how to back-up

  • Thread starter Thread starter simbo
  • Start date Start date
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simbo

please could you help me do a back-up copy of my pc
programs. i have had to empty my pc out and use the
reboot discs,losing all my previous stuff. how can i do a
back-up so i dont have to try to remember what programs,
updates etc i had in before.

any help is very much appreciated

thank you
 
Please define "emptied my PC." If that means you've already removed
everything, then it's too late. And just to be clear, if you are planning
on starting clean, then you should reinstall each application not restore
from backup for the best results.
 
by 'emptied i meant used the 'restore discs'. this was a
while ago and i have now got many more programs i dont
want to lose if i have to use the discs again.

thank you
 
Did those applications not come with their own installation disks? The thing
about which users should be the most concerned is their data. If wish to
avoid the drudge of reinstalling your application whenever you feel the need
to use the recovery disks, what you should do is start with a clean install
which I assume the recovery gives you. Then install your applications, your
updates and drivers. Once done, you need a good imaging application such as
Norton Ghost or PowerQuest's Drive Image, now owned by Symantec to image
this clean setup and either keep the image file on a separate partition or,
ideally, copy it to a DVD if you have a DVD burner as such a disk should be
able to hold an image file.

Then, in the future, when you run into a situation you need to resort to
such drastic measures, restore the image file, then restore your data. It
can be done in probably a total of 30 to 45 minutes with very little
required of you. Obviously, setups evolve and you may periodically wish to
make new images to accommodate when you currently have installed as well as
to allow for things you no longer use. Ideally, you would create an image
early. If you are having issues now and are thinking of using your recovery
disks, this is not a good time to create an image as issues you are having
may be the result of something you have installed on your setup. That's why
you should start with a clean install, then install your updates, drivers
and apps, make sure things are working as they should, then create the
image. Such an arrangement is a bit of work at first but ultimately, saves
a lot of time and effort, it is often used by beta testers who may need to
get up and running quickly after some calamity caused by problem beta code.

I don't recommend just using backup software to restore your system after
you've run a recovery. Under that circumstance, it's better to reinstall
manually or as outlined above, you can avoid it all, including running the
recovery by using imaging software.
 
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