NT wrote:
On Apr 7, 11:13 pm, John Rumm wrote:
On 07/04/2012 22:36, Martin wrote:



On Sat, 7 Apr 2012 09:45:42 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

On Apr 7, 4:29 pm, wrote:
wrote in message

...

On Sat, 7 Apr 2012 15:43:17 +0100, "Mentalguy2k8"
wrote:

wrote in message
o.uk...
Can I use something like this to backup my PC. Its making
funny noises at
the moment and I would like to back up the hard disc including
the OS. I'm using Windows XP.

http://www.tekheads.co.uk/product/32...e-Black-Slim-E...

Yes, as long as it's big enough to hold all your stuff.

Just remember that you need to "clone" your C: drive if you
want to copy your OS onto another drive to use as you were
before. This creates an exact
copy, if you just drag and drop the files from C: to a backup
and then onto
a new C: , it won't boot or work properly.

If you buy a 1 or 2 terabyte Samsung USB external hard drive it
includes back up software.
--

Martin

Cheers guys :-)

I've also never seen the point in backing up windows. If you need
to reinstall it, do it the windows way. Yes its slower, but youre
asking for trouble otherwise, IME its just not worth cloning.

One thing I did to save time was to copy the apps in /program
files en masse, and just copy them straight back into windows. Its
surprising how many work fine this way - some will still need
reinstalling the windows way.

The way to backup your data is simply to add the 2nd drive,
control a c in one pane, control v in the other. Job done,
software pointless. Yes you can restore bookmarks, but I find its
not usually worth it, I just redo the ones I want.

Switching to linux makes this process easier, this distro is a
dream to install compared to win.

Unless you have boards/peripherals which aren't supported.

Sure. PCI cards are handy for that, or just pass the machine on to
someone else that wants windows.


Installing Win7 is straight forward.

But very sloooow... that's before you apply all the monthly patches,
and reinstall apps. Bit of a mugs game when recovering from an image
is so much faster and easier.

Linux is /so/ much easier.

Not when it doesnt support the card you are using for a PVR it isnt.

It makes cloning pointless.

Not always.