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Post by Angelstardust on Jan 13, 2009 18:00:11 GMT
What is the best method to back up my hard drive (including settings etc)? Step by step, please.
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Post by mikkh on Jan 14, 2009 0:02:22 GMT
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Post by Angelstardust on Jan 14, 2009 10:21:05 GMT
Thanks, Mikkh.
The reason I asked is that I've had this machine for a few years and it serves my purpose well, but I feel that maybe the hard drive should have a format sometime soon, as it has never been done.
There is also the need to have the backup in case of emergency.
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Post by mikkh on Jan 15, 2009 7:24:29 GMT
Yes a fresh format always helps, it's amazing what crud lingers on your drive - even after you think you've uninstalled the program(s) A fresh install is also the ideal time to install service packs with little risk of mishaps.
The ideal way (IMO) is to have a small Windows partition (15 GB (ish) for XP or 25 GB (ish) for Vista) and use the rest of the drive for data and backups.
If you don't fancy doing it yourself, a local technician shouldn't charge more than £40 to partition it and do a fresh install for you [/size][/font]
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Post by Angelstardust on Jan 15, 2009 10:04:30 GMT
So if I have a partition, one would only have the OS in - programs etc in the rest?
Sorry if I sound a bit dumb.
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Post by computing50yrs on Jan 15, 2009 10:58:09 GMT
The idea is having a separate partition for your operating system XP (C: drive) with all its up-dates etc applied. You use any other partitions for your data (pictures documents and anything else you cannot afford to lose. (D: and any other hard drives or partitions)
Then in in a case like now when you want to reformat and reinstall your operating system, all your data is safe as you are only changing the basic part of your PC.
If you have a large enough hard drive then you could have a 3rd partition where you can physically backup the C: drive into it (there are free programs which will make a copy of your C: drive onto another partition.) Then if you get a failure of the C: partition with your operating system, then you can restore the copy back.
Graham
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Post by mikkh on Jan 15, 2009 20:00:39 GMT
No, you put all your most frequently used programs on C, stuff like an Office type suite, CD/DVD burning programs and the obvious stuff like security programs and drivers. If you play commercial games, you should install those to D though, because they consume huge chunks of your HD
If you also move the paging file to D and turn off hibernation, you will get a very managable sized backup that will fit on a DVD or another partition - or even a USB 'pendrive'[/size][/font]
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Post by Angelstardust on Jan 16, 2009 9:58:24 GMT
Now I'm getting confused.
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