AOMEI Backupper Complete Guide: Fail-Free Automatic Backups

If you're worried about losing your files, system, or even the entire disk due to a silly mistake, a virus, or carelessness, AOMEI Backupper is one of the most complete solutions for automating backups without any headaches.It allows you to back up the system, entire disks, partitions, and files, as well as clone disks and automatically manage the space occupied by the backups. When compared to other alternatives, such as Acronis True ImageYou will find different approaches and functionalities that help you choose the best option according to your needs.

In this guide in Spanish I'm going to tell you, step by step and in great detail, How to configure AOMEI Backupper for automatic, reliable, and error-free backupsYou'll see what types of backups it offers, how to schedule them, how the rotation scheme works to erase old backups, how to back up an entire disk, and how to troubleshoot the most common problems users encounter. Let's get started. AOMEI Backupper complete guide: fail-safe automatic backups.

What is AOMEI Backupper and why is it worth using?

AOMEI Backupper is a backup and cloning software for Windows that allows you to protect both data and entire systems.It works on personal computers and in professional environments, and has specific editions for Windows Server when servers need to be covered.

With this program you can create backups of entire disks, specific partitions, the operating system, or simply folders and filesBackup images are saved in .adi format and can be stored in many different locations, making it easy to adapt the backup strategy to each case.

One of the great advantages is that It supports both MBR and GPT disks, internal drives, external hard drives, USB flash drives, NAS devices, and shared network folders.You can also save copies to public cloud services such as DropboxGoogle Drive, OneDrive, SugarSync or CloudMe, integrating local backup with cloud storage.

For the system disk, AOMEI Backupper offers Two very practical options: System Backup and Disk BackupThe first focuses on the partitions needed to boot Windows (system partition, reserved partition, boot partition, etc.), while the second includes all disk partitions, whether system or data.

when you make one Disk backup of the system disk; the restore leaves your computer bootable without needing to reinstall.If you already have a disk backup of your system, you don't need to create a separate system backup, because it's already included.

Where and how to store your backups

One of the typical questions when starting out is where to store the copies. AOMEI Backupper allows you to send backup images to almost any type of destination.provided it has sufficient space and is accessible from the source device.

Amongst the Supported destinations for backups in AOMEI Backupper are:

• Internal drives from the PC itself.
• External hard drives connected by USB or similar.
• USB flash drives.
• CD / DVD, if you still use optical media.
• Shared folders on a network and NAS devices.
• Cloud storage services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, SugarSync or CloudMe.

The recommended course of action, from a safety perspective, is Do not save all copies only on the same disk where the system is located.Ideally, you should combine a local destination (e.g., a USB drive) with a remote one (NAS or cloud) to have more recovery options in the event of serious disasters.

To start and make a copy, You need the computer you're going to perform the backup from to be able to start Windows normally.Or you can boot a WinPE environment created by AOMEI Backupper itself when it comes to restorations or more delicate operations.

Why disk backups are so important

Beyond the technical aspects, it's important to understand why it's worth taking the time to configure all of this. Disk backups are key to the security of your data and to keeping your operating system functional.both in home computers and in business environments.

Among the most important reasons for maintain a strategy of regular backups are:

Protection against data lossA hard drive can be physically damaged, the file system can become corrupted, or you can accidentally delete things. Additionally, malware can destroy or encrypt documents. With a good backup, you can recover your information without any problems.

Disaster recoveryFires, floods, power surges, or theft can render your equipment unusable. Having backups stored on other devices or locations allows you to... restore your data on a new device and move on.

Defense against viruses and ransomwareMany attacks encrypt data and demand a ransom. If you have recent backups from outside the affected computer, you can recover your files without paying and without giving in to blackmail..

System failure recoveryAn update error, a conflicting driver, or a problematic configuration can prevent Windows from starting. If you have done With a system or disk backup, you can return to a working state in no time.avoiding a clean install.

Business or work continuity: in companies, freelancers or users who depend on the PC, Having a well-planned backup plan minimizes downtime and the economic impact of a failure.

Backup types in AOMEI Backupper

To ensure automatic backups run smoothly without space or performance issues, AOMEI Backupper offers three main backup methods: full, incremental and differentialEach one has its advantages and can be combined with different cleaning schemes.

Full backupIn this mode, Each execution generates a complete picture of the selected dataIt is the simplest option, but also the one that consumes the most space and can take the longest when the volume of information is large.

