\")
\nWe suggest using the local volume<\/b> as \u201cthe first line of defense\u201d, since you may need to recover the system when the network is not available - for example, if faced with NIC driver-related issues.<\/p>\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image4-2.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
Windows Server 2008 Restore Point with MSP360 Backup<\/h2>\n
\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image7.png\")
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\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image6-1.png\")
Since there is no local folder connected, let\u2019s create one. Click Add new Storage Account<\/b>.<\/p>\n
\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image9.png\")
\nClick OK - now you can select local storage as the backup target.
\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image8.png\")
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\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image12.png\")
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\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image10.png\")
\nLeave the Use block level backup checkbox<\/b> enabled to minimize the subsequent backup size by only copying those data blocks changed since the last backup session. Proceed to the Schedule<\/i> screen leaving the rest of the options on their defaults.
\nClick Recurring to set the backup schedule on the regular basis.
\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image11.png\")
\nNote: you can avoid running out of a backup window by selecting the Stop the plan if\u2026 option, so MSP360 Backup will stop its job if something goes wrong and the backup hangs up.
\nClick Edit schedule and set the desired recurrence.
\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image13.png\")
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\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image14.png\")
<\/p>\nSummary<\/h2>\n