How do you back up a hard drive???

Bird Dog · 08-26-2009, 10:32 AM

I think it's about time I do this. What's a cheap and easy way to do it? All I really care about is my songs, pictures, and videos. Are there other files I should be concerned about? I'm an idiot when it comes to computers so any help would be appreciated.

BarryTurano · 08-26-2009, 10:38 AM

If you have a cd burner copy the files to a CD. If not buy a "flash drive" they will plug into a USB port just drag and drop the files into it and you are done.

clt_capt · 08-26-2009, 10:42 AM

Do you have a cd or dvd burner? If so, I would suggest 2 things -
first make copies of your pics, videos and music to cd or dvd

Second - use a program like ghost from symantec to make an
exact copy of your OS and Apps.

If you don't have a burner, you can pick up an external dvd burner for around $100

DVD holds about 4.5 GB, CD holds 660 MB, so a dvd is preferred if you have a big hard drive.

Bird Dog · 08-26-2009, 10:51 AM

I know I have a CD burner, not sure about the DVD burner but I think I do. I have a 12 GB flash drive but that's not big enough to hold everything. I guess I could put what doesn't fit on CD's? I've got about 2500 songs, almost 4000 pictures, and maybe 100 videos.

clt_cpt, I have no idea what OS or Apps are

BarryTurano · 08-26-2009, 11:02 AM

OS = Operating System Windows XP or God forbid VISTA

Apps = Applications (programs)

Bird Dog · 08-26-2009, 11:12 AM

Gotcha

Thanks for the replies

Reel Fanatic · 08-26-2009, 11:19 AM

Bird Dog-

Get Carbonite at www.carbonite.com. It's brainless and it backs up your computer automatically in the background while you work/ play/ surf. Plus it stores your data offsite so if you ever had a fire or storm that wiped you out, you could download your entire original computer onto whatever new computer you purchased...same settings and everything. It's pretty cheap too. Only $54.00 per year.

Finesse · 08-26-2009, 11:24 AM

I'm saving a backup copy to a portable HD. Just plug it into a usb port and save it to both your hard drive on the computer and the portable HD.

I believe Seagate has come out with a portable HD that will not only work as a storage drive but will also back up your OS and programs.

nautiduck · 08-26-2009, 05:01 PM

With a program like ghost you can use an external hard drive and make a mirror image of the drive and if anything happens you can ghost (burn) it right back onto the old drive or new one if necessary. I would also suggest making several duplicates of picture, music, video, and document files onto good quality DVDs or other media like thumb drive, or media cards. or even a seperate hard drive. If you use DVDs use a good quality and keep them in good covers and out of the light, as they have a tedency to delaminate and degrade.

On a side note does anybody out there have a windows XP Pro cd? Mine has gotten scratched to the point its not readable, and I have been having problems getting one from Microsoft. I have a paid for license I just need a disc. My laptop came with Vista when it first came out and it sucks so I bought a copy of XP now I want to do a complete installation from scratch instead of using my backups and I need a disc. Anybody help?

Reel Fanatic · 08-26-2009, 11:03 PM

Nautiduck-

If you go to the Microsoft website, there is information regarding a free upgrade this October to the OS that is replacing Vista. Vista is such a dog product (I have it as well) that Microsoft is giving the new OS to the poor saps who currently are stuck with it.

From what I have heard, Vista has been the single best selling feature for anyone considering switching to a Mac.

08-26-2009, 05:01 PM	#9
nautiduck I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Rock Hill SC (Charlotte) Posts: 1,272 Credits: 3,847.3 Best Catch: Duckie	With a program like ghost you can use an external hard drive and make a mirror image of the drive and if anything happens you can ghost (burn) it right back onto the old drive or new one if necessary. I would also suggest making several duplicates of picture, music, video, and document files onto good quality DVDs or other media like thumb drive, or media cards. or even a seperate hard drive. If you use DVDs use a good quality and keep them in good covers and out of the light, as they have a tedency to delaminate and degrade. On a side note does anybody out there have a windows XP Pro cd? Mine has gotten scratched to the point its not readable, and I have been having problems getting one from Microsoft. I have a paid for license I just need a disc. My laptop came with Vista when it first came out and it sucks so I bought a copy of XP now I want to do a complete installation from scratch instead of using my backups and I need a disc. Anybody help? Last edited by nautiduck; 08-26-2009 at 05:06 PM.

