[question] What's the best way to backup my HD?

Hello.

I searched for some threads regarding "back-up" and "backup", but I have only been able to find info pertaining to macs.

Currently I am running WinXp on my single HD laptop. I would like to install Linux, but I would like to backup my data first, just in case it gets erased during the Linux install. Could you please recommend the best way to do so? I tried Window's backup utility but it created a file that was 23 gb: too big for a CD or online hard drive like xDrive to handle.

Also, is there a way when I re-partition to install Linux to protect my existing WinXP data/files?

Thanks,

htmlishard

#299464

Take all of your files, put them in a folder, burn it.

Done

#299466

norton ghost.

#299467

Take all of your files, put them in a folder, burn it.

Done

all i see is ur useless comments all over :slant:

cant u read? :confused:

its 23gb worth of data

try to be more helpful or it would be more preferable if you didnt post at all

i would recommend using partition magic to make a partition and store ur data that way or what many people do is if u have another computer transfer the data through a lan cable (10mbs) and backup it up there.

#299506

no, repartitioning is gonna delete everything anyway. you need to move them off, repartition, then reinstall windows and linux. you're best bet is to find a friends computer and copy your files to his while you do all that.

#299531

put it on a server?

#299532

how much free space is on your hard drive? if it has at least 5 gb free (though i recommend 10+ gb for linux) you can buy acronis disk director or partitionmagic to resize your partition so you can install linux seperately or you can use slackware linux and make a linux image on your hard drive and boot off of that.

#299540

partition magic is dangerous... it freezes up easily and causes your system to crash... it does what it says but its not worth the risk of losing you data... a viable option is picking up an external enclosure (USB 2.0 case w/ powersupply for around 30$, www.newegg.com) and then finding a small hdd (in your case 30G) and transfering your data. Remember, then size of your needed data is probably much smaller than the windows back up file. It would be much faster to move only the data you want, and not worry about windows system files. Remember to take along your bookmarks and config files for browser, email client, etc.

This can easily be done and is super fast and reliable. Norton ghost only makes a complete copy of your hdd so you have to have space to store the copy. Its designed for people who partition their hdd and want a copy of say their C: directory to be backed up on say the D: drive partition. That way if C: crashes, you can restore to the ghost copy located on D:

hope this helps

#299546

all i see is ur useless comments all over :slant:

cant u read? :confused:

its 23gb worth of data

try to be more helpful or it would be more preferable if you didnt post at all

i would recommend using partition magic to make a partition and store ur data that way or what many people do is if u have another computer transfer the data through a lan cable (10mbs) and backup it up there.

Well excuse me Mother Theresa for trying to be nice.

If he took his files, put them in one folder, then burn 5-6 DVDs with the files chose it would fix his problem no? Did you really think i`m blind or stupid?

And did you even try to comperhand what i wrote before jumping in and playing the defender of the weak & n3wbish?

#299584