Manually Back Up Files

[Kal-El]

When you're doing this, can you manually copy and paste program folders into that external Hard drive to save those installed programs or does that not really work?

I just need a way to achieve that.

[ammarcool]

mmmmmmm... cant brother, you have to install it into your machine after formatting it! some programs such as VCD Cutter will work once you have copied the folder under program files into the formatted machine.

[Joha]

When you're doing this, can you manually copy and paste program folders into that external Hard drive to save those installed programs or does that not really work?

I just need a way to achieve that.


well, you could copy it to an external drive, and chances are it'll work, but only with the system you installed them on, so if that system goes, they become useless.

Much better to clone your drive (if you have enough space), as a backup tool, rather than copy folders around. That way, if your hard drive dies, you just clone back, and you have a fully working system - an exact copy of the one you lost.

[MG]

well, you could copy it to an external drive, and chances are it'll work, but only with the system you installed them on, so if that system goes, they become useless.

Much better to clone your drive (if you have enough space), as a backup tool, rather than copy folders around. That way, if your hard drive dies, you just clone back, and you have a fully working system - an exact copy of the one you lost.

how would u "clone" onto an ext HD?

[Joha]

how would u "clone" onto an ext HD?

Oh, I forgot, shoulda posted this in your thread, it might be useful next time you install Quicktime :p

Unfortunately, unless you're prepared to be imaginative (ie. download software), there's nothing I know of that's free for Windows users. Acronis True Image (I think it's called, is fairly good - I've used it at one point).

I remember I had a CD once that you could boot up with and make an image of your drive...I'll hunt for it inshallah and post up some instructions.

I'm sure there's somebody out there who knows of an easy way of doing this?

Do an online search for Norton Ghost - it's one of the best.

http://www.symantec.com/en/uk/norton/products/overview.jsp?pcid=br&pvid=ghost12

[MG]

Oh, I forgot, shoulda posted this in your thread, it might be useful next time you install Quicktime :p

Unfortunately, unless you're prepared to be imaginative (ie. download software), there's nothing I know of that's free for Windows users. Acronis True Image (I think it's called, is fairly good - I've used it at one point).

I remember I had a CD once that you could boot up with and make an image of your drive...I'll hunt for it inshallah and post up some instructions.

I'm sure there's somebody out there who knows of an easy way of doing this?

Do an online search for Norton Ghost - it's one of the best.

http://www.symantec.com/en/uk/norton/products/overview.jsp?pcid=br&pvid=ghost12

i better leave that for now, already got a huge expense coming for getting someone to fit my new HD and then re-installing for me new HD approx £50 + £45 for him to fit it and re-install again:rolleyes:

[Joha]

i better leave that for now, already got a huge expense coming for getting someone to fit my new HD and then re-installing for me new HD approx £50 + £45 for him to fit it and re-install again:rolleyes:

£45 to reinstall and fit? Tell you what, have a go yourself, it really isn't that hard...

For the hard drive, you literally have to screw it in, then shove in some wires - and you can't go wrong there, they only fit in the right place, in the right orientation - if you're doing it wrong, it won't fit in.

Same with the re-install, if you ever try it by yourself, you'll find you're guided through, everything is really logical, and they've gone to pains to make it idiot proof :p

[MG]

£45 to reinstall and fit? Tell you what, have a go yourself, it really isn't that hard...

For the hard drive, you literally have to screw it in, then shove in some wires - and you can't go wrong there, they only fit in the right place, in the right orientation - if you're doing it wrong, it won't fit in.

Same with the re-install, if you ever try it by yourself, you'll find you're guided through, everything is really logical, and they've gone to pains to make it idiot proof :p


this dude is gettign funny ( i think im his only customer the way he is going on) :rolleyes:

im gona let him do it this time and after that he can buzz off

[Mace]

When you're doing this, can you manually copy and paste program folders into that external Hard drive to save those installed programs or does that not really work?

I just need a way to achieve that.


That's generally the case on Macs (OS X), because all the resources of an application are supposed to be in the app bundle. And the user's own preferences are in their home folder.

But Windows is quite different. Application installers write to the registry, for instance.

[belal1]

When you're doing this, can you manually copy and paste program folders into that external Hard drive to save those installed programs or does that not really work?



NO

stop trying to look for easy way out you fiend! :torture:


i could explain to you the technical aspects of this answer, but let's just make it short for now: it works sometimes and other times it doesn't. usually if all the stuff the program needs are inside the programs folder, then it'll work. but if that's not the case and theres some extra files the program needs and it was installed in other directories other than the program's folder...then it won't work.