The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    How to backup a comp?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by M@lew, Oct 13, 2006.

  1. M@lew

    M@lew Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    38
    Messages:
    442
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I have an external HD and I am going to back up my computer before I reformat it. The question is, I have never done this before. Would I use a program to backup my computer onto the HD or could I just copy and paste everything onto it?
     
    M@lew, Oct 13, 2006
    #1
  2. NetBrakr

    NetBrakr Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    119
    Messages:
    1,344
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    First thing, what are you trying to backup? Everything? If so, then formatting is useless. Or just your works?

    JC
     
    NetBrakr, Oct 14, 2006
    #2
  3. M@lew

    M@lew Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    38
    Messages:
    442
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I guess i'm trying to back up everything. I won't put everything back on though. I just don't know what i'll want to put on later, so that's why i'm backing everything up.
     
    M@lew, Oct 14, 2006
    #3
  4. valley

    valley Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    117
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    You can just "drag & drop" most of it. That's how i did all my songs, pictures and documents onto my flash drive. Assuming they are similar. The email addresses i just printed because i couldn't quite figure that one out. Or just buy a Ghost software program. Which I'm told is just a polished up version of a shared document on your XP :D So your still just dragging and dropping :rolleyes:
     
    valley, Oct 14, 2006
    #4
  5. NumLock

    NumLock Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    38
    Messages:
    367
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    yup, just drag n drop (copy paste) all your files. As for your bookmarks and playlists (don't forget the actual mp3s, you'd have to copy paste these) you can export them into txt or xml files and store in the external hard drive and import them later. As for your program keys i suggest you make a note of your registration keys (list them all in a text file) and refer to it later when re installing the programs after a fresh installation of windows. As for contacts you can export that too.

    Use ghost? I take it that it makes an exact duplicate of a HD, so if it copies a cluttered windows installation; it will recreate the same cluttered data on a freshly formatted hard drive. Kinda useless if you ask me.
     
    NumLock, Oct 14, 2006
    #5
  6. M@lew

    M@lew Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    38
    Messages:
    442
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    How do I put all of my keys into a text file? Would I just have to do it by hand?
     
    M@lew, Oct 14, 2006
    #6
  7. Sykotic

    Sykotic Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    29
    Messages:
    436
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I always save the data I really need in My Docs. Make sub directories like my saved, etc, then I just have to drag my docs folder containing all the data I really need. I also use a notez.txt file. Every time I am on the computer and need to save some info I just paste it there.
     
    Sykotic, Oct 14, 2006
    #7
  8. NumLock

    NumLock Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    38
    Messages:
    367
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    copy paste. Don't forget to double check. And have the installers ready (if you lost them then download them now, store in in your external HD so that you have everything set up before connecting to the web (an anti virus program is highly recommended to be installed before connecting to the web).
     
    NumLock, Oct 15, 2006
    #8