Incremental backupIn this case, the program It creates a full copy at the beginning and, from then on, only saves the changes made since the last copy (whether full or incremental).This significantly reduces the space occupied and speeds up subsequent copies, but the dependency chain is more delicate: each incremental copy depends on the previous one.

Differential backupWith this method, An initial full copy is made, and then each subsequent differential copy includes the changes compared to that original full copy.They take up more space than incremental backups, but are less fragile, since each differential backup relies directly on the full base copy.

In AOMEI Backupper you can define that After a certain number of incremental or differential backups, a new full backup is automatically generated.The set consisting of a full copy and its associated incremental or differential copies is called a backup cycle or backup group.

What is a Backup Scheme and what is it used for?

Over time, backups accumulate and begin to fill up the destination disk. That's where one of the program's most powerful features comes into play: the Backup Scheme (copy rotation)This tool allows you to define automatic rules to delete old versions and keep only the necessary ones.

The AOMEI Backupper backup scheme, also called backup rotation or storage schemeIt is designed to better organize space and prevent backup tasks from failing when the disk is full.

When you enable this feature, The program automatically deletes backup images following rules based on the backup method and the cleanup criteria you select.This way you can have recent copies available without having to monitor or manually delete them.

It's important to know that Configuring only the copy method (full, incremental, differential) and the execution intervals does not, by itself, activate the schemeTo start the rotation, you must explicitly activate automatic backup cleanup within the Schema/Strategy section.

How to create a copy task with a rotation scheme

To have your automatic backups manage themselves, the usual process involves Create a backup task and, within it, activate the backup schemeIn AOMEI Backupper you can reach this configuration in two ways.

Method 1: Configure the scheme when creating a new taskFrom the main interface, go to the tab Support and choose the type of backup you want (file backup, system backup, disk backup, etc.). When defining the task, Click the "Strategy" button to set the rotation scheme and associated options.

Method 2: Activate the scheme in an existing taskIf you already had a backup task created but didn't set a scheme, you can Open the task, tap the three-line icon, and select "Edit backup".From there you will access the section where the rotation and the so-called vault or storage scheme are activated.

Upon entering the Scheme/Strategy section, You can select the backup method (full, incremental, differential), specify how often incremental or differential backups will be performed before a new full backup, and activate automatic cleanup.When you've finished adjusting everything, don't forget to press on Save so that the task uses this configuration from that point on.

Detailed configuration of the backup scheme

The schematic display in AOMEI Backupper is basically divided into two blocks: backup method and automatic cleaningBoth are necessary if you want the rotation to be truly automatic and consistent.

The Step 1: Configure the backup methodYou choose how future copies of that task will be generated. The following options are available:

• Full backupA new, complete copy is always created.
• Incremental backup: first full copy and, afterwards, only changes since the last copy.
• Differential backing: first complete copy and then changes with respect to that initial complete copy.

If you choose incremental or differential, You can select the option that indicates that every certain number of copies (n) a new complete copy is automatically generatedThis value defines the size of each backup cycle: one full copy plus n incremental or differential copies.

For example, in an incremental scheme, If you configure "Perform a full backup every 6 incremental backups", the cycle will consist of 1 full backup + 6 incremental backups.The same applies to differentials with their own configuration box.

The Step 2: Activate automatic copy cleanupYou then select the corresponding option (usually something like "Turn on automatic cleanup backups"). By doing so, The program will begin deleting old versions based on the cleaning method you select later..

Keep in mind some important details about this part:

• If you do not enable automatic cleanup, even if you define the copy method and intervals, the scheme itself will not run..
• For incremental and differential backups, it is mandatory to set the backup intervals if you want the scheme to work.It's not necessary for pure, full copies.
• Once the automatic cleaning option is enabled, The backup task adheres to the copy method defined in the schema, and debugging is performed following the rules associated with that method..

Automatic backup cleanup methods in AOMEI Backupper

Once you have your backup method set up, it's time to decide. how and when old backups will be deletedAOMEI Backupper offers four main cleaning methods: by quantity, by time, by day/week/month, and by space.

The letter is used in the program documentation "n" to refer to the value that you define in each cleaning methodAn important distinction is also made: if you select the option to "Create a full backup and always keep it before running the scheme," an original full backup will be generated that will never be automatically deleted; all others will still follow the cleanup rules.

