Important folders to backup from C-drive before cleaning it up

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  1. Posts : 9
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #1

    Important folders to backup from C-drive before cleaning it up


    Hello.
    I'll be cleaning up my Windows computer to give it to my sister.
    I've backed all of my personal data from Drive D.
    But I might've a lot of important data in Drive C too, that I would like to back up.
    I never created any folders there intentionally, so everything that might have been created there is by external programs like web browsers or office softwares.
    And their config files too.
    I would like to back them up.
    The problem is I've not used this system for like a year so I can't recall all the folders I should back up.
    Can you please help me with a list of folders where system saves user data in C drive?
    Cloning isn't an option for me, cause 70% of the storage is acquired by Windows programs that I had installed in the past, and I won't need them for I'll be moving to Windows 10 and a lot of those softwares are really old and now incompatible, and I've their setup files to be on the safe side.




    EDIT:

    I switched to Windows 10 last week.
    The only folders one needs to backup are:
    C:\ProgramData\
    C:\Users\<username>\


    The config files I was querying about stay in:

    C:\Users\<username>\AppData\


    More info on this.
    More reading.



    Thank you all.
    Last edited by Rosaline; 17 May 2019 at 01:12. Reason: Found my solution
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  2. Posts : 6,021
    Win 7 HP SP1 64-bit Vista HB SP2 32-bit Linux Mint 18.3
       #2

    Hi Rosaline,

    Welcome to SevenForums!

    Rosaline said:
    Cloning isn't an option for me, cause 70% of the storage is acquired by Windows programs that I had installed in the past, and I won't need them for I'll be moving to Windows 10 and a lot of those softwares are really old and now incompatible, and I've their setup files to be on the safe side.
    You would most definately need to backup the Documents folder!

    What I would actually do is to make a system image of the HDD. This way, if in the future you are missing an important file, you can mount the system image and retrieve it.

    There are two imaging programs which are very popular among members here, the first is AOMEI Backupper Standard [FREE], and the second is Macrium Reflect [FREE].

    I hope this helps!
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 9
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Paul Black said:
    Hi Rosaline,

    Welcome to SevenForums!


    You would most definately need to backup the Documents folder!
    That's a must, I've had that on my checklist.



    [/QUOTE]
    There are two imaging programs which are very popular among members here, the first is AOMEI Backupper Standard [FREE], and the second is Macrium Reflect [FREE].

    I hope this helps![/QUOTE]
    Thanks, I've tried both of them, they work fine, I've also tried CloneZilla.
    My problem with them is they're not browsable backups, so I would've to mount them for viewing any data, and the data is only accessible by those softwares only and mounting a 250GB image kills my system, a pretty old system.
    They're really great for disk/partition backup and restore though.



    I'm interested in backing up specific folders, like Documents, Downloads, Desktop, some of which I know.
    But I have seen in the past, that there are a lot of other places where user data is stored, pretty deep inside the filesystem.


    One more question though, when you back up AOMEI Backupper or the likes, do you restore everything to the C drive or do you restore only the files that you need from them?
    If selectively, how do you recognise user data?
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  4. Posts : 3,615
    Win 10 x64, Linux Lite, Win 7 x64, BlackArch, & Kali
       #4

    I would create full disk images of both drives to an external hard drive with AOMEI excellent simple user interface & free!
    You know you have everything on the drives and it's all accessable with AOMIE > utility > explore image
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  5. Posts : 9
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Snick said:
    I would create full disk images of both drives to an external hard drive with AOMEI excellent simple user interface & free!
    You know you have everything on the drives and it's all accessable with AOMIE > utility > explore image

    Thanks.

    Yes, I can do that.
    The thing is, it's a 500GB drive(a pretty old one), of which I've already gotten my data backups from Drive D.
    My Drive C is about 320GB, and I don't think I've more than 25GB of personal data there.
    Rest of the data is programs, Windows 7 based, which I already have found replacements in the new computer.
    Hence, I really wouldn't be needing those data(everything except my personal data).
    I could still take a backup, but I would ultimately have to find all those folders that have my data and discard the rest.


