Basic windows 7 system backup questions

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tsp2224

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Hello,

I am new to the forum, and looking for some guidance. I want to back up what is on my laptop to an external hard drive, and what I am wondering is am I able to backup programs? i.e.: Adobe Acrobat 8 Standard, etc. as I do not have the install discs for some programs.
 

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron N5010
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU M 350 @ 2.27GHz
Motherboard
Dell Inc. 0WXY9J
Memory
4.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
(1) LogMeIn Mirror Driver (2) Intel(R) HD Graphics
Sound Card
(1) IDT High Definition Audio CODEC (2) Intel(R) Display A
Screen Resolution
1366 x 768 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
Hard Drives
(1) Hitachi HTS545032B9A300 (2) SD Card

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
Will this backup programs as well? That is my main concern as I don't have the original discs for a lot of the programs. And is the free version adequate?
 

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron N5010
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU M 350 @ 2.27GHz
Motherboard
Dell Inc. 0WXY9J
Memory
4.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
(1) LogMeIn Mirror Driver (2) Intel(R) HD Graphics
Sound Card
(1) IDT High Definition Audio CODEC (2) Intel(R) Display A
Screen Resolution
1366 x 768 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
Hard Drives
(1) Hitachi HTS545032B9A300 (2) SD Card
AOMEI Backupper, Macrium Reflect, just to name two of many, free and pay-for -- all can do full images of your OS partition and your data partition, everything is backed up, nothing is left behind. If you backup a whole HD, you restore a whole HD if you ever need to. If you backup a partition, you restore that partition if you ever need to. Once you pick and do the learning curve, you are good to go :) And, store your full images on your trusted and affordable external media of your choice.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Antec desktop; Acer Aspire laptops
OS
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
CPU
Desktop i5; Acers i5 & i7
Memory
desktop 16GB; 1 Acer 8GB & 1 Acer 16GB
Hard Drives
1TB split into 2 equal partitions [OS and data] usable by RJS
Internet Speed
AT&T DSL
Browser
FF, GChrome, msIE
Other Info
Windows 7 Firewall, Emsisoft AM/AV, MSE [scan-only], SpywareBlaster, Ruiware/BillP combine
No, you can not backup programs, but you can backup the program information (data etc) and the program installer.

As long as you have the key, if the program needs one, you can simply google the program, it`s out there.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Skylake Special #666
OS
Windows 10 Pro x64
CPU
Intel Core i7 6700K
Motherboard
Asus Sabertooth Z170 Mark 1
Memory
GSkill TridentZ RGB 16GB 3600 16-16-16-36
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GTX 980 Ti SC x2
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition
Monitor(s) Displays
AOC G2460PG
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080 144Hz
Hard Drives
Samsung 860 Pro 256GB, Seagate Barracuda 4TB x2
PSU
EVGA 1000 P2, EVGA White Custom Braided Cables
Case
Corsair Vengeance C70 Gunmetal Black
Cooling
Corsair H100i v2, Corsair ML120 x2, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
Keyboard
Logitech G910 Orion Spectrum
Mouse
Logitech G700s
Internet Speed
Verizon Fios Quantum Gateway 75/75
Antivirus
Windows Defender, Malwarebytes Free 3.8.3
Browser
Chrome
Other Info
Corsair SP120 x4, LG Blu-ray Drive, Durabrand HT-395 100 Watt Dolby Digital Amp, Corsair H2100 Wireless 7.1 Headset
tsp2224 said:
as I do not have the install discs for some programs.
Click to expand...

That's a serious problem you need to resolve ASAP.
The main function of a backup is to be able to fully rebuild the system in case of a disaster, and that will include reinstalling every piece of software you can possibly use. Having a backup copy of all the installers is the way to go to ensure you'll always be able to restore your computer.
Personal data is the other fundamental thing you need to backup. It's even more important, as it's often impossible to get it again from another source (say, family photos, your work documents, anything important). Those two things are the bare minimum you need, everything else is an extra.

