Formatting

ok here's the situation. i have 2 harddrives and a few partitions, so backing up data is fairly easy (copy over instead of burn cd's).

its about that time again for me to format, seeing as i like to install programs just to try em out and then delete them, and i know that its hard on the registry. in addition, i like the speed of a fresh formatted computer.

now here's the request. what are some common things i should back up and where is the file located. please contribute anything you think would be helpful.

here are examples: My Documents folder, music, videos, icons...

how do i back up all my outlook emails?

i use Internet Explorer (i think not anymore though, i'll get firebird). how can i save my cookies. program settings... anything.

thanks all, and thanks Dreamz

#100416

outlook emails arent stored on your computer, outlook is just a progrem that manages your emails from your real email provider (hotmail,...)

oh yea also back up savegames :who's your daddy:

#100421

Originally posted by Keith@Jan 15 2004, 03:33 PM

outlook emails arent stored on your computer, outlook is just a progrem that manages your emails from your real email provider (hotmail,...)

if he saves some emails, they'll be on his hard drive somewhere. outlook hides stuff in strange places, so if someone uses outlook, maybe they can lend a hand. i don't use it, so i don't know much about it.

you can find cookies in several places, depending on how your environment variables.

e.g. i have cookies here:

C:\Documents and Settings\Dreamer\Cookies

and

C:\Documents and Settings\Dreamer\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files

and probably some other places.

but you generally don't need to save cookies.

some programs save settings in ini files, like y'z dock. for programs like y'z dock, i just copy over the whole folder.

where are the ie bookmarks stored?

what else do people usually save?

#100425

Originally posted by Keith@Jan 15 2004, 09:33 PM

outlook emails arent stored on your computer, outlook is just a progrem that manages your emails from your real email provider (hotmail,...)

oh yea also back up savegames :who's your daddy:

That's not true - it depends on what sort of e-mail account you're using.

If it's POP3, then the e-mails are stored in Outlook, typically in c:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\[Account name].pst

Your .pst files also contain details of caching of server-side e-mails, and configurations for e-mail servers.

If you don't want to have to reconfigure your Outlook again, keep these files safe.

Most of what you will want to save is in your c:\Documents and Settings\[username]\ directory, to be honest...

#100426

I've never used POP3 :6

#100427

Originally posted by Keith@Jan 15 2004, 09:44 PM

I've never used POP3 :6 

The same is true for Exchange

#100429

thanks stevie.

good reminder dreamz, almost forgot to save my yzdock. i use objectdock, but getting yz again couldve been tough (maybe).

for photoshop, anyway to save styles? or just reinstall aqua-grls pack and such.

powertoys locations?

iTunes playlists?

k-lite user info and settings?

moviemaker imported stuff?

#100452

i suppose you can save the ps styles, though i'm not quite sure what they are.

powertoys locations? just reinstall them once you're up and running.

itunes playlists. i suppose so. i save my winamp playlists.

k-lite info? just reinstall k-lite. it's not hard to configure things.

no idea about moviemaker, but i suppose.

it's better to back up all your things than to not save them and want them back later.

#100465

[vent]anger sets in. i formatted and before i formatted i made sure to save the outlook.pst file, and now its not there.

i dunno how it happened, i made sure it was there, but now i have to do all contacts again, set up rules, lost my emails. "naughty word". [/vent]

#104999

if you backed it up somewhere else, you should still have it.

#105040

- 'course all documents / images / music / video

- visual styles / themes

- icons / pngs (good chance to organize these things)

- favorites / bookmarks

- outlook calendar / mail archive

- "normal" template for MSWord (if someone knows how to save the other Office temlates PLEASE LET ME KNOW

- appz' installers (and serialz?) in general

- skins

- pr0n

- cool screensavers

- cursors

- sounds

- playlists

- docklets / backgrounds, Y'z toolbar themes *just copy over the whole Y'z Dock / Toolbar / Shadow folders and keep their settings intact*

- game 'save' folders or files, or player identities, game tweaks you've downloaded and don't want to lose

I'm sure I'm forgetting something... SOP when backing up

#105069