Backing up files.

[nommy]

I bought an external hard drive 465Gb, in order to back up important files. My computer recently has slowed right down, even after regular maintenance and de fragging etc. I'm afraid my hard drive is failing. Thus I want to back up important stuff. I know its possible to do a complete system back up with the installation disc from windows xp, which is what I have. Problem is my computer came with everything pre-installed, so I never had a disc. I wondered is there a way someone can tell me how to do a complete back up onto new drive. I have no idea what to back up or how to do it even. ideally if its possible to do it myself, then great, as I really don't want to buy software to do it as money is tight. I have already copied my pictures and music over, but then I am clueless as to what else is essential. I am using windows xp service pack 3. I have a three year old Packard Bell computer.Thank you in advance, nommy

[ACtheTROLL]

if you look on the magazine shelves there is a good chance that you'll find a disc imaging prog for free.

you are going to need yet another disc ... but it's then a simple job to install the new disc .... copy the entire old disc (including boot sectors) to the new one ... and bob's your auntie

then you can use the old disc for general short term stuff 'till it dies peacefully

\i've not used this one ... but it should do the job http://www.xxclone.com/

[nommy]

AC theTROLL At the risk of sounding stupid, what old disc are you talking about? I don't have any disc, as everything was pre installed when I bought the computer new. I appreciate your help, but I can't understand any of what you've written. Iam not very techie. I wouldn't know where to start. I guess it's going to be too difficult for me to do after all. Thanks anyway.

[VHG]

Firstly, just because your computer is slow it does not mean your hard disk is failing.

If your hard disk was failing you would get errors and Windows would stop working or give you a "blue screen" error but if you are getting none of those your disk is probably OK.

Slow performance can be caused by viruses or spyware so I would run some anti virus and spyware checks.

But slow performance can also be caused by Windows just filing up with "junk" that is gathered over the years.

You can improve performance by reinstalling Windows so it may be time to do that (you question seems to indicate you are willing to do that).

more......

[ACtheTROLL]

old disc is the one you have now ... the one you think is failing

to fix it you need to install a new disc (making the current disc the old one)
and transfer the entire contents of the old disk (system and everything) to the new one

this gives you what you have now ... but working on a new (hopefully good for a few more years) disc

the external drive is good for files you create or download ... but if the internal disc dies ... your PC won't work at all

[VHG]

continued....

You dont say where you got your PC from or what make it is, but many companies DONT provide a Windows disk but supply a recovery area on the hard disk.

This recovery area is often hidden from the end user, so you may not even know it is on your hard disk.

Reinstalling windows from this recovery area is usually quite simple, but how you start it off does vary from company to company.

The documentation that came with your computer should tell you how to reinstall Windows from this recovery area.

It often consists of pressing a certain key on the keyboard as the computer is starting up.

This will take you into a special program, and one of the options will be to reinstall Windows.

If you let us know the make and model of your computer we will try to help.

Or go to the support page of the companys web site and see if it tells you on there.

Or even phone up the support desk for the company and see if they can tell you how recovery works on the PC.

[VHG]

IF your disk is failing (and I am not convinced it is) then installing a new hard disk in a computer and copying all the data from the old disk to the new disk is NOT a simple job.

This is particularly true if you dont have much computer hardware experience (and it sounds as though you dont).

If you have a friend or relative who has computer knowledge they may be able to help you.

Basically you have to run a piece of software to CLONE (or copy) the contents of your OLD hard disk to the NEW hard disk.

You then need to set your NEW hard disk as the main hard disk in the computer, and Windows should then "boot" from it.

There is plenty of software around to clone (copy) a complete hard disk, such as Paragon Drive Copy.

[VHG]

I bought this magazine in Sainsbury's the other day and it has a number of free products that can be used to backup or clone a hard disk.

Computer Active Ultimate Guide - PC Maintenance and Upgrades

More here:

http://www.computeractive-direct.co.uk/index.c fm?p=16&itemid=2956

Most companies also offer trial versions of backup or clone software that you can download from their web sites.

Acronis True Image (available on the magazine above) is a good piece of software to make a complete back up of your hard disk (back up rather than clone).

IF your hard disk IS failing then if you make an Acronis backup of your MAIN disk to your external drive at least everything will be saved if the hard disk does fail on you.