Backing up whole computer

Backing up documents and pics is easy. All you need to do is copy them to a different hard drive. This can be a different hard drive inside your computer, or a USB drive that you hook up to your computer. Any modern drive will have room for a LOT of documents and pics. There are backup programs that will help you keep track of all your backed up docs and pics, but in the end all you're doing is copying them to a different drive, in case the first drive fails.

You also have programs that you use on your computer. These programs have original DVD or CD install disks. You should make sure that those are in a safe place. If you lose or damage the install disk you will likely have to buy a new copy of the program. Just copying the program once it's installed on you computer will NOT work to back up the program.

Windows XP is out of support and if anything happens to the system drive for your computer, you're just going to have to buy a new copy of windows.

There is a way to back up your system drive and all your programs on your computer. It is fairly simple, but requires a HIGH LEVEL of computer knowledge to do properly. This involves making a "Disk Image".

I'm not going to explain how because if you do it wrong you can erase everything on your computer, but if you want a Disk Image you can go to a computer expert and have them do it for you. After they do it you'll have a new hard drive with everything on your computer EXACTLY as it was on the day you had it done. If your system drive fails, all you have to do is replace it with the imaged disk and you are up and running in less than 5 minutes.

If you're really serious about making sure you don't lose pictures and such then you need to save to a DVD, or a CD if you don't need as much space. You're correct that your hard drive can die, and being prepared for it can make it a much less stressful ordeal. :) If all you're concerned with is pictures, you can simply drag and drop those to a DVD. No need to make a big deal out of it.

Saving to a couple different devices is a good idea as long as one of them is a DVD or CD for actual physical storage. USB hard drives can crash too, thumb drives can become corrupted, online storage can go away taking all your data with it. Multiple backups, and multiple types of backups will help ensure that your data survives.

And make sure you store some of the copies of your data offsite, where it won't disappear at the same time your original data does in case of a disaster.

Mountain Mama wrote:
I'm afraid the hard drive will crash one of these days and pics, & docs will be lost. I have just seen (somewhere) on the computer about "computer backup" and I wasn't sure if I needed to do the whole thing or not.

You do not need to backup the entire machine, but you will need to take some time and learn about files and folders. I'm not being condescending, just judging from your wording. Then just hook up a thumb drive and drag and drop them onto it.

Unless we're talking about enough data to produce full length motion pictures, that method will be just fine.

CA Traveler wrote:
DVDs are better if you have a DVD drive. If your backup program does not prompt you for the disc then use another program.

Just saw a 2TB USB3 external drive for $79. You'll likely be buying one before your second backup as disk swapping gets old real fast.

yep, at that price why mess with disks?
bumpy

All of my important data, files, pics are in one folder with many subfolders. I use an incremental program to back up this folder. ie It compares what's on the external hard drive vs this folder and only copies the changed files.

There are various programs and options to do the above but the end result is a quick update after the first backup.

DVDs are better if you have a DVD drive. If your backup program does not prompt you for the disc then use another program.

Just saw a 2TB USB3 external drive for $79. You'll likely be buying one before your second backup as disk swapping gets old real fast.

fj12ryder wrote:
It depends on what program you're using to backup the machine. Not quite enough information to give a detailed answer.

What operating system? How much space do you need to backup to? What program are you using to backup? What are you backing up, i.e. operating system, complete backup, just some files, etc.?

The more info the better.

This is why I have the fear! I'm not sure I can answer all of these questions...It is XP, and we've had computer for several years and I'm afraid the hard drive will crash one of these days and pics, & docs will be lost. I have just seen (somewhere) on the computer about "computer backup" and I wasn't sure if I needed to do the whole thing or not.

I think there is probably a rescue (?) disk that was made when we first got it, so do I just need to back up docs & pics? I hadn't thought of using a thumb drive as I just usually do it on a CD, but can get a thumb drive if that will be better. I have copied docs & pics in the past and need to do it again.

2oldman wrote:
I don't know what a modem has to do with a backup.

I should have said external hard drive...

It depends on what program you're using to backup the machine. Not quite enough information to give a detailed answer.

What operating system? How much space do you need to backup to? What program are you using to backup? What are you backing up, i.e. operating system, complete backup, just some files, etc.?

The more info the better.

I don't know what a modem has to do with a backup.