Saving To "Cloud"

[zingo1327]

I've never saved anything to the "cloud" but when my computer crashed last week I lost most of my programs. Some I had on disk (so could reload) but others were free downloads from the internet. It took me ages to locate and download them again. I imagine you would just drag photos and videos to the "cloud" but is it the same with programs (ashampoo,adobe,spybot,etc etc) Thank you in advance

[bednobs]

do you get any free cloud storage with whichever computer you use?
If you don't have free cloud storage, and prefer the "old fashioned" way you might be better considering an external Hard drive that you can attach and back things up that way

[ichkeria]

You don't, as a rule, back up actual software, as in executable program files. That's because these run more reliably if re-installed to a new location.
I keep my installation programs in a separate backed-up folder so if need be I can re reun them
And just back the data up.

[Buenchico]

The vast amount of software needs to be 'installed' before it can be run, which involves making changes to a computer's registry. For that reason, one can't simply copy program files from one computer to another (or back them up directly onto external drives or into the cloud). If that was possible, software piracy would be rife.

However it is possible to 'clone' a hard drive (or solid state drive). That enables you to make a copy of the entire contents of your hard drive (or SSD) at a particular time. If you subsequently get a new drive (or computer) you can simply load that copy onto it, so that your new system is tricked into thinking that you're still using your old one. The back-up copy can either be stored on external media or uploaded to the cloud.

Just like anti-virus software, etc, there are free versions of commercial programs available that, while not coming with all the 'bells and whistles' offered by the paid-for versions, are perfectly good enough for most people's needs anyway. The most well-known brand names for such software are Macrium Reflect Free
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree
and EaseUS Todo Backup Free

[Buenchico]

Oops!

A link has gone missing from the end of my post above:
https://www.easeus.com/backup-software/tb-free.html

[zingo1327]

thanks for the input guys. If I buy an external hard drive is it a case of plugging it in to my computer (windows 10)and dragging "C" drive to the location of the new drive ( possibly "d" "e" or "f") created by connecting the external hard drive or do i also have to drag, one by one, all my software programs there as well???? Hope this makes sense

[Buenchico]

^^^ That won't work. The registry entries that Windows uses know that your software is located on your hard drive (which is usually Drive C) and nowhere else. Copying software files, in the way that you propose, is a non-starter. (If it wasn't, you would be able to buy one copy of Microsoft Word, for example, and then give it away for free to all your friends. Using the registry to install files blocks such software piracy).

If you only want to back up data, such as Word files, images, videos, etc, you can simply copy them from Drive C to Drive D (or whatever). If you want to back up the whole of your hard drive's contents, including the software on it, you MUST 'clone' Drive C. Either of the free programs in my links above can do that for you.

Instructions for using Macrium Reflect Free can be found here:
https://www.techradar.com/uk/how-to/computing/how-to-use-macrium-reflect-free-to-backup-your-pc-1319885

The manual for EaseUS Todo Backup is here:
https://www.easeus.com/support/download/docs/pdf/Todo_Backup_V11.5_Home_online_help_2018081601.pdf