Backing up to a sandisk 8 gb cruzer

PattiChati · 05 Dec 2010

I have been writing before in a different forum that had kind of died out. I just bought a Cruzer Blade USB flash drive, 8 gb, to back up my computer - windows 7.
It still doesn't like it. I cannot get an external hard drive and this wasn't that expensive. It says to please insert a d/dvd/or usb drive. Well I did that and it gives me an error to insert a dvd. Why wouldln't I be able to back up on an 8 gb back drive.
All I want to back up is my data anyway and not sure how to get just that.

linnemeyerhere · 05 Dec 2010

The computer see's the inserted usb drive correct? Remember what drive letter it's assigned and copy and paste the data you want directly to it, if needed create a folder in the usb for the data.

Tepid · 05 Dec 2010

I personally do not ever recommend flash drives as a backup medium.
They are not reliable. They have a life span and do go bad.
External Hard Drives are always highly preferred.

However,,, what application are you trying to use to run a back up?
If you are using Windows Back up, it may not like backing up to a Flash Drive,
They are seen as Removable Media. I am not completely familiar with Windows Backup so can not say for sure.
But if that is the case, then the flash drive may not work. Or it may be too small?

The other option is drag and drop

whs · 05 Dec 2010

I have made images to USB sticks using Macrium. Provided the stick can hold the image (which is a bit more than 50% of the data you want to image), it will work.

PattiChati · 05 Dec 2010

I put the usb in and go to computers and it doesn't even show up there that I have a usb drive in. I tried a DVD and it worked, but I would much prefer to use a usb. When you say which application am I using. I just put in the usb,, go to my "pictures" and tried to drag and drop except there was nothing there.. So I don't know if I used a program.

PattiChati · 05 Dec 2010

It is an 8 gb usb

PattiChati · 05 Dec 2010

linnem - when I go to computer is does not recognize a usb

parabellum · 05 Dec 2010

Open the start menu, right click on computer, then manage, then disk management. Do you see 8GB of unallocated space?

whs · 05 Dec 2010

That is strange. Normally it would first install the driver (you see a ballon on the bottom right) and then Autoplay should come up. Did you tra another USB port?

PS: The advantage if you image the data is that it gets compressed and you can fit appr. twice as much data.

PattiChati · 05 Dec 2010

yes parabellum I saw the 8 gb of unallocated space.
I was just trying to drag my documents which are 3 gb onto this usb and it says it will take 22 hours?????