Make a backup copy of a USB stick - how it works
If you store important files on a USB stick, it could be useful to make a backup copy of it. We'll show you how to do it best.
USB stick backup copy with USB Image Tool
The free program "USB Image Tool" has everything you need to make backup copies of USB sticks and also upload them back to the stick.
- Download the tool from our download area. Then unzip the ZIP file to a location of your choice.
- Now open this folder and start the "USB Image Tool.exe" as administrator. To do this, right-click on the file and select the second menu item "Run as administrator".
- Select your USB device in the left column. Not only USB sticks work here, but also MP3 players or some external hard drives.
- You can still select "Device Mode" or "Volume Mode" above the left column. With Volume Mode, only the selected partition is backed up. For example, no boot partitions are saved with a USB stick with an operating system. In device mode, the entire stick is simply saved. If you are unsure, choose Device Mode.
- Now click on Backup and select a storage location. Then the backup copy begins.
Restore backup copy of a USB stick
- Open the "USB Image Tool" again as administrator.
- Select the USB stick in the left column and click on "Restore".
- In the next window, select the backup copy and start the process.
Tip: You can alternatively try out the free software "O&O AutoBackup", which automatically compares your USB stick. By the way, Mac users don't need any other tools. The hard disk utility is sufficient here. Simply follow this practical tip because the procedure is the same for CDs and USB sticks.