Backing up computer

[PattiChati]

Thank you mjf. I wonder how come notices of your replies didn't come to my email when I checked that box. So to start with I would need rewritable DVD's? I do have CD-R. I cannot afford an external hard drive. I remember on xp I think it was it just went back and backed up automatically and you could go to a restore point ifyou did something screwy to your computer. Nothing like that, huh? Don't worry about talking down to me, even your explanation I had to figure out.

Thanks.

 

[PattiChati]

Where is the BACK UP NOW Button and do I need DVD's for this?

 

[mborner]

If you haven't run backup previously, you won't see a "backup now" button. From start/search, type "backup"
and hit enter. If you have previously run backup, this is where you will see the "back up now" button. If you have *not* yet run back up, you will see a button called "set up backup", instead. You need to have an external drive or DVD drive connected before you do the setup. It is strongly recommended that you backup to an external drive. I know you said you can't afford one but backing up to disks is questionable, at best. Do whatever you can to get yourself an external drive. In the mean time, there's always the on-line alternative.

 

[mjf]

Thank you mjf. I wonder how come notices of your replies didn't come to my email when I checked that box. So to start with I would need rewritable DVD's? I do have CD-R. I cannot afford an external hard drive. I remember on xp I think it was it just went back and backed up automatically and you could go to a restore point ifyou did something screwy to your computer. Nothing like that, huh? Don't worry about talking down to me, even your explanation I had to figure out.

Thanks.

When you can afford it, look out for sales. With a thing called USB 3 coming, the USB 2 drives should drop even more. USB 2 externals, smallish (500GB) is fine for you I think. Get the ones without the software on them, they tend to be cheaper. The portable 500GB WD Elements (Western Digital) for doing your backups is a nice little unit. I'd leave it unplugged most of the time - it will last longer.

As for DVDs in the meantime. I haven't had a problem with DVD+R but don't see why DVD-R wouldn't be as good. I'd steer away from the R/W as I've read they are less reliable for backup use. Generally buy the 50 spindle packs since they'll work out cheaper. Of course don't consider CDs.

With DVDs make a smaller number of images say 2-3 and check that the software says something like "image successful".
Remember I spoke about images are different from the general file backups (reread). Do your file backups - you will feed the same DVD for quite a while probably as it keeps adding your incremental backups. Buy one of the special marker pens for writing on the topside of your DVDs.

To get to the page I talked about - type Backup and Restore in the bottom search box.

PS: I asked the Administrator to remove your personal email address you sent. Anyone in the world can see it. Communicate through the Forum.

 

[Maxxwire]

USB 2 externals, smallish (500GB) is fine for you I think.

I've been using a Verbatim Insite 500GB drive every day all day for almost a year now and it has performed flawlessly even when I take it on the road with me. It has already outlasted several WD drives and a Seagate 1.5 TB drive I had in the past performing the same functions...

And its Read and Write benchmarks are acceptable for a USB drive...

~Maxx~
.

 

[PattiChati]

It sounds like you are saying you back it up on the computer itself? Do you? Can I use a usb flash drive to just back up my info - not the programs? I cannnot afford an external drive at this time.

 

[PattiChati]

Backup

Thank you mjf. I wonder how come notices of your replies didn't come to my email when I checked that box. So to start with I would need rewritable DVD's? I do have CD-R. I cannot afford an external hard drive. I remember on xp I think it was it just went back and backed up automatically and you could go to a restore point ifyou did something screwy to your computer. Nothing like that, huh? Don't worry about talking down to me, even your explanation I had to figure out.

Thanks.

When you can afford it, look out for sales. With a thing called USB 3 coming, the USB 2 drives should drop even more. USB 2 externals, smallish (500GB) is fine for you I think. Get the ones without the software on them, they tend to be cheaper. The portable 500GB WD Elements (Western Digital) for doing your backups is a nice little unit. I'd leave it unplugged most of the time - it will last longer.

As for DVDs in the meantime. I haven't had a problem with DVD+R but don't see why DVD-R wouldn't be as good. I'd steer away from the R/W as I've read they are less reliable for backup use. Generally buy the 50 spindle packs since they'll work out cheaper. Of course don't consider CDs.

With DVDs make a smaller number of images say 2-3 and check that the software says something like "image successful".
Remember I spoke about images are different from the general file backups (reread). Do your file backups - you will feed the same DVD for quite a while probably as it keeps adding your incremental backups. Buy one of the special marker pens for writing on the topside of your DVDs.

To get to the page I talked about - type Backup and Restore in the bottom search box.

PS: I asked the Administrator to remove your personal email address you sent. Anyone in the world can see it. Communicate through the Forum.

If I used DVD's, you would just keep using different ones, correct, you couldn't reuse them. Also, if I used a usb flash drive, what size would I know to get?
I tried backing it up on my computer but it woudln't let me, said it wanted a DVD or usb

 

[mjf]

Yes you will keep using DVDs.
It depends but say a full image takes 5 DVDs. So if you make 3 images in the course of a year. You would store away 15 DVDs for a safe recovery.

For Your personal file backups it depends on how much data you have. When you make your first backup it will ask you to keep feeding disks in (probably a couple). Then when you make your next backup the program will ask you to feed in the last DVD until it gets full. Then you need a new one until it gets full and so on.

Regarding USBs, I'll ask someone who uses USBs for backup to answer you. I just use them for folder drag & drop type copying.

PS: In case anyone thinks I'm recommending DVDs for backup - I'm not. Patti advised she's not ready to buy an external HDD yet.

 

[Maxxwire]

Patti advised she's not ready to buy an external HDD yet.

I'm hoping that Santa will see fit to leave an external HDD in Patti's stocking this Holiday Season because I'm sure she deserves one!

~Maxx~
.

