backup

C

csdoliveira

New Member
Hi,

is the backup feature in window XP efficient in case my hard drive would go bust and is there any possibility to get my information back afterwards. Maybe I sould use an external hard drive ? I really do not know how should get this issue resolved. Cheers.
 
To make any kind of backup that's independent of the main hard drive, you'll need another storage medium or device. An external hard drive will be fine. Then you need to decide what you want to back up. In most cases, that just amounts to anything that's irreplacable, so documents, music, if you have a huge list of Internet Explorer favorites, etc. Provided you have the system disks, you don't need to make a backup of the whole computer, just the personal documents and settings since the installation was new. In the event of a disk faliure, you can reinstall the Operating System and drivers from the system disks, and then just replace your personal documents and settings afterwards.

If you're using the Windows backup utility, where are you saving the backup to at the moment?
 
There is a windows backup utility in Start>All programs>Accessories>System tools.

Yeah What I would do is invest in a second HDD and either have it external or as a slave drive.

Or if you dont have loads of stuff just back up to DVD or CD.
 
magicman said:
To make any kind of backup that's independent of the main hard drive, you'll need another storage medium or device. An external hard drive will be fine. Then you need to decide what you want to back up. In most cases, that just amounts to anything that's irreplacable, so documents, music, if you have a huge list of Internet Explorer favorites, etc. Provided you have the system disks, you don't need to make a backup of the whole computer, just the personal documents and settings since the installation was new. In the event of a disk faliure, you can reinstall the Operating System and drivers from the system disks, and then just replace your personal documents and settings afterwards.

If you're using the Windows backup utility, where are you saving the backup to at the moment?
Click to expand...

I am saiving it in D:/ , but will I able to recover it in case my hard drive goes bust. Because I have a parition already set in c: and D:. Are they interelated in case one goes bust? I just want to make sure that the Windows backup utility is fine enough to face any eventual problem ? Cheers
 
magicman said:
To make any kind of backup that's independent of the main hard drive, you'll need another storage medium or device. An external hard drive will be fine. Then you need to decide what you want to back up. In most cases, that just amounts to anything that's irreplacable, so documents, music, if you have a huge list of Internet Explorer favorites, etc. Provided you have the system disks, you don't need to make a backup of the whole computer, just the personal documents and settings since the installation was new. In the event of a disk faliure, you can reinstall the Operating System and drivers from the system disks, and then just replace your personal documents and settings afterwards.

If you're using the Windows backup utility, where are you saving the backup to at the moment?
Click to expand...

Because I have partion already divided into two, I am saiving my backup in the d:/ drive. But about the d:/ is it interaled with c: if this one goes bust or there is no risk? Cheers
 
You may have 2 partitions, but it's on the same physical drive. You can think of the hard drive as a CD, with the two partitions as two 'tracks'. It's still the same CD, and if it snaps, both tracks are lost. You need to backup to a physically different hard drive, whether it's an external one, or a seperate internal one. Backing up from one partition to another on the same drive gives you no protection from hard drive failure at all.
 
magicman said:
You may have 2 partitions, but it's on the same physical drive. You can think of the hard drive as a CD, with the two partitions as two 'tracks'. It's still the same CD, and if it snaps, both tracks are lost. You need to backup to a physically different hard drive, whether it's an external one, or a seperate internal one. Backing up from one partition to another on the same drive gives you no protection from hard drive failure at all.
Click to expand...

What do u mean by backup to a separate internal one!? DOes this mean that I need to use the windows backup facility? cheers
 
What do u mean by backup to a separate internal one!?
Click to expand...
Im guessing you only have ONE INTERNAL HDD in your PC at the min that has two partitions.

You could add a second HDD into your PC internally! so you have one separate HDD just for backing stuff up on.
 
You haven't said whether you're talking about a laptop here or a desktop pc, but I assumed you was talking about a desktop. Usually a desktop pc has space in the case for at least one more hard drive. They look like this, but unless you have someone who's technologically savvy to help you install it, I would buy a USB external hard drive as your backup drive.

When you have the drive installed and functional, you can use the windows backup utility no problem. All that utility does is help you choose the things to backup, and let you decide where to copy the files to. Where it copies to is up to you. I would start looking for something like this, it'll plug into a USB port, and it should most likely give you enough storage for all the backup you will ever need.
 
ghostfacesuk said:
Im guessing you only have ONE INTERNAL HDD in your PC at the min that has two partitions.

You could add a second HDD into your PC internally! so you have one separate HDD just for backing stuff up on.
Click to expand...

Ok, but i am just wondering how to add a second HDD in my laptop in there is only place for one!? But i like the idea. cheers
 
Ahhh its for a laptop, your probably best of getting a External HDD to back your stuff up. The good thing about a external one is you can get a USB caddy and put the HDD into it, and pretty much use it on any PC that had USB.
 
Yup that's not really an option, I was assuming you had a big desktop pc, not a tiny laptop. Go with external USB my friend.

You're in the UK aren't you, so PC World would be a good bet, or Maplin, or if you want to buy online, dabs.com or even amazon.co.uk
 
magicman said:
Yup that's not really an option, I was assuming you had a big desktop pc, not a tiny laptop. Go with external USB my friend.

You're in the UK aren't you, so PC World would be a good bet, or Maplin, or if you want to buy online, dabs.com or even amazon.co.uk
Click to expand...

I have heard that PC world are pretty expensive. SO I am just wondering if the windows backup has got any utliity!!?

By the war Do you know where can i get Search in Serials, Cracks, Key generators for clone cd/dvd as i have downloaded from limeware (with the owner authorization!) cheers
 
I suggest you refresh your memory of the Forum Rules:
1. Posting/discussion about software cracks, serial no's, and illegal downloading and duplication of software is prohibited.
Click to expand...
This is your one and only warning. In answer to your question, I'm not sure what you're asking. You need to buy an external hard drive, and then use the windows utility to copy files to it. I don't think that can be any clearer.
 
hi,
so I have 2 partions on one hard drive and windows backup utility where i chose the place to save things. BUt waht 's the point in having to 2 partions if one my hard as if it goes snaped i will not be able to get back what i saved let say in d:/. DOes it make my laptop more effiicient or something!? cheers
 
It's just a way of organising your files. Some people like to have one partition for music and documents, and the other for the operating system files and installed programs. You can think of the two partitions as two high-level folders on the same drive. It's the same thing. I'm not sure how your laptop came to have 2 partitions on one drive, whether you bought it second hand as it was or whether you asked the manufacturer to make it like that. But one physical drive, as I've said, doesn't offer any protection from failure. You need that external backup drive.

Edit: I see you were asking before how to use Partition Magic, so I guess you wanted to split the drive up. It doesn't help protect your files from failure.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top