Hello.

I am rather new to this. Although it's been going on for years. I was recently given a PC on the condition that I back it up for the previous owner. It's Dell, 2GHz, 512MB DDR so not a bad little unit.

But I'm not a PC person and havenn't the foggiest what the standard procedure is to back up one's data. It has a 30GB HD to which I ascertain has about 6GB of personal data on it. I used an MS program to back up user and program settings. Am I on the right track?

This is where the problem starts. Assuming I have all the data packed into one file how on earth do I save it so it can be restored on another PC? It only has a CDRW drive and no burning software at all I can see so I won't be using CDRs!
I thought about ftp'ing the file to my A1 so I can burn it to DVD's but how would I split it? Can the PC split it for me?

I also tried saving to USB on my 4GB flash drive and it didn't seem to take long to write part 1. But would take forever to read on my A1 and would risk a USB freeze going on for that long!

So, guys, what do I do? Leaving this to the experts.

@Hypex
Depends on what the purpose of the backup is! If the previous owner simply wants to get access to their "My Documents" folder (and stuff within it), then that is a lot easier than if they want the possibility to restore Windows exactly the way it was (which would require imaging the entire HD).

Assuming just "My Documents", then I'd suggest ZIPing the entire folder (XP calls these Compressed Folders, and the functionality is built-in to the right menu button). You problem is to then transfer it - you really need a large external USB harddrive, otherwise you will be reliant on finding a suitable program to split the file across multiple CD-Rs or into 2-4GB chunks for your USB drive.

If splitting the file turns out to be too hard, then you could just create two ZIP files, one with half of the files/folders, and another with the other half. That would give you two ZIP files under 3GB, which should fit your USB drive.

To be honest, I don't see why you should have to store the previous owners backup - that should be their responsibility. Let them copy the ZIPs onto their new PC (otherwise why ask it to be backed-up?).

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@Hypex

For 6GB of data I would assume there are some mp3's and some jpeg images, both of which cannot be further compressed. The rest - plain documents etc - are most likely just a few 100MBs so no need to bother with compression.

I recommend copying everything as it is (files and directories) to the USB memory, as much as can fit. Then load it off to your A1, then take the next batch over the USB memory, store it on the A1, until you are done.

Now the data is backed up and you can divide it into useful chunks of directories on your A1 and burn it on CD-Rs or DVD-Rs.

Remember to not delete anything from the PC until you have transferred and burnt all data and tried reading the CDs/DVDs on the PC *successfully*

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Is the previous owner computer literate ? But even then, you could just take off the old HD and install it on his new computer

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José

@Hypex

have a look at drive imaging software like, Acronis True Image Home 2009.

http://www.acronis.co.uk/homecomputing/

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Use an external USB HD and copy the relevant folders........buy one if thats what it takes (you can always use it for yourself afterwards, and who doesn't want an external disc???)

Last edited by Hondo on 03-Jan-2009 at 08:55 PM.

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@Jose

Quote:

Is the previous owner computer literate ? But even then, you could just take off the old HD and install it on his new computer

I assume so. But then I'd lose the harddisk, it's 30GB, the biggest I've got around here is 4GB!

Oh, I forgot to say, it's got XP.

@asymetrix

I use that ... very nice one to have when messing with windows. Also acronis diskdirector is a nice one.

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Another handy tool to use with an external drive is a GPartEd live CD. It allows you to copy whole partitions, and to re-size them without losing data. GPartEd is also free. Just download it and burn it to a bootable CD, and you're good to go.

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@Deniil715
My recommendation of ZIPing was *not* to save space (as you rightly point out), but rather the ease the problem of transferring the folder structure intact. With just one (ZIP) file the problems are mostly much much less, and you know at the other end that the data was transferred without corruption

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@Hypex

HI Hypex, Happy New Year.

If the PC is running Windows XP, it can burn files to CD-RW just like writing to a Floppy. If it's 'My Documents' just drag and drop, file (or groups of files) by file to fill a CDRW, then continue with the next one.

If its not XP, if you have a version of Puppy Linux (or an internet connection, which, as you're posting here, I assume you must have, you can get it from here), you can boot from the CD, remove the disc and use the drive to burn as above.

Last edited by OldAmigan on 04-Jan-2009 at 05:54 PM.
Last edited by OldAmigan on 04-Jan-2009 at 05:53 PM.

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@Aminicle

yes, Acronis software is very easy to use, backs up whole drives exactly to a file or multiple files, with or without compression, validation check.

Supports USB and ethernet now I think.

I used to use Norton Ghost, but the newer versions had compatibility problems and no dos mode/boot at the time.

Acronis boots the cd live and runs the software, I think Linux is running under the hood.

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@Hypex

I just downloaded and used DriveImage XML and it was fast and easy to use..It was recommend by PC Magazine..and it is free..it has good documentation and a video on youtube on how to use it.. www.runtime.org

check it out and I think you'll find it will do what your looking for.

Terry

@Hypex

If the PC runs Windows XP there is a simple solution, File and Settings Transfer Wizard. This copies all the user's data into one file that can then be restored on the new PC.
I use it when re-installing windows as it allows me to copy all my desktop preferences, documents and favorites. Best of all it is included with Windows XP.

You can also use it with Windows 2000 and maybe ME, by using a transfer disc, to migrate to a new PC via a LAN, which I appreciate may not be possible in your case.

Good luck.

@stedy

You could just get one of these:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=225665&doy=4m1&C=SO&U=strat15

or something similar.

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@ChrisH

I understand you are new to this so will explain as best as I can.
Firstly, you say you have 6Gb worth of data to back-up.
We all know how optical media can get scratched and damaged easily which is why it is best avoided.
External hard drives are great... but they are hardly fun are they?
No.. what we need is some good old fashioned MAGNETIC MEDIA.

Pop down to your local market or check eBay for 3.5" Double Density disks.
Make sure they are DOUBLE DENSITY and not the inferior HIGH DENSITY.
Double Density holds less data but is more reliable but you will manage a massive 713kb per disk when formatted under Windows. If you are using XP you will need to use the format double density command to do this.

You will need roughly 4,200 disks to do this, it is worth noting that Amigakit sell packs of 10 for a reasonable price

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