Quantity cleaning

With this option, the criterion is the number of copies or groups you want to keepThe behavior varies depending on the type of backup:

Full backup: the program It only keeps the last n complete copiesWhen that number is exceeded, the oldest ones are deleted.

Incremental backup: here we talk about copy groupseach consisting of a full copy and several associated incremental copies. The system preserves the last n groupsWhen a new group is created and the total exceeds n, the oldest group is completely removed.

Differential backing: in this case, The last n copies are preserved, first deleting the old differentials and, finally, the complete copy to which they were linked. when it is no longer needed.

Cleaning by time (days, weeks or months)

This method is based on the age of the backupsYou can specify a number of days, weeks, or months, and AOMEI Backupper will take care of discarding versions older than that range.

Full backup: the program It only keeps copies made within the last n days/weeks/monthsThose that exceed that period are automatically deleted.

Incremental backupInstead of individual copies, work with copy groups (full + incremental)Only groups whose last backup falls within the range of n days/weeks/months are saved; groups whose last backup is older are deleted.

Differential backingSimilarly, Copies of the last n days/weeks/months are saved, deleting the older ones.As before, the differentials are deleted first, and finally the corresponding full copy.

Cleaning per day/week/month (combined rules)

This method is somewhat more sophisticated, because It combines a detailed conservation scheme by time periods (days, weeks and months)Basically, it allows you to keep all recent backups, then one per week, and then one per month, for example.

To full backupThe general logic is:

• During the last n days, All copies are kept.
• In the last n weeks, A full copy is kept per week.The oldest ones are removed as the week limit is exceeded.
• In the last n months, A full copy is kept each month.; after n months, the previous ones are deleted.

To incremental backup A similar pattern is followed, but taking into account that each cycle includes incremental steps:

• In the last n days, All copies made each day are saved..
• In the last n weeks, All complete weekly copies are preserved and the oldest ones are removed according to the week limit.
• In the last n months, A full copy is kept monthly, eliminating cycles older than allowed.

To differential support The same idea applies: All backups from the last n days, one full backup with its differentials per week in the range of weeks, and one full backup per month within the established months.

A typical example that illustrates this method well would be configuring, in full copy mode, 7 days + 4 weeks + 6 monthsThat means the system:

• Delete all copies older than 6 months.
• Keep a full copy every month between 6 months and 4 weeks ago.
• It maintains a full copy per week between 4 weeks ago and 7 days ago.
• Keep all full copies made in the last 7 days.

Cleaning by space

The latest modality is based directly on the available free space at the destinationIt is very useful when the disk where you store the backups is not very large.

In this case, AOMEI Backupper It starts deleting old copies when the set space threshold is exceeded....until enough is recovered to store the new copies that are due. It is important to note that This type of space-based cleanup is only supported for differential copies.

When working with this method, each differential backup group includes one full copy and several differential copiesThe program first deletes the differentials in that group, one by one, and when no useful differentials remain, it deletes the entire copy of the group. This prevents leaving inconsistent sets of copies.

Important considerations and notes on the scheme

The outline function has some particularities that should not be overlooked. If you select the option "Create a full backup and always keep it before creating the scheme", you will have an extra full backup that is untouched by automatic cleanup.From there, the rest of the copies will follow the configured rules.

Furthermore, Backups made before activating the backup scheme within a specific task are not automatically deletedIn other words, if you spent some time making backups without rotation and later activate the function via "Advanced" → "Edit backup" → "Backup scheme", the old images will remain until you manually delete them.

Once you activate the option "Enable automatic backup cleanup"The task is subject to the copy method established in the schema, and Scheduled executions and version debugging follow those rules to the letter..

Another limitation to consider is that Automatic cleanup does not work correctly if the backup destination rotates between multiple external drives. (For example, multiple USB drives that you alternate between). In that scenario, the program cannot maintain consistent tracking of all versions.

How to back up a disk step by step

One of the most frequent operations with AOMEI Backupper is the full disk backupThis includes the operating system, boot partition, and data. It's the safest option when you want to be able to recover your computer exactly as it was in case of disaster.

First of all, make sure you have AOMEI Backupper is installed on the computer from which you will make the backup.Basic system backup is free in the standard edition, but for Windows Server computers you'll need the Server or Tech Plus edition, which you can try with a 30-day evaluation version.

Step 1: Start disk backupIn the left column of the interface, enter the section Support and select Disk backupIt is the option designed to cover one or more discs at once.