Having the installers is important because that's how you can be sure you can reinstall everything. At some point in the future, when you need to reformat, it might be still be available for download, but nobody can warrant that, or maybe there is a newer version that you don't like, or just has disapeared. A local copy eliminates all those problems. So set off to find a copy of all installers you consider important.

A full disk image is a quick and easy solution, but far from ideal in all cases. It's nice while building a good backup set, and is useful when you want to revert a very concrete problem provided you know the exact cause. When you have more severe problems at the root of the OS, soon or latter, you'll want to do a full reformat (for example, in case of virus strike or a major OS update), and in those cases, you need to reinstall everything too.
 

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Toshiba Sattelite A665-S6092
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
CPU
Intel Core i7-740QM
Memory
8 GB DDR3
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 330GT
Screen Resolution
1366x768
Hard Drives
Samsung 840 SSD 500GB
1TB USB3 external HD
Cooling
Coolermaster Notepal U3 notebook cooling pad
Internet Speed
3mbps ASDL
Antivirus
ClamWin 0.98.7
Browser
Opera 12.17 x86 (main), Firefox 38 (sec), IE11 (last resort)
tsp2224 said:
Will this backup programs as well? That is my main concern as I don't have the original discs for a lot of the programs. And is the free version adequate?
Click to expand...

If you use Macrium Reflect (free version) it will image your whole partition, everything. When you need to restore it will take about 15 minutes. This will restore all of your OS, Programs and Data. It will restore all of what is on your HD.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 32-Bit - Build 7600 SP1
CPU
Intel Core i3-2120 3.30Ghz
Motherboard
Asus P8Z68-V LX Intel Z68 Socket H2 ATX
Memory
Kingston 4 GB DDR3 1333 mhz
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon HD6670
Sound Card
Sound Blaster Audigy SE 24-Bit
Monitor(s) Displays
Asus VE228
Screen Resolution
1440 X 900
Hard Drives
OCZ Vertex 3 120 GB Sata 3 SSD ==
Kingston SH103/S3 120 G Hyper X 120 GB SSD ==
Western Digital 500 GB Caviar Green 7200 RPM ==
PSU
Corsair CX600M == 600 Watt
Case
NZXT Apollo - Silver with Clear Side Panel
Cooling
Three 120 mm Fans
Keyboard
Microsoft Natural 4000
Mouse
Microsoft Custom Optical 3000
Internet Speed
AT&T Fiber Optic Wireless Network
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials
Browser
Chrome
Other Info
120 mm Blue LED Fan -- Three Blue LED Lazer Light Sticks
YES, it makes an image of your entire partition.That includes the operating system, programs, eveything. Very simple and quick.


tsp2224 said:
Hello,

I am new to the forum, and looking for some guidance. I want to back up what is on my laptop to an external hard drive, and what I am wondering is am I able to backup programs? i.e.: Adobe Acrobat 8 Standard, etc. as I do not have the install discs for some programs.
Click to expand...

AOMEI Backupper: Data Backup and Restore Software for PC, Laptop and Server
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
AddRAM said:
No, you can not backup programs, but you can backup the program information (data etc) and the program installer. As long as you have the key, if the program needs one, you can simply google the program, it`s out there.
Click to expand...
AddRAM, you are a very wise tech person! I must be missing something that you caught from the thread starting post. Even though I know about backups/restores, I would to learn a little bit more of what you know.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Antec desktop; Acer Aspire laptops
OS
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
CPU
Desktop i5; Acers i5 & i7
Memory
desktop 16GB; 1 Acer 8GB & 1 Acer 16GB
Hard Drives
1TB split into 2 equal partitions [OS and data] usable by RJS
Internet Speed
AT&T DSL
Browser
FF, GChrome, msIE
Other Info
Windows 7 Firewall, Emsisoft AM/AV, MSE [scan-only], SpywareBlaster, Ruiware/BillP combine
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