Hi Snick!
Thank you for replying to me!
I hope you don't mind a lot of words---as everything you say is 100% great and I have responses to ask for more details!
First some missing info I learned not to print the first time as it makes the initial question longer:
1. I have Macrium too.
2. I got both recommendations to use Macrium as well as AOMEI
I use both. I'm very upset with most of the backup programs out there since I lost (yes lost) Norton Ghost on this computer. Norton Ghost always let me (without mounting or any difficult procedures! or dangerous for my data) peek into the saved "box" and check and see if everything I saved was there....
3. I always ask, after I saved the entire computer system ---I don't do incrementals for fear that the auto erase if data gets too large will take out an "incremental" just because I miscounted the GB available on my External HD by even 1 GB (I have it set to 5 GB as 1 GB is the minimum for Macrium anyway).
4. I've not been able to back up AOMEI since two years ago when version 3 came out and I wrote to them twice to help me and because I don't use the secret password or correct account number or license number they never replied to my requests for help in getting the License number
(((((((((SUCCESS! You recommended: Belarc Advisor for me to use and I will do that as long as the review ---it seems legit--no PUP's on the install so I can get the license number and I'l just use the AOMEI Download of 4.2 that appears on my screen when I attempt to use the AOMEI)))))
(((THANKS!!! I rep the second reply as I can only do one I should have thanked also the first one but the rule here is only one until I do 10 others if I recall))))
5. I am always worried that my saved backup won't work when I have to actually "DO" it.
And of course....if the computer is "dead" and can't communicate for help here over the Internet, how am I by myself...supposed to restore a backup ....when I've never done that! And I can't ask anyone because its not by "phone" its by an Internet posting board connection... So I'd be forced to say no money to having a real life data restorer do that for me (after I spent all these years saving and re saving more and more data over and over again...
6. Don't say "never happens".....already happened. With an iPad, the sync worked for years, every month updated it....sometime during last year or two it failed to save correctly. Looks OK from the outside.. "Sync was successful" Just like the PC says "Backup created successfully"
But when trying to restore it....says "files corrupted " You can't restore the backup!
So I'm an upset , unhappy camper.....Why am I wasting hours every month backing up computer(s) I have a few older ones i still use...when I can lose it all....even if I save the last 2 or 3 o 4 copies! as never actually tested them for restoration properties
7. So I only have Macrium for the past few years while I struggled to figure this out.... Just one system and unless I mount the drive and unmounted it properly without corrupting the data in the process I can't check the insides to see if its ok (plus how many hours it takes me to confirm drive size, starting ending cylinder (haven't used that important terminology for a few years sorry if I mumbled while typing it here) and all that data stuff manually that Norton Ghost did automatically for me....
8. Ok enough background I am sure I missed a lot...onto your posts! (Great work thanks!)
Post Number #2:
I wrote my responses in between your lines:
No idea what you are referring to! Let me hazard a guess? You think because my name is crazy and refers to my first question here about using XP VM on a Windows 7 Machine that I'm still using XP on the Windows 7.... Left that for Oracle Virtual Box long ago...
Now what happens is that I'm unable to continue using AOMEI as there is an update that I can't install as I said earlier, because I lost my license Email location.
*But you solved that with your use of Belarc Advisor
Here is more of your quote:
Sounds perfect for me! For everyone else I looked it up:
Here for all is a review of
Belarc Advisor v8.6. and links to it too
https://www.lifewire.com/belarc-advisor-review-2625784
Thank you for doing this for me.... I always think I don't follow the easy to follow instructions properly as I never seem to see what others write they see! On to Post Number #3!
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Post number #3:
Thanks a second time for link to Rufus! Will definitely use it as all I have is Roxio and ImgBurn....Don't remember which one I used...whichever one pops up in the small window when I insert a DVD and it gives me permanent choices which I never know what to do as no one is helping me choose every single button press here!
(Maybe I should leave computers to someone else who I somehow pay to just press the buttons for me----sigh).
YES! Thanks! What a lead in to my next (unpublished as yet on Windows Seven Forum) question!
I have handfuls of the cheap flash drives sitting on the keyboard....how does one label these anyway? Use a metal etching pen? Takes forever and my handwriting is terrible!!! Pu t them in and out over and over again looking for the right "volume"?
All I've done in past few months of doing that trying to fix broken iPad is ruin one of my 3 USB Ports on the Windows 7 Laptop! Unless I get a hub (Now I got to carry a hub with me everywhere????? ) I will lose use of USB with this computer as always have a mouse (Bluetooth) in one USB as I never got the hang on using the touch pad and click and stop and hove3r and click and you know what I mean....when its "formatting" the entire computer because I hovered too long over "format" when all I wanted to do was "eject" some media or flash drive!! :lol: for real.....so I use a mouse that I can move without clicking automatically.... easy! Makes life using laptop as easy as my old Desktop...
At the moment I don't have more than one Drive! Again you'll have to wait for my next new thread question where I will ask about having multiple drives and worn out USB ports or having a bigger internal laptop drive and all the possible ways that can go very wrong!) future question here on another thread at Windows Seven Forum for more information about mhy terrible choices I have to make without funds!!!
Thanks for Rufus!..... Portable? Doesn't install...does that mean it "doesn't work" or does it mean that it doesn't take up Drive MB/GB space by installing on the HDD? Which is better is not clear to me why I would use one over the other ... I'll have to choose one--probably the built in program so I always have it ready to use with or without the internet working!) Thanks for giving me both choices!! You know how I think!
I was trying to make more than a few backups for my next big "project" on this old 2010 laptop.....more details when I write a long new question---sorry for keep on mentioning it but they are connected and I'll refer back to here when I make the new thread depending upon your replies to my reply if they are useful for my new question!
And thanks for the final words of advice on all your posts:
Patience & Tenacity are virtues, when dealing with Computer issues
I agree! Thanks for your patience in reading my long worded posts!
XP VM USER (the name I got assigned here)