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Thread ID: 141448 2015-12-22 21:04:00 Backup Poppa John (284) Press F1
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1413239 2015-12-22 21:04:00 Hi All

Maryann has asked me to backup her old Toshiba W7 as it is running on borrowed time. Is it better to do it using the W7 built in backup or "Copy to or Send to". I will be using a NexStar 3 to save to. Thanks. PJ 		Poppa John (284)
1413240 2015-12-22 21:08:00 If its only data, Eg: Pictures, documents, Music, Etc, easier to Copy /Paste or Send to. If emails you need to export Via the email program. remember the bookmarks / Favorites, and contacts in email ( unless using web Mail) as well.

The Windows 7 backup uses its own format, and is a PITA to copy back and have work correctly. Where as the above is simply plug into a new Computer and reverse, copy/paste back. 		wainuitech (129)
1413241 2015-12-22 22:41:00 If you want to back it up in case of hard drive failure to save reinstalling everything a system image created from a boot disk or flash drive of a program like Aomei or Active@ is probably best.
If you just want to backup data then do what Wainui suggested and simply copy it onto an external or network drive. Or even better do both, while a system image does contain all your files it's much easier to retrieve them from a simple backup. 		dugimodo (138)
1413242 2015-12-22 22:55:00 OK Thanks Gents. After my Poppa Nap this afternoon. PJ :) Poppa John (284)
1413243 2015-12-23 02:33:00 One more thing. I am doing a complete format of the drive I am going to use. The format screen asks. "Do you wish to Create a Startup Disc".
Is this the same as making an Image? PJ 		Poppa John (284)
1413244 2015-12-23 02:47:00 One more thing. I am doing a complete format of the drive I am going to use. The format screen asks. "Do you wish to Create a Startup Disc".
Is this the same as making an Image? PJ

Simple answer NO

longer answer -- A start up disc is a CD that allows you to boot from it to repair windows and do other tasks / alterations.

An Image is a complete often compressed copy of the whole system, OS, programs, data, everything. 		wainuitech (129)
1413245 2015-12-23 02:52:00 One more thing. I am doing a complete format of the drive I am going to use. The format screen asks. "Do you wish to Create a Startup Disc".
Is this the same as making an Image? PJ

???
format never asks that sort of thing. Is it the backup program asking that ?
make one if in doubt, its probably just a emergency boot/repair CD

I would:
make a system image using win7's backup (its a separate option, you may need to google it)
then, do a separate file backup of documents . Copy & paste should be OK in Win7 , or use a backup program that does a straight file copy , eg Syncbackse
Backing up email manually is alot harder , I dont really trust Windows backup that much (image option is very good however)

Copy & paste can just crap out part way through,with no warning, so allways do a quick check afterwards
Not so much an issue with Win7 , but allways check its all been copied afterwards. Just check a few random docs 		1101 (13337)
1413246 2015-12-23 03:04:00 OK Thanks Guys. PJ Poppa John (284)
1413247 2015-12-23 03:11:00 If you want to back it up in case of hard drive failure to save reinstalling everything a system image created from a boot disk or flash drive of a program like Aomei or Active@ is probably best.
If you just want to backup data then do what Wainui suggested and simply copy it onto an external or network drive. Or even better do both, while a system image does contain all your files it's much easier to retrieve them from a simple backup.

You can mount Image files as a virtual drive, then copy the required files an folders to the physical hard drive. 		mzee (3324)
1413248 2015-12-23 03:35:00 Of course, I just said it was easier from a simple backup and it is. Also mounting an image of an OS does not necessarily make it easy to retrieve things like contacts, favourites, or E-mails for etc, they are better backed up separately. dugimodo (138)
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