Do I need to do a backup?

[Bazingle]

Thinking of trying Windows 8 free 90 day trial. But I hear it replaces Windows 7 and you can't just go back to W7 after the trial has ended. My question is, what do I need to do before trying this W8 Trial that will allow me to go back to W7 after it has ended.

Thanks a lot

 

[AddRAM]

Create a system image of W7 on another partition or on an external hard drive.

Don`t bother with W8, it`s garbage, and you`ll be switching back.

It`s like using 7 with a different look, a terrible look. JMO

 

[caperjack]

hi, i think you best option would be to look at installing it in virtual drive .unlike addram i'll let you decide for yourself ,not everyone hates it ,i actuall like it ,so go forth and enjoy
Running Windows 8 from a VHD (Virtual Hard Disk drive)

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

You should already be making frequent backups, anyway. Definitely, you need to before making any major changes.

 

[essenbe]

You should already be making frequent backups, anyway. Definitely, you need to before making any major changes.

+1 It should be a routine.

 

[LittleJay]

You should already be making frequent backups, anyway. Definitely, you need to before making any major changes.

+1 It should be a routine.

I totally agree with making frequent backups and/or system images a routine. They have saved me having to do a clean install of windows on more than one occasion.

 

[mjf]

Of course backing up is essential. On the matter of making a system of your Windows 7, upgrading to Windows 8 I wonder if an image restore back to Windows 7 could cause activation issues. That is I wonder if your Windows 7 key is excluded after an upgrade. Other members may be able to comment.
Given it's a trial you should be fine. Installing the trial on a different internal HDD may be better or in a VM as recommended by WHS.

 

[whs]

Probably your easiest option is to install it in VMware Player. I run my Windows 8 on VMware from an external USB attached SSD. Runs beautifully and is very fast. It's worth trying for a couple of months. Then you will know whether you like it.

VMware Player - Install Windows 8

One of the advantages of installing it on an external SSD (not HDD, too slow) is that you can use it on different systems.

 

[Kari]

Create a system image of W7 on another partition or on an external hard drive.

Don`t bother with W8, it`s garbage, and you`ll be switching back.

It`s like using 7 with a different look, a terrible look. JMO

So now after you got the Gold Member badge you feel you are the supreme authority capable of telling The Absolute Truth?

One of the most arrogant, uninformative, full of BS statements I have ever seen on the SF!

I feel sorry I congratulated you for the Gold Badge. This post alone put you in my ignore list.

Bye. Kari

 

[mjf]

Thinking of trying Windows 8 free 90 day trial.

Me too but perhaps not the trial because I think I'd need longer to play around now and again.
I think it's sort of ok for people to have passionate views but I'm with you...try it and see.

 

[janemary]

can a 10 mini laptop do this?

 

[whs]

can a 10 mini laptop do this?

Do what ??

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Create a system image of W7 on another partition or on an external hard drive.

Don`t bother with W8, it`s garbage, and you`ll be switching back.

It`s like using 7 with a different look, a terrible look. JMO

So now after you got the Gold Member badge you feel you are the supreme authority capable of telling The Absolute Truth?

One of the most arrogant, uninformative, full of BS statements I have ever seen on the SF!

I feel sorry I congratulated you for the Gold Badge. This post alone put you in my ignore list.

Bye. Kari

Uh, he did qualify his response by saying it was just his opinion (JMO).

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

can a 10 mini laptop do this?

Your link was flagged by WOT as being unsafe. Mayhap you could spell it out for us cowards who don't to go to a dodgy site.

 

[whs]

The link is OK. But it is an Android 2.2. mini laptop. I wonder what the OP is up to. That is a real antique in Android terms. The current release is 4.2 Jelly Bean - and 5.0 Key Lime Pie is lurking around the corner.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

WOT gives it a very poor rating in three of four categories (the fourth is merely poor). Being the old coward I am, I prefer not to continue on to such links.

I was wondering the same about the OP.

 

[mjf]

What is it you are wondering about the OP? Sure it looks like a cheapy PC thing I personally wouldn't touch but it is Norton secured site
Thanks for the info on the WOT plugin. I installed it for Firefox and it does warn about the site. Without this I'd have no idea it was a suspect site........So who do you believe?

 

[gladson1976]

WOT gives it a very poor rating in three of four categories (the fourth is merely poor). Being the old coward I am, I prefer not to continue on to such links.

I was wondering the same about the OP.

Given that the Op has joined very recently and 2 out of the total 3 posts are links to the same site , I'd say its ads.

http://www.sevenforums.com/search.php?searchid=3841508

 

[DavidE]

Given that the Op has joined very recently and 2 out of the total 3 posts are links to the same site , I'd say its ads.

http://www.sevenforums.com/search.php?searchid=3841508

This link does not work for me, here is what i see when I click on it.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
Simple answer : YES

Doesn't matter what you are doing -- ALWAYS HAVE BACKUP - BOTH OS AND DATA - and have more than one on a SEPARATE DEVICE.

I read of one unfortunate member on this Forum who made several backups of his data on to a 3TB external drive - and after he'd accidentally deleted a lot of his music library he wanted to restore it again -- Guess what - when he plugged in his 3TB drive the power blew up and he was stuck !! -- Back to re-ripping several 000's of CD's again !!!!.

In this case the data was salvageable since these external HDD drives are usually standard SATA HDD's fitted with a power supply and a USB==>SATA adapter. Breaking open the case the disk could be restored by simply removing the HDD and fitting to the MOBO as an internal drive (you can get new enclosures to keep the disk as external if required too).

He was lucky in this case -- but if the disk had become totally defective -- what then -- so always keep important data backed up to MORE THAN 1 DEVICE.

Cheers
jimbo