External Hard Drive

[creager]

My system crashed and now has been repaired, lost all data.
Xp home,hd 80g,512 ram.
Decided to buy a external drive to use as backup, from Newegg.
EXTHD 100G|MX 3.5 7K 8M U2 M01E100 - Retail

As I am a true novice at this, will this work for me. It is a USB plugin, will I need to format the drive or just what will I need to do?

Any help will appreciated,
Bill

[GX1_Man]

You should just plug it in. It will already be formatted, and you can do this again if you want to. You should just see another drive letter in My Computer.

You may want to invest in a copy of Acronis True Image to make an image file for quick restores when disaster strikes next time. Instead of installing WIndows, and updates, and driver and applications, etc. You can do all of this in a few minutes. In my opinion part of a great backup strategy, which obviously you have come to appreciate as necessary. This will be the best $25 you ever spent,w hich includes shipping.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?DEPA=0&type=&Description=acronis+true+image&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all

[soybean]

You may want to invest in a copy of Acronis True Image to make an image file for quick restores when disaster strikes next time. ... This will be the best $25 you ever spent,w hich includes shipping.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?DEPA=0&type=&Description=acronis+true+image&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all

GX1_MAN, apparently, you're talking about version 9 of Acronis True Image.  Some of the reviews on newegg are rather negative.  Are you using version 9?

[creager]

I do have Acronis 8.0 installed but not in use. I had paid for it and had to reinstall.
When I had a problem, tried to use Acronis to help and believe that was the start of my computer crashing.
In the computer now is Windows Backup, and I guess that is what I would have used to do the backup unless you advise different.

I just have a problem understanding all those help pages in Acronis.

[WillyW]

I do have Acronis 8.0 installed but not in use. I had paid for it and had to reinstall.
When I had a problem, tried to use Acronis to help and believe that was the start of my computer crashing.
In the computer now is Windows Backup, and I guess that is what I would have used to do the backup unless you advise different.

I just have a problem understanding all those help pages in Acronis.

If you decide you would be satisfied with less than an image,  but a simple back up -  either plain file copies, or zipped copies,  no proprietary stuff -   here is one to check out:
www.snapfiles.com/get/SyncBack.html
It is free.

I have only begun to play with it, so I can't really give you much of an opinion on it.   Maybe somebody else here is familiar with it and will comment.

So far, it is straight forward and simple.   Nothing complicated.



While looking for the web page again, I see something else that might interest you.
www.snapfiles.com/freeware/system/fwbackup.html
Look for     SpeedUsb2CdDvd  .    
It says it is free too.      

[creager]

WillyW,  thank you.
Wow, you sure did give me something to read, look at, and think about. After I do all of this I will get back to you.

[WillyW]

WillyW,  thank you.

You're welcome -  I hope you find something that you like.  

Wow, you sure did give me something to read, look at, and think about. After I do all of this I will get back to you.

Not much to it, really.   Maybe at first it just looks like it.    

Since it is free,  you can't lose by trying it.

Maybe one of the people here with lots of experience will comment on that software -  it would be nice to get their opinions.

[patio]

You may want to invest in a copy of Acronis True Image to make an image file for quick restores when disaster strikes next time. ... This will be the best $25 you ever spent,w hich includes shipping.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?DEPA=0&type=&Description=acronis+true+image&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all

GX1_MAN, apparently, you're talking about version 9 of Acronis True Image.  Some of the reviews on newegg are rather negative.  Are you using version 9?

I'm still running ver. 7 but my buddy has ver. 9 and has had no problems whatsoever...
He uses it quite frequently being an architect.

[GX1_Man]

Version 9 for me and no problems at all, only success.