Step 2: Add the source disks. Click on "Select source" and choose the disk you want to back up. In the pop-up window you can select one or more disks as the source.This allows you to back up multiple disks in a single operation. If desired, change the "Task Name" to distinguish it from other backups you have configured.

You should know that, If you add multiple disks as the source in the same task, you will then have to restore them one by one.Even so, it's very convenient to have them within the same transaction.

Step 3: Select the backup destinationBy default, the program usually suggests the unit with the greatest capacity as a destinationBut you can easily change it. Click in the destination box and choose the path where the image will be saved: local disk, external disk, NAS, or network share.

Tip: You can reuse the "Task Name" field to better label the copy. The program itself can automatically create a folder with that name in the destination and save all the .adi images from that task inside it., a feature that is enabled by default.

Step 4: Configure additional optionsBefore starting the backup, it's worth reviewing the advanced options available for the disk task. Some of the most useful are:

• Programme: allows defining automatic daily, weekly or monthly backupsIn paid editions you also have event-based triggers, such as when you connect a USB drive.
• Strategy / Scheme: here you choose whether incremental or differential backups will be used and how old backups will be automatically deleted to save space.
• Encryption: you can Protect your backups with a password and encryption to prevent unauthorized access.
• Mail notification: useful for Receive notifications of the status and results of backup tasks in your email.
• Command: option to run a precommand or postcommand (scripts or programs) before or after the copy, ideal for advanced automation.
• CompressionYou can determine the image compression level to balance speed and space saving.
• Image division: is used for split very large copy files into smaller fragmentsFor example, if you need to burn them onto multiple DVDs or adapt them to certain file systems.
• Operation priority: leaves you Adjust the priority to make the copy faster or less disruptive to other tasks. of the team.
• Copying methodYou can choose intelligent sector copy (only sectors in use) or exact sector-by-sector copy, which duplicates all the contents of the disk or partition, whether it is used or not.
• backup serviceDecide whether to use Microsoft VSS (Volume Snapshot Service) or AOMEI's own serviceVSS allows you to make backups while you continue using the system without interrupting your work.

Step 5: Run and monitor the copyWhen everything is ready, launches the disk backup taskDuring the process you will be able to see the progress on screen and, if needed, configure the behavior upon completion (shut down, restart, hibernate or suspend the computer) from the icon in the lower left corner.

When the copy is finished, the program will show you a Informative message with an underlined link to review the process detailsAfterwards, the task will be listed on the AOMEI Backupper "home screen", from where you can run it again, modify it, or restore it.

If you go to your chosen destination location, you will see one or more copy images with the .adi extensionThose are the ones you'll use later if you need to restore the disk or extract specific files.

In addition, you have a very convenient feature: You can double-click an .adi file from Windows Explorer to open it and copy specific files, or use the program's own "Explore Image" option to mount it as a virtual partitionThis allows you to recover individual files without restoring the entire disk.

Keep in mind that Disk backup is not compatible with dynamic disksIf your disk is dynamic, you should use the combination of "Partition Backup" and "System Backup" on the volumes that you are actually interested in.

Frequently asked questions and solutions to typical problems

As with any backup software, errors or perplexing behaviors may sometimes occur. AOMEI Backupper documents several common scenarios to help you react quickly. and not run out of copies when you need them most.

Why aren't old copies being deleted despite using an incremental by quantity scheme?

The incremental copy method with quantity cleanupMany users are surprised that old images don't disappear immediately upon reaching the configured limit. The reason is that Incremental backups depend on the full backup and all previous incremental backups in your group.If one in the middle were deleted, the rest would be invalid.

Therefore, AOMEI Backupper does not delete an incremental backup group until it has first created a new, valid full backup group.Once that new set exists, it proceeds to delete the entire previous group (complete + incremental) respecting the quantity you marked.

That's why two full copies appear when you only set up one.

If you notice that they are generated Two full backups despite having configured only one full backup after n incremental or differential backupsThe explanation is usually that you activated the option to "Create a full backup and always keep it before running the scheme".

In that scenario, The program makes an additional complete copy prior to the schematic itself, which is saved as the original version and is never deleted.Then, the scheme starts working as you configured it, creating another full copy and subsequent incremental/differential copies.

