Backup D Drive? How to Back Up Any Drive in Windows

If you are asking “backup D drive?”, the direct answer is: yes, you can and should back up your D: drive, and Windows includes built-in tools that let you do it without third-party software. The D: drive is usually a secondary partition or a separate hard drive, and backing it up means copying its files to another location so you can restore them if the drive fails, gets corrupted, or is accidentally wiped.

Formula

The calculator above computes running pace and speed from a finish time and distance. The formulas are:

• Average pace (min/km) = finish time in minutes ÷ distance in kilometers
• Average speed (km/h) = distance in kilometers ÷ (finish time in minutes ÷ 60)

Variables:

• t – finish time in minutes (e.g., 50 min)
• d – distance in kilometers (e.g., 10 km)

Pace tells you how long it takes to cover one kilometer; speed tells you how many kilometers you cover in one hour.

Worked Example

Using the defaults: t = 50 minutes, d = 10 km.

1. Pace = 50 ÷ 10 = 5.00 min/km
2. Speed = 10 ÷ (50 ÷ 60) = 10 ÷ 0.8333 = 12.00 km/h

So a 50-minute 10K means an average pace of 5:00 per kilometer and an average speed of 12.0 km/h.

Why Back Up the D: Drive Specifically

Many Windows PCs come with a C: drive for the operating system and a D: drive for recovery, data, or extra storage. People often store documents, photos, games, or downloaded files on D: to keep the system drive uncluttered. But a D: drive is just as vulnerable to hardware failure, malware, or accidental deletion as C:. If the drive dies, everything on it is gone unless you have a backup. Backing up D: also protects you if you need to reinstall Windows and the installer formats the whole disk.

How to Back Up D: Drive with Windows Built-in Tools

Windows 10 and 11 include two native backup options that can target the D: drive:

File History

File History is designed for personal files. It can back up any folder on any drive to an external drive or network location. To set it up:

1. Open Settings → Update & Security → Backup (Windows 10) or Settings → Accounts → Windows backup (Windows 11).
2. Click Add a drive and choose an external drive.
3. Click More options → Add a folder and select the D: drive (or specific folders on it).
4. File History will automatically copy files on a schedule (default every hour) and keep versions.

Backup and Restore (Windows 7)

This legacy tool can create a full system image or a file backup. To use it for D::

1. Open Control Panel → Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
2. Click Set up backup and choose a destination (external drive or network).
3. Choose Let me choose and tick the D: drive.
4. Follow the wizard; it will back up the selected files on a schedule.

These tools copy files, not the entire drive structure, so they are best for data. For a full drive image (including installed programs), you can use Create a system image in the same Control Panel tool, but it will include C: as well.

Third-Party Backup Software Options

If you want more control—like scheduling, incremental backups, or drive cloning—third-party tools are common. Free options include:

• Veeam Agent for Windows – free for personal use, supports file and volume backups.
• Macrium Reflect Free – creates disk images and clones drives (note: the free version was discontinued in 2024, but older versions still exist).
• Cobian Reflector – a lightweight file backup tool.

These tools typically let you select the D: drive as a source, choose a destination (external drive, NAS, or cloud), and set a schedule. Always read the documentation to confirm the free version’s limits.

What to Back Up vs. What to Skip

Not everything on D: needs the same treatment. Here’s a practical breakdown:

• Documents, photos, videos, spreadsheets – back these up; they are irreplaceable.
• Game installations – you can usually re-download them; skip them or back up save files only.
• Program files – reinstall them; do not back up installed software as a file copy because it won’t work after restore.
• Windows system files – if D: contains a recovery partition, you don’t need to back it up separately; the manufacturer provides recovery media.

A good rule: back up anything you cannot recreate or re-download. If you are unsure, back it up.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

People often make these errors when backing up D:

• Backing up to the same physical drive – if D: is a partition on the same disk as C:, writing a backup to C: or D: won’t help if the disk dies. Always use a separate physical drive or cloud.
• Forgetting to schedule – a one-time backup goes stale. Set a daily or weekly schedule.
• Not testing the restore – a backup you can’t restore is useless. Occasionally try restoring a few files to a test folder.
• Ignoring encryption – if D: has sensitive data, use BitLocker on the backup drive or a tool that supports encryption.

How to Choose a Backup Destination

Your backup destination should be reliable and separate from the source. Options include:

• External hard drive – cheap, fast, but can be lost or damaged. Keep it unplugged when not backing up.
• Network-attached storage (NAS) – good for multiple PCs, but requires setup and a network.
• Cloud storage – off-site, protected from local disasters, but requires internet and a subscription for large amounts.
• Second internal drive – convenient, but if it’s in the same PC, a power surge could kill both.

A common strategy is the 3-2-1 rule: keep 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media, with 1 copy off-site. For D:, that might mean a local external drive plus a cloud service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I back up D: drive to an external hard drive?

Yes, that’s the most common method. Windows File History and Backup and Restore both allow an external drive as the destination. Just plug it in, select it as the backup target, and the software will copy the files.

How long does a D: drive backup take?

It depends on the amount of data and the speed of the destination. A first full backup of, say, 100 GB to an external USB 3.0 drive might take 30–60 minutes. Subsequent incremental backups are much faster, often seconds to a few minutes.

Is backing up D: drive the same as cloning it?

No. A backup copies files (or creates an image file) that you can restore selectively. Cloning creates a bootable exact copy of the entire drive, including the operating system, on another drive. Cloning is useful if you want to replace the drive, but for everyday data protection, a backup is sufficient.

What if my D: drive is a recovery partition?

If D: is a manufacturer recovery partition, you don’t need to back it up separately. The recovery tools are already on the drive. However, if you delete it, you may lose the ability to reset Windows. Check your PC’s manual for how to create recovery media.

Can I back up D: drive to cloud storage?

Yes. You can use OneDrive, Google Drive, or any cloud sync service to mirror specific folders on D:. For a full drive backup, services like Backblaze or IDrive offer continuous backup of all drives, but they usually require a subscription.

Does File History back up the entire D: drive?

File History only backs up folders you explicitly add. It does not back up system files, installed programs, or hidden partitions. For a full drive image, use a disk imaging tool instead.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0 | 100000
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2