Most thorough Backup: Use Libraries or Users via copy/paste?

[AlphaX]

Most thorough Backup: Use "Libraries" or "Users" via copy/paste?
For simplicity I prefer to do a copy/paste backup to an external hard drive.
Is it more thorough and effective for me to copy "Libraries" or "Users" to paste to the drive?
I am only want to backup Data.
Data only. Not O.S.
"Libraries" contains: Documents, Music, Pictures, & Videos.
"Users" has is larger in GB.

 

[TwoCables]

That depends on what folder locations are included in the libraries. If all of them are in your Users folder, then it won't make any difference. If some of them aren't, then you'll have an incomplete backup.

 

[whs]

What do you want to backup - user data or the OS.

 

[AlphaX]

Data only. Not O.S.

Data only. Not O.S.
"Libraries" contains: Documents, Musics, Pictures, & Videos.
"Users" is larger in GB.

 

[whs]

For those you can use Copy/Paste (the folders) or this: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/516-context-menu-add-copy-folder-move-folder.html

 

[TwoCables]

You have to compare what folder "locations" are included in your libraries. There may be folders included that are not in your users folder.

 

[whs]

You cannot copy (from) a library. But you can paste to a library - it will then paste into the default folder as shown in the library properties.

You can only copy (from) a folder or file.

 

[TwoCables]

You cannot copy (from) a library. But you can paste to a library - it will then paste into the default folder as shown in the library properties.

You can only copy (from) a folder or file.

Oh hey, I didn't notice that before. No "included" folder can be copied; just its contents!

 

[whs]

You cannot copy (from) a library. But you can paste to a library - it will then paste into the default folder as shown in the library properties.

You can only copy (from) a folder or file.

Oh hey, I didn't notice that before. No "included" folder can be copied; just its contents!

That's correct. If you right click on a library and say 'copy', nothing will happen. But if you say 'paste', the clipboard content will land in the default folder of that library.

However, if you right click on a folder and say copy, it will go to the clipboard.

 

[TwoCables]

You cannot copy (from) a library. But you can paste to a library - it will then paste into the default folder as shown in the library properties.

You can only copy (from) a folder or file.

Oh hey, I didn't notice that before. No "included" folder can be copied; just its contents!

That's correct. If you right click on a library and say 'copy', nothing will happen. But if you say 'paste', the clipboard content will land in the default folder.

What I noticed though is copying an included folder will just copy all of its contents instead.

 

[whs]

That I don't understand - can you explain.

 

[TwoCables]

That I don't understand - can you explain.

Open a Library, right-click one of the folders and choose copy. This copies all of the contents of that folder.

 

[whs]

That I don't understand - can you explain.

Open a Library, right-click one of the folders and choose copy. This copies all of the contents of that folder.

Hmm, maybe I misunderstand. But if I copy folder "xyz" from Pictures library and paste into the Documents libray then I have folder "xyz" in the documents library - if course with all its content.

 

[TwoCables]

That I don't understand - can you explain.

Open a Library, right-click one of the folders and choose copy. This copies all of the contents of that folder.

Hmm, maybe I misunderstand. But if I copy folder "xyz" from Pictures library and paste into the Documents libray then I have folder "xyz" in the documents library - if course with all its content.

Not folders that are inside of an included folder, but the folder locations themselves. I have 3 folders included in my Pictures library. If I right-click and choose copy on one of those 3, then it just copies the contents.

 

[AlphaX]

"Users", having more GB & more folders, I would say contains more data. Otherwise, don't they contain the same data?
If I paste either "Users" or "Libraries" won't the other be created automatically?

 

[AlphaX]

able to copy/paste both "Users" & "Libraries"

I was able to copy/paste both "Users" & "Libraries" w/o any problems.
However, when doing a copy/paste of "Users" I see no need to copy/paste the "NTUSER.DAT" since I was given the window instructing me to turn it off.
I appreciate the input, but have yet to receive a solid straightforward answer to my original question.

 

[TwoCables]

Here's how the Libraries feature works:

Everything you see in there is dictated by what "Locations" (folders) are "included" in each Library. Therefore, it's possible to have "Locations" (folders) that are included that are not in your Users folder. So this also means that it's possible that you have things in your Users folder that are not in any of your Libraries due to simply not being in "included" in any of your Libraries.

Therefore, you need to find out if there is anything in any of your Libraries that is not in your Users folder. You have to compare.

 

[AlphaX]

ok, There is never a simple answer with MS. As has been my experiece since day 1 I am spending more time playing Tech instead of using my LapTop as a tool.
What is the simplest & most concise method to do a comparison?
So far doing both "Users" (w/o USERDAT) & "Libraries" keeps you covered, as long as you have the space to store both.

 

[TwoCables]

ok, There is never a simple answer with MS. As has been my experiece since day 1 I am spending more time playing Tech instead of using my LapTop as a tool.
What is the simplest & most concise method to do a comparison?
So far doing both "Users" (w/o USERDAT) & "Libraries" keeps you covered, as long as you have the space to store both.

You have to compare them manually. If you copy both, then you could end up with a large amount of duplicates.

 

[AlphaX]

I do not understand what you 2 are saying. Now I am more mixed up than ever.
Isn't there a simple answer?