--- title: "Performing an Immediate Backup in Retrospect for Windows - Step-by-Step Guide" slug: "performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows-step-by-step-guide" updated: 2026-11-11T17:40:59Z published: 2026-11-11T17:40:59Z canonical: "docs.retrospect.com/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows-step-by-step-guide" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.retrospect.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Performing an Immediate Backup in Retrospect for Windows - Step-by-Step Guide ## **Performing an Immediate Backup in Retrospect for Windows** This document explains how to perform an immediate backup in Retrospect for Windows using Advanced Mode. You will choose your source (files, folders, or entire drives), configure a backup destination, adjust options such as verification and compression, and then review backup results. #### **Step 1: Open the Immediate Backup Function** On the far left navigation pane in Retrospect, go to ****Backup**** and choose ****Backup Now****. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-ydmg4d9a.jpg) If you see the ****Immediate Backup Wizard****, you can use it to create your first backup, or click ****Switch**** to change to ****Advanced Mode****. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-wzebc1nx.jpg) After you click ****Switch to Advanced Mode****, Retrospect will display the advanced backup interface. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-k1d51aly.jpg) #### **Step 2: Select Backup Sources** Go to the ****Sources**** tab and choose what you want to back up. You can select: - Your ****C:**** drive - Disks available on your network (such as a NAS device) - Retrospect clients that you have previously added to Retrospect You can also decide not to back up an entire disk. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-4jl0m570.jpg) To back up only a specific folder, click ****Subvolumes****, then navigate through the folder tree to locate the folder you want to include in the backup. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-x6f29vky.jpg) ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-rjomytld.jpg) Highlight that folder and click ****Define****. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-eli2uo5t.jpg) ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-oclex12q.jpg) Then click ****OK****. That folder (or subvolume) will now become the source for your immediate backup. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-km3uw7tt.jpg) #### **Step 3: Configure the Backup Destination** Go to the ****Destination**** tab. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-gc7u9iw2.jpg) If you have an existing backup set, Retrospect will display it here and you can select it. Otherwise, create a ****new backup set****. You can choose from ****tape****, ****disk****, or ****cloud**** as the backup media. In this example, choose ****Disk**** as the backup set type and click ****Next****. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-fvbu5qyu.jpg) Accept the default backup set name (or change it if desired), then click ****Select**** to choose where the backup data will be stored. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-igb5k387.jpg) In the selection window, double-click ****My Computer****, then highlight the disk you want to use for your backup storage. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-o3gxl4mn.jpg) ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-j3fo1drd.jpg) Click ****OK**** to confirm your storage location. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-3v7xawqa.jpg) Set the ****Use at most**** value to ****99%**** so Retrospect can utilize almost the entire disk for backup space, then click ****Next****. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-m3zgw7bi.jpg) #### **Step 4: Set Encryption, Grooming, and Catalog Location** Decide whether you want to use encryption for your backup set. In this example, leave ****encryption disabled**** and click ****Next****. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-1dnrohvn.jpg) Next, configure what Retrospect should do when the backup disk becomes full. Options include: - ****Ask for a new disk**** - ****Keep a specific number of backups**** - ****Remove old backups**** based on the Retrospect grooming policy In this example, leave grooming ****disabled**** and set Retrospect to ****Ask for a new disk****, then click ****Next****. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-ifga3fu3.jpg) Retrospect will then ask where to save the ****catalog file**** (the index of the data stored in your backup). Choose a suitable location and click ****Next****. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-ltcmxuzd.jpg) Click ****Finish**** to complete the backup set creation. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-66tawmo1.jpg) Select the backup set you just created and click ****OK**** to confirm it as the destination. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-1wp5ihmv.jpg) #### **Step 5: Adjust Backup Options** Go to ****Options**** to configure how Retrospect will perform the backup. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-3vi1mbfr.jpg) Under Options, you can choose: - ****Normal**** backup (incremental) - ****Recycle**** backup (erases the entire backup set and starts over) You can also configure verification: - ****Thorough verification**** - ****Media verification**** - ****No verification**** Additional options include: - ****Block-level incremental backup**** (copies only changed blocks of files) - ****Data compression in software**** In this example, leave ****Thorough verification**** enabled, enable ****data compression****, and then click ****OK****. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-79xp6ldk.jpg) ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-bb5nwa4q.jpg) #### **Step 6: Start and Monitor the Backup** Click ****Backup**** to begin the immediate backup process. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-pmbhm555.jpg) At the start of the backup, Retrospect prepares for ****open file backup****, then scans your drive (or selected folders) to identify which files need to be backed up. If you were backing up the entire ****C:**** drive, Retrospect would include the registry, operating system, and everything needed for a potential disaster recovery. In this example, only one specific folder is being backed up, so you will see Retrospect scan that folder, count how many files and folders are present, and calculate the total size. After scanning is complete, Retrospect begins copying the data. It then prepares to execute, copies your files, saves a ****snapshot**** of your drive (or selected sources) to the catalog file, and finally performs a ****verification**** to ensure that the backup matches the original data. To see what Retrospect is currently doing, click the ****Log**** button. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-kcgm4cki.jpg) The Log window will show: - Total number of files found - Number of files that needed to be copied - Any errors reported during the backup operation ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-97w6z374.jpg) #### **Step 7: Review Backup Contents** When the backup is complete, you can review which files were copied. On the left pane, go to ****Reports****. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-6e7696dj.jpg) Then select ****Session Contents****. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-ehz0eqbt.jpg) Highlight your backup set. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-i36e08ut.jpg) Choose the date and time of the specific backup you want to review. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-cx7pjo6p.jpg) ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-b9gmuymo.jpg) Click ****Browse****. Retrospect will display a list of all files and folders that were included in that backup operation. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-q361ze1x.jpg) ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/performing-an-immediate-backup-in-retrospect-for-windows---step-by-step-guide-image-y7w3sj6h.jpg)