The scheme is activated but the old copies are not deleted

If you have activated the automatic cleaning scheme, but Old backups don't disappear when you expect them to.It is advisable to perform these checks:

1. Verify if the erasure condition has actually been reachedReview the scheme settings (quantity, time, space) and compare them with the number and dates of existing backups. Sometimes the threshold that would trigger a cleanup hasn't been reached yet.

2. Check the schema and versions in the interface.Open AOMEI Backupper, click on the task, click the three-line button, go to "Edit Backup," and navigate to the schema section to review it and, if necessary, take a screenshot. You can also use "Properties" → "Versions" to view the associated versions.

3. Check the existing images at the destinationWith the "Advanced" → "Search image" option you can List the backup versions that are in the destination folderIt is important to ensure that you have not manually deleted any intermediate versions, because those that existed before that manual deletion will not be properly tracked within the schema.

4. Confirm if the destination rotates between multiple external drivesIf you are using several external disks in alternating rotation As the destination of the same task, the cleanup scheme will not work correctly, since the application does not see all the copy sets at once.

5. Check if you have modified the cleaning scheme or plan after creating the taskChanging the scheme mid-life of a task can cause Certain older copies may be exempt from the new rules and not deleted as you expect..

AOMEI Backupper does not show the disks when backing up or cloning

Sometimes, when you go into the copy or clone options, you may find that The disk list appears empty or drives are missingBefore assuming there's a serious problem, check these points:

1) Check in Windows Disk Management if the disk looks okayIf the system itself does not detect the disk, the problem is with the hardware, drivers, or connection, not the program.

2) Check the device typeAOMEI Backupper It is not compatible with eMMC storage deviceswhich are common in many tablets. It's normal that they don't appear as a source option for copies or cloning.

3) Check the disk sector sizeIf the disk uses sectors of 4096 bytes per sector (pure 4Kn), AOMEI Backupper does not allow copying or cloning that disk as the source.However, you can use it as a destination for storing backup files. You can check the bytes per sector by pressing Win+R, typing "msinfo32", and navigating to Components → Storage → Disks.

4) Check if the disk is dynamic. The program It does not support copying or cloning dynamic disks using "Disk Backup" or "Disk Clone"In those cases you must resort to copying or cloning the system/partition onto the specific volumes.

5) If you are in an AOMEI Backupper WinPE environment, maybe That environment does not include the necessary drivers to view certain disksIn that case, you will need to recreate the WinPE environment by manually adding any missing drivers.

Error starting backup: problem with the backup service

Another common problem is that, when trying to start a backup or synchronization, AOMEI Backupper displays an error such as "Failed to enable backup service. Please try again or reinstall the software."If the problem persists after uninstalling and reinstalling, check the following:

1) Installation path without semicolonIf you installed AOMEI Backupper in a folder whose name contains a semicolon (;), The service may fail to start upIn that case, reinstall to a more standard path, without special characters like that.

2) ABservice.exe ServiceOpen the Windows Services Manager (Win+R → "services.msc") and Check if the AOMEI Backupper Scheduling Service is runningIf it isn't, double-click and press "Start", making sure the startup type is set to Automatic.

3) ABCore.exe processWithin the AOMEI Backupper installation directory, locate the ABCore.exe file. Right-click and run it as administratorThis can help to properly start the program's core service.

4) Antivirus interference. Add Whitelist ABCore.exe or the entire AOMEI Backupper directory in your security solutionDuring testing, you can also temporarily disable your antivirus to rule out conflicts.

5) Windows Defender ransomware protectionIf you have controlled folder protection enabled, Add AOMEI Backupper as an allowed application or temporarily disable that feature during copying.

The copy gets stuck at 0%

When a task It seems to get stuck at 0% progressIt is quite common for the source of the problem to be, again, the antivirus or another security tool that interferes with access to the disk.

In these cases, Try temporarily disabling your antivirus first and then restart the backup.If that works, add the AOMEI Backupper installation directory or its main executables to the antivirus whitelist and re-enable it. If the block persists, the best course of action is Contact AOMEI support by attaching the logs folder located in the installation directoryso that they can analyze the specific case.

Within the program's own help portal you can find More frequently asked questions and detailed solutions for other less common scenarios, so that you always have a point of reference before you despair.

Setup AOMEI Backupper Having automatic, optimized, and properly rotated backups is perfectly manageable even if you're not an expert.By properly adjusting the backup type, scheduling intervals, and cleaning schedule, you can protect your system, disks, and files from failures, human error, and attacks, while keeping backup space under control and having clear tools to monitor the status of each task.