I am about to reformat my pc.....?

Question

what is the best way to backup all the files and programs?i have 149 gig of storage and almost used up half of it that means i have 74 gig of data to backup. from what i know, burning dvd or cd disc might cause u to lose the registration info so what should i do?

Answer 1

I recommend you get an imaging program such as Acronis TrueImage. This program will make an exact image of your hard drive/s and you can save it to a disk or another hard drive. Apart from that, you would be using a lot of DVDs or CDs to copy all your files.

Answer 2

Here's a chance for you to clear all junk files. Use Norton Ghost if you really feel the need to save everything. Failing that, just backup the data. Reinstall all the programs later.

Answer 3

The programs cannot be backed up in the "install" mode, because whenrver you install a program in Windows, the program writes certain entries to the registry that wnot be copied over to the backup drive......

Unless you try this:

Click START, RUN, and type REGEDIT.
Highlight the COMPUTER icon, and click FILE, EXPORT
Type in a title like: My Registry and save it to the desktop.

Go ahead and buy a second, larger backup drive (200GB or larger) COPY ONLY YOUR PROGRAM FILES TO IT, and the Registry file you just put on yuor desktop.

Whenever you reinstall Windows, copy that registry file to the computer, rightclick on it and click MERGE.

Then, copy your program files back to their original location on the Hard drive (probably C:/PROGRAMS)

Answer 4

You may create a partition out of the remaining storage and shift your data to that location.Then try to find mass storage device such as GZO product which uses USB port as an external drive.Put the remaining data in it then reformat your PC.Its is to easy to use such external drive 'coz it is easily detected by the PC and get installed.I hope this works out fine.

Answer 5

buy a second hard drive.

install windows on the 80 gig you are going to buy. after installing, right click on the MY DOCUMENTS in your START MENU and then set it to D:\

now your Windows is on drive C and your data is saved on drive D

delete the stuff on your other hard drive that you do not want any more. by doing it this way you can format any timr without loosing data (as long as you don't save anything on the C:)

Answer 6

Try to buy a hard drive which is big enough to back up your files (80gig higher)

Use cloning soltware......norton ghost

Answer 7

use partition program, create D with spare space
copy wat u want to D
format C and install to it.