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    What files to NOT Back up?

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by Justitia, Aug 1, 2006.

  1. Justitia

    Justitia Notebook Evangelist

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    I did not know what forum to post this question in, so I am posting it here.

    I finally got my external hard drive and being still relatively new to XP, I was trying to figure out what I should not back up. What I recall is to not back up anything in the Program Files and nothing from the Windows files, but all else is a go. Is that correct.

    I wanted to post a screen shot of my directory, but I don't know how to do a screen shot. Can anyone tell me how to do that? (I know someone told me before a while back... but I can't find the post.)
     
    Justitia, Aug 1, 2006
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  2. saturnotaku

    saturnotaku Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    To take a screen shot, just hit the print screen key and paste it into an image editing program. If you don't have one, download Paint.NET, which is freeware.

    Far as your backup question goes, if I were you, I would invest in a program like Symantec Ghost or Acronis True Image. Those can take a snapshot of your entire system and back up the image to a partition on your hard drive and/or CD/DVD media. This way you don't have to worry about what files to store where. I have True Image and it's saved my butt on a couple occasions.
     
    saturnotaku, Aug 1, 2006
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  3. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    I would just get the entire My Documents folder and save that, along with any other files you have on the drive. Also, transfer your saved game files (if you play games).
    Backing up the Program Files and Windows wouldn't do you any good, correct.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Aug 1, 2006
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  4. eclecticdoode

    eclecticdoode Notebook Consultant

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    Hey-o, this thread should be helpful for me too. I'm heading to law school in about two weeks and many people are getting external hard drives (or using their ipods) as a back up for their files. Is this really necessary or could any 1GB flash drive work? Would it be as reliable as a hard drive?
     
    eclecticdoode, Aug 1, 2006
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  5. Gautam

    Gautam election 2008 NBR Reviewer

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    Just a rec - IMO - I keep my data files in a separate file away from My Docs (a nuisance) since I know personally of viruses that attack My Docs and eat it.
     
    Gautam, Aug 1, 2006
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  6. Gautam

    Gautam election 2008 NBR Reviewer

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    Arguably, the flash drive is a lot more solid, predictable and better for storage. No moving parts means a lot less can go wrong with your data.

    Keep in mind that the large ipods (not shuffle or nano) are NOT flash, and storing files on it would be the same as doing so on an external HD
     
    Gautam, Aug 1, 2006
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  7. SVTWannabe

    SVTWannabe Notebook Consultant

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    Just make sure none of your programs save anything you have worked on into a default subdirectory of that particular program. I know I lost a few downloads when wiping out one hard drive and after realized it saved it under C:\Program Files\<name of program>\...etc.

    If you know you have certain files you need to keep like Word or mp3s, then you can also search the computer. But I would recommend using those ghosting programs to assist. Or, if you have the time just back up everything onto DVDs so you'll have an additional record of files (never hurts to have duplicate data).
     
    SVTWannabe, Aug 3, 2006
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