 

[PattiChati]

Maxxwire you are sweet. I am recently divorced and live from alimony check to alimony check. A DVD is just a luxury I cannot afford, I would rather eat! Thanks!
Can you tell me one of the bestest, cheapest one?

 

[PattiChati]

backup

I thought that was quick - then I looked at your specs. Pretty fast machine you have.

Windows system image is actually slow in comparative terms - it's the slowest backup app. I have come across.

Not that backup speed matters all that much ( unless you have an enormous amount of data ) . Reliability and flexibilty are more important imo.

How do you know what to backup? Surely it wouldn't be all the programs and can you back it up right on your computer somewhere.

A System Image Backup will include all of the programs on your computer as well as system settings, the 100 MB Win 7 System partition and your factory restore partition as it will show in Backup and Restore. Its fairly quick though I did one earlier this evening with 16.2 GB on the Windows 7 partition to back up and it only took 5 minutes and 22 seconds to complete.

~Maxx~
.

I just want to back up my data ? Does that make a difference in what I use? I am afraid of an external device for fear I will screw up my machine.

 

[gregrocker]

I'd drag my active User folders (Documents, Pictures, Music, etc) to a DVD which holds 4.7gb each. You can get the size ahead of time by looking at the Properties box for each. I would clean up each folder ahead of time of files you don't need so you don't waste any disk space.

Other than the external, a large quantity of data or an image can also be sent across the network to another computer if that is an option for you.

 

[mjf]

Patti,
when we started we discussed the backup options. If you must use DVDs (because of your cost constraints) the procedure was given. For images which are a snapshot of your PC try one out. All you have to loose is waste a few DVDs. Windows is just as fast as some of the others which are more complicated.
The file backups which we also talked about are a bit slow with Windows but will usually get the job done.

For USBs I suggested drag and drop folders. If you don't want to use the regular backup that comes with Windows you can drag and drop to DVDs as well. Just when you put in a new CD/DVD windows will ask how do you want this formatted. Select format as a USB.

Remember drag and drop method of backup requires you to keep more of a record when files or folders have been changed and need to be copied.

 

[applepie]

Hi Patti,

Just check the flyer for Staples and they have the USB thumb drives on sale for $10 on the 4GB and up. I have bought two USB drives on sale from Staples.

 

[Maxxwire]

Patti- I've gotten some great deals on USB Flash Drives at both Office Depot and Office Max. I've purchased several 16 GB Toshiba Flash Trans Memory Drives that benchmarked in the 30 Mbps range for write time and backed up an entire Drive Image to it with room to spare. If you keep an eye out this Holiday Season you are sure to find some affordable Flash Drives that are suitable to use as backups.

~Maxx~
,

 

[applepie]

Patti- I've gotten some great deals on USB Flash Drives at both Office Depot and Office Max. I've purchased several 16 GB Toshiba Flash Trans Memory Drives that benchmarked in the 30 Mbps range for write time and backed up an entire Drive Image to it with room to spare. If you keep an eye out this Holiday Season you are sure to find some affordable Flash Drives that are suitable to use as backups.

~Maxx~
,

This is very good advice Maxx.
Thank you for sharing.

 

[pparks1]

It sounds like you are saying you back it up on the computer itself? Do you? Can I use a usb flash drive to just back up my info - not the programs? I cannnot afford an external drive at this time.

If that is the case, i would suggest getting a USB flash drive that you just plug in and then drag and drop the files that you want backed up. By all means, at least do this. While images are NICE...if you have the original OS discs and software you can always just reinstall the OS if worse comes to worse. But your personal files.....when those are gone...they are gone.

These drives go for as little as $6 for a 2GB drive at NewEgg.com.
Newegg.com - Patriot X-Porter 2GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model PSF2GUSB

If you need more space then here is a 4GB for $7 at NewEgg
Newegg.com - Patriot 4GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model PSF4GMUSB(Blue)

Here is an 8GB crucial for $16
Newegg.com - Crucial 8GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model JDOD8GB-730

And here is a 16GB OCZ Rally drive for $39
Newegg.com - OCZ Rally2 16GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive Model OCZUSBR2DC-16GB

 

[mjf]

It sounds like you are saying you back it up on the computer itself? Do you? Can I use a usb flash drive to just back up my info - not the programs? I cannnot afford an external drive at this time.

If that is the case, i would suggest getting a USB flash drive that you just plug in and then drag and drop the files that you want backed up. By all means, at least do this. While images are NICE...if you have the original OS discs and software you can always just reinstall the OS if worse comes to worse. But your personal files.....when those are gone...they are gone.

These drives go for as little as $6 for a 2GB drive at NewEgg.com.
Newegg.com - Patriot X-Porter 2GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model PSF2GUSB

If you need more space then here is a 4GB for $7 at NewEgg
Newegg.com - Patriot 4GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model PSF4GMUSB(Blue)

Here is an 8GB crucial for $16
Newegg.com - Crucial 8GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model JDOD8GB-730

And here is a 16GB OCZ Rally drive for $39
Newegg.com - OCZ Rally2 16GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive Model OCZUSBR2DC-16GB

After all of the above posts I think this one is probably where you are at.
Get a deal on your USB & drop & drag your personal documents/folders.

 

[PattiChati]

if you never do an initial backup when you first use win 7 the the action center has a flagged message as a reminder ,you can turn the reminder off by clicking the flag, then open Action center then on the window for the backup alert click the turn off message about backups link

I cannot find the window for the backup alert. I got to the action center and that was it. I had tried to back up right on my computer, and it didn't work, so I wonder if that has something to do with it. Should I back up on USB flash drives or an external hard drive (which are so expensive). I don't want to have to remember to back it up, I want it to back up automatically according to when I have it set. Thanks.