Computers for dummies (me!): How do you backup your hard drive?

Klorox · 06-15-2007, 08:38 AM

My Wife and I had a pretty bad scare with losing all of our important information this past week.

Looks like everything is okay, but I'd like to avoid the stress of anything like that ever happening again. I've always taken a "it'll never happen to me" attitude about losing my hard drive, so I never learned how to back it up.

What's the best way to back up my hard drive?

TIA

Harkoliar · 06-15-2007, 08:49 AM

havent tried it yet but here is what ive found. its up to you to test if it you can
http://free-backup.info/

ZFR · 06-15-2007, 08:59 AM

Best way is buy an external HD or an HD pocket and regularly copy all your important documents.

Bungleau · 06-15-2007, 09:03 AM

I'll agree with ZFR. I picked up a 320GB external hard drive and backed up the important stuff there.

'Course, I waited to do that until my machine blue-screened on me a couple of times, couldn't find the OS, and wouldn't boot...

It does help to keep the important data in one spot... I've got a personal documents folder (not My Documents, one *I* control) and an install folder. All installation source (downloads, etc.) goes into the install folder and gets run from there... very handy having it all in one spot.

Klorox · 06-15-2007, 10:19 AM

How much does one of these external hard drives cost? BTW, 320 GB is a lot more than my computer has (I believe it's only about 80 GB), so a smaller (ie: cheaper) one would probably work just as well for me.

I'll try that when I get home Harky!

Bungleau · 06-15-2007, 11:34 AM

I picked mine up at the CompUSA closing-down-the-store sale for around $150. I think it was normally $200 or so.

As for it being a lot bigger than your current HD, probably true. The laptop I needed it for only had an 80GB hard drive.

My new laptop, however, has a 250GB hard drive... so buy it not just for today, but for tomorrow as well. 320GB could keep several copies of your hard drive if needed...

johnny · 06-15-2007, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Klorox:
How much does one of these external hard drives cost? BTW, 320 GB is a lot more than my computer has (I believe it's only about 80 GB), so a smaller (ie: cheaper) one would probably work just as well for me.

I'll try that when I get home Harky!

Yep, 320 Gig would be a little ridiculous if your regular harddrive is only 80, but the choice is yours of course. An external harddrive costs pretty much the same as a regular one, or not much more anyway. Below is a link to a site with different brands which is good for price comparison.

http://www.superwarehouse.com/extern...rives/c2b/2361

Klorox · 06-15-2007, 01:06 PM

Thanks again guys. How do you go about actually copying a hard drive? Do you have to copy a file at a time, or can I choose to copy the entire thing all at once?

Callum · 06-15-2007, 01:26 PM

You can choose to copy the whole thing at once... but if you actually mean the entire hard drive it probably won't work. You can copy whole folders at a time though...

To back up the entire thing, windows has a backup tool (under accessories > system tools).

T-D-C · 06-15-2007, 08:13 PM

There are a few imagin programs that will create a full image of your HDD backing up everything (System Setting, files etc)

Click here for info on the solutions that the company I work for (Symantec) offer.

There is also a product called BackupExec System Recovery for Desktops that is quite good as well but this is aimed at out Corporate Customers (I still use it at home though)

All of this can be backed up to a external HDD or DVD.

06-15-2007, 08:38 AM	#1
Klorox Symbol of Cyric Join Date: August 21, 2004 Location: USA Age: 49 Posts: 1,168	My Wife and I had a pretty bad scare with losing all of our important information this past week. Looks like everything is okay, but I'd like to avoid the stress of anything like that ever happening again. I've always taken a "it'll never happen to me" attitude about losing my hard drive, so I never learned how to back it up. What's the best way to back up my hard drive? TIA __________________ Baruk Khazad! Khazad ai-mênu! "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."-- Edmund Burke

06-15-2007, 08:49 AM	#2
Harkoliar Jack Burton Join Date: March 21, 2001 Location: Philippines, but now Harbor City Sydney Age: 42 Posts: 5,556	havent tried it yet but here is what ive found. its up to you to test if it you can http://free-backup.info/ __________________ Catch me if you can..

06-15-2007, 08:59 AM	#3
ZFR Legion Symbol Join Date: February 14, 2002 Location: Ireland Age: 40 Posts: 7,368	Best way is buy an external HD or an HD pocket and regularly copy all your important documents. __________________ ZFR

06-15-2007, 09:03 AM	#4
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	I'll agree with ZFR. I picked up a 320GB external hard drive and backed up the important stuff there. 'Course, I waited to do that until my machine blue-screened on me a couple of times, couldn't find the OS, and wouldn't boot... It does help to keep the important data in one spot... I've got a personal documents folder (not My Documents, one I control) and an install folder. All installation source (downloads, etc.) goes into the install folder and gets run from there... very handy having it all in one spot. __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.

06-15-2007, 10:19 AM	#5
Klorox Symbol of Cyric Join Date: August 21, 2004 Location: USA Age: 49 Posts: 1,168	How much does one of these external hard drives cost? BTW, 320 GB is a lot more than my computer has (I believe it's only about 80 GB), so a smaller (ie: cheaper) one would probably work just as well for me. I'll try that when I get home Harky! __________________ Baruk Khazad! Khazad ai-mênu! "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."-- Edmund Burke

06-15-2007, 11:34 AM	#6
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	I picked mine up at the CompUSA closing-down-the-store sale for around $150. I think it was normally $200 or so. As for it being a lot bigger than your current HD, probably true. The laptop I needed it for only had an 80GB hard drive. My new laptop, however, has a 250GB hard drive... so buy it not just for today, but for tomorrow as well. 320GB could keep several copies of your hard drive if needed... __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.

06-15-2007, 01:06 PM	#8
Klorox Symbol of Cyric Join Date: August 21, 2004 Location: USA Age: 49 Posts: 1,168	Thanks again guys. How do you go about actually copying a hard drive? Do you have to copy a file at a time, or can I choose to copy the entire thing all at once? __________________ Baruk Khazad! Khazad ai-mênu! "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."-- Edmund Burke

06-15-2007, 01:26 PM	#9
Callum Symbol of Cyric Join Date: October 21, 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Age: 36 Posts: 1,143	You can choose to copy the whole thing at once... but if you actually mean the entire hard drive it probably won't work. You can copy whole folders at a time though... To back up the entire thing, windows has a backup tool (under accessories > system tools). __________________ [img]\"http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4763/callumavataranimated4ff.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

06-15-2007, 08:13 PM	#10
T-D-C Ironworks Moderator Join Date: October 26, 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 44 Posts: 4,416	There are a few imagin programs that will create a full image of your HDD backing up everything (System Setting, files etc) Click here for info on the solutions that the company I work for (Symantec) offer. There is also a product called BackupExec System Recovery for Desktops that is quite good as well but this is aimed at out Corporate Customers (I still use it at home though) All of this can be backed up to a external HDD or DVD. __________________

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