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Windows 10 doesn't offer sufficient backup features. I'm thinking about using a virtual Windows 7 machine as file backup. Is this a good idea?

I can't imagine how that would work. If you think that you can simply move the OS from a virtual machine to a physical one, or vice versa, then you are mistaken.

A virtual machine is an emulation of a physical machine, but it does not emulate the physical machine you are using. It has its own motherboard, video card, network card etc. Its installed OS is quite different from the one on the host.

I would look at one of the free image backup programs like Acronis or Macrium.

Do you know of any other software that has something similar to the shadow copy feature? The shadow copies my OS creates are all corrupted for some reason.

If "shadow copy" refers to the ability to back up your PC live without having to shut it off and boot to a different environment, then many modern backup softwares can do it. Bill recommended a couple. The one I like to use is Macrium Reflect (free for personal use).

I use Macrium Reflect too. Works very nicely.

Mallocin wrote:Windows 10 doesn't offer sufficient backup features. I'm thinking about using a virtual Windows 7 machine as file backup. Is this a good idea?

No, that doesn't make any sense, simply because Windows 10 contains all backup features of Windows 7, as well as those of Windows 8. Additionally, the Windows 10 features are more current and wbadmin e.g. supports 4k native drives, which it doesn't with Windows 7. So simply don't waste your time with nonsense. If you have problems with Windows 10 backup, ask more specific questions on that topic, using Windows 7 instead is a waste of time.