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08-26-2009, 10:38 AM	#2
BarryTurano Bite me Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Long Island New York/Wilmington North Carolina Posts: 232 Credits: 878.8 Boat: Edgewater 247 cc Home Port: Wilmington NC Best Catch: My wife Mary Ann 10/10/71 Occupation: Printing production manager	If you have a cd burner copy the files to a CD. If not buy a "flash drive" they will plug into a USB port just drag and drop the files into it and you are done.

08-26-2009, 10:42 AM	#3
clt_capt If Ignorance is bliss, Why aren't more people happy? Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Raleigh, MHC Posts: 5,946 Credits: 8,636.1 Boat: Luhrs 36 Home Port: MHC Occupation: Supporting my Tackle habit	Do you have a cd or dvd burner? If so, I would suggest 2 things - first make copies of your pics, videos and music to cd or dvd Second - use a program like ghost from symantec to make an exact copy of your OS and Apps. If you don't have a burner, you can pick up an external dvd burner for around $100 DVD holds about 4.5 GB, CD holds 660 MB, so a dvd is preferred if you have a big hard drive.

08-26-2009, 10:51 AM	#4
Bird Dog Sit down Shut up And fish Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: VA Posts: 581 Credits: 10,118.4	I know I have a CD burner, not sure about the DVD burner but I think I do. I have a 12 GB flash drive but that's not big enough to hold everything. I guess I could put what doesn't fit on CD's? I've got about 2500 songs, almost 4000 pictures, and maybe 100 videos. clt_cpt, I have no idea what OS or Apps are

08-26-2009, 11:02 AM	#5
BarryTurano Bite me Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Long Island New York/Wilmington North Carolina Posts: 232 Credits: 878.8 Boat: Edgewater 247 cc Home Port: Wilmington NC Best Catch: My wife Mary Ann 10/10/71 Occupation: Printing production manager	OS = Operating System Windows XP or God forbid VISTA Apps = Applications (programs)

08-26-2009, 11:12 AM	#6
Bird Dog Sit down Shut up And fish Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: VA Posts: 581 Credits: 10,118.4	Gotcha Thanks for the replies

08-26-2009, 11:19 AM	#7
Reel Fanatic Crab mustard is good Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 711 Credits: 2,536.4 Boat: Grady White 25 Trophy that sits on the hill Home Port: Emerald Isle, NC Best Catch: My lovely wife Occupation: Dental equipment sales and repair	Bird Dog- Get Carbonite at www.carbonite.com. It's brainless and it backs up your computer automatically in the background while you work/ play/ surf. Plus it stores your data offsite so if you ever had a fire or storm that wiped you out, you could download your entire original computer onto whatever new computer you purchased...same settings and everything. It's pretty cheap too. Only $54.00 per year.

08-26-2009, 11:24 AM	#8
Finesse I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 1,232 Credits: 2,302.8	I'm saving a backup copy to a portable HD. Just plug it into a usb port and save it to both your hard drive on the computer and the portable HD. I believe Seagate has come out with a portable HD that will not only work as a storage drive but will also back up your OS and programs.

08-26-2009, 11:03 PM	#10
Reel Fanatic Crab mustard is good Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 711 Credits: 2,536.4 Boat: Grady White 25 Trophy that sits on the hill Home Port: Emerald Isle, NC Best Catch: My lovely wife Occupation: Dental equipment sales and repair	Nautiduck- If you go to the Microsoft website, there is information regarding a free upgrade this October to the OS that is replacing Vista. Vista is such a dog product (I have it as well) that Microsoft is giving the new OS to the poor saps who currently are stuck with it. From what I have heard, Vista has been the single best selling feature for anyone considering switching to a Mac.