    I've previously used AOMEI Backupper and Macrium Reflect, both are real gems, Backupper kind of ahead.
    I had used them because I had to take a backup and wipe the drive and then restore the image to resume like nothing changed.
    The thing is, this time on, I have nowhere to restore that whole image and 'cause I'm switching to a new OS, and 70% of the data in the said image won't be compatible with the newer OS.
    Which is why I need to pinpoint folders where only necessary data is stored.



    I hope you understand.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 3,615
    Win 10 x64, Linux Lite, Win 7 x64, BlackArch, & Kali
       #6

    Rosaline said:
    The thing is, this time on, I have nowhere to restore that whole image and 'cause I'm switching to a new OS, and 70% of the data in the said image won't be compatible with the newer OS.
    Don't have enough info for an opinion on compatibility, more specific please:
    What type of data?
    What newer OS please?
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  7. Posts : 9
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Old OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
    New OS: Windows 10 32-bit
    The programs are almost all 64 bit programs, and whose counterparts are already present in my new Windows 10 32-bit OS.
    The thing is, those 64 bit programs have nowhere to move to.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 3,615
    Win 10 x64, Linux Lite, Win 7 x64, BlackArch, & Kali
       #8

    Why?????? are you going to 32 bit Windows 10?
    Are you going to be using the same computer?
    If so why not just upgrade to Win10x64
    Win 7 Ultimate x64 you can upgrade to:
    Windows 10 Home x64
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    I believe you can still upgrade for free!
    How to Upgrade to Windows 10 for Free in 2019 - Laptop Mag

    Would highly recommend you back up your computer(s) regularly (see my footer).
    I have a 4tb Seagate USB 3.0 I use with AOMEI backupper for 2 computers I have

    Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive USB 3.0 (STGX1000400) $49.99 & Free Shipping
    Larger capacity if you $$ pemits!

    For your thoughts:

    If you have two computers, win7 ultimate x64 and win10x32
    buy an external hard drive
    full disk image ultimatex64 then upgrade to win10 pro x64
    full disk image of win10 pro x64
    full disk image of win10x32
    restore the win10prox64 to the win10x32 computer
    Now everything is win10 prox64 and you have two computers that all your programs and files work on, with 64/32 bit capability!
    Yes, I can help you with an or all if you wish.
    Last edited by Snick; 20 Apr 2019 at 21:48. Reason: add info
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 9
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #9

    I'm really sorry for the confusion.
    I currently have 2 computers, let's name them Computer 1 and Computer 2.


    Computer 1:

    64-bit processor, 8GB RAM, 500GB HDD.
    This is the one I'm planning to give away to my sister.
    This is the one, where some of my old personal data are currently present.
    Current OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.



    Computer 2:
    32-bit processor, 1GB RAM, 256GB SSD.
    This is the one I'm currently using and will be using for 5 more years or so.
    This is the one where all of my newer programs, 32-bit ones, that currently suffice my needs, are present.
    Current OS: Windows 10 32-bit.


    As you can see, I've downgraded, and I'm giving away the powerful one, Computer 1, to my sister.
    You're right, I could upgrade Computer 2 into a 64-bit computer by investing some money, but the truth is I'm cutting off budgets.
    And, I've also seen 32-bit programs are enough for me now, 5 years ago, I needed that extra power and hence Computer 1 was suitable, but things have changed a lot.


    I've a 4TB HDD, and that's almost full, I've a lot of data in there.
    And I do take a lot of backups of my new PC, that is Computer 2, Computer 1 hasn't seen any real usage for a year now.



    So, the Windows 10 64-bit upgrade is what my sister will be getting.


    Thanks for your assistance, in time, I'll be coming up with questions about better backup systems, management techniques and their automation.
    For now, I would need to drill down the folders I think.


    But if you do see any flaws in my thoughts, please let me know, you're far more experienced than me, and I would love to learn from your experiences.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 3,615
    Win 10 x64, Linux Lite, Win 7 x64, BlackArch, & Kali
       #10

    Thanks for the info
    Personally, I'd keep the old one and upgrade to win10x64 pro, full disk image of the new one on ext HDD, and give sis the new one minus your files of course.
    on the backups.
    Questions:

    1. What do you have on your 4TB drive that is so filling?
    2. Is everything compressed?
    3. How often do you backup your computer?
    4. What type of backups do you do?
    5. Full disk image?
    6. Incremental?
    7. Differential?
      My Computer


 
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