Full SYstem Backup

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Just Trufles

I a not very computer savvy so I need some help. How do I back up my entire
system? I have a new computer because the one I am using is on its last legs
and I need to back up quite a bit( I have a business). Do I have to go thru
each individual folder or is there an easier way?
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
 
I a not very computer savvy so I need some help. How do I back up my entire
system? I have a new computer because the one I am using is on its last legs
and I need to back up quite a bit( I have a business). Do I have to go thru
each individual folder or is there an easier way?
Click to expand...

1. Hard disks are now so big and so cheap that no one uses
special backup software any more, except perhaps to copy to
tape or DVDs for storage off site.
2. Hard drive manufacturers now offer good software to copy
(accurately with checking) all hard drives with contents. This
is convenient for purchasers of a new hard drive.
3. Contents of a hard drive usually include:
3a = (operating) system information
3b = Installed applications, as configured and customized.
3c = data files
You need to back up 3a only if you have reason to fear a
crash and want to reboot from a good drive immediately.
See "cloning."
Everybody needs to back up 3c; it saves time to back up
3b as well: but if you get a new operating sytem (e.g. Win7)
it may require you to reinstal and reconfigure your apps --
unless #1 (HDD manufacturer's special copy software) does
this for you.

To transfer data (3c) from an old to a new PC, if both boot
OK, you can connect them directly via the NIC (Internet
connector) using a special cable, thus copy whole drives
from one PC to another.
 
Just Trufles said:
I a not very computer savvy so I need some help. How do I back up my
entire
system? I have a new computer because the one I am using is on its last
legs
and I need to back up quite a bit( I have a business). Do I have to go
thru
each individual folder or is there an easier way?
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Click to expand...

Yes, there is a much better way. Get a program that makes
an image of your system. One such is Acronis True Image.
Get a removable hard drive, that you can connect any time
you want to a USB port on your new machine. Make your
backup image on the removable drive. The documentation
for the program you get will tell you how to recover your
system. An image contains the complete contents of your
machine's C: partition (or any other partition you care to
back up), byte by byte with no exceptions. If you recover
from an image, your system will be exactly as it was when
you made the backup.
 
Just Trufles said:
I a not very computer savvy so I need some help. How do I back up my
entire
system? I have a new computer because the one I am using is on its last
legs
and I need to back up quite a bit( I have a business). Do I have to go
thru
each individual folder or is there an easier way?
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Click to expand...

If you are getting a new computer, you don't need to back up your entire
system, in fact it is pointless.

The new system is going to have a new OS and new installs of apps, so you do
not need to back up those.

You do need to back up your data - email and documents, etc.

You can often attach the old system's hard disk to the new machine (even via
USB adapter) and simply copy the data over.

You do need to understand where your data is.

If you dispose of the old system, keep the hard disk. This will allow you
to retrieve any data that you missed, and prevent others from accessing it.

Imaging programs like Acronis TrueImage work very well for backups, and are
not expensive. And, do not use 'flash' thumb type drives for backups.
these have a tendency to suddenly and irretrievably fail. Use an external
hard disk or DVDs instead.

HTH
-pk
 
Just said:
I a not very computer savvy so I need some help. How do I back up
my entire system? I have a new computer because the one I am using
is on its last legs and I need to back up quite a bit( I have a
business). Do I have to go thru each individual folder or is there
an easier way? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Seagate Replica

Buy one, use it, be happy.
 
Just said:
I a not very computer savvy so I need some help. How do I back up
my entire system? I have a new computer because the one I am using
is on its last legs and I need to back up quite a bit( I have a
business). Do I have to go thru each individual folder or is there
an easier way? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Wait - you are moving data - not just backing up. Still suggest the Seagate
Replica...

However - for your solution for what you are about to really want to do...

Get the new computer and use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard or the
Windows Easy Transfer Wizard to transfer *your* files and folders and
settings *after* you have installed the necessary applications (Office,
graphics applications, whatever) onto your new computer.
 
If this is the first time you have heard of the word "Backup" then you need
to start from basics. First learn to backup only the data you have created
yourself like your documents, emails, pictures and website favourites. To
do this, buy a USB flash drive of say 4GB and then simply copy all these
things on to it. then make a habit of backing up every week so that you get
into the habit of doing this as part of your routine.

Once you have mastered this and you can keep to this schedule, you can back
here in a months' time and we shall teach you how to make a "backup" of the
entire HD so that in the unlikely event of a total disaster, you can get
back to business almost instantly in about 30 minutes. you will then need
to buy an external HD.

hth
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backup

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_data_storage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_backup_software

Each of the above links contains links to many more areas of details.

IMO starting right off with an imaging backup program is best. Then back up
the entire computer for recovery in a catastrophic failure event, or just a
folder or a file. Norton Ghost and Acronis True IMage seem to be the most
popular here, and a longer list of possibilities can be found in the last
link above. Then just set the imaging program to backup up things on a full
backup say every month with daily incremental backups in between.

NOTE: AFAIK there are no simple "copy" programs that can back up the OS
because the OS always has files that are "in use" and which won't be allowed
to be copied. So any program you use must use VSS services in order to back
up files that are in use. Using VSS is typical in all backup and imaging
programs but it's always best to check if you don't know for sure.

HTH,

Twayne`

In
 
:>1. Hard disks are now so big and so cheap that no one uses
:>special backup software any more, except perhaps to copy to
:>tape or DVDs for storage off site.

Or incrementals.

Perhaps you only need the current and previous (or last backup). Others may
want multiple versions of objects.

--
Binyamin Dissen <[email protected]>
http://www.dissensoftware.com

Should you use the mailblocks package and expect a response from me,
you should preauthorize the dissensoftware.com domain.

I very rarely bother responding to challenge/response systems,
especially those from irresponsible companies.
 
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