Computer Hope
Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows Vista and 7 => Topic started by: Bobh on February 20, 2009, 10:22:50 AM
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I went to the Geek counter at Best Buy and bought a flash drive. I told the clerk what I wanted it for - put my system back up on it. There were no directions so when I called the store he said just plug it in. I asked if I would be told where to put my back up and he could not answer but gave me a number to call. The person who answered said you could not put back up on a flash drive. I wondered if that person knew what they were saying. has any body used a flash drive to save system back up? I am running Windows Vista on an E Machine.
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It would have to be a pretty big flash drive. But yes it can be done. I would not do it however because flash drives are not as reliable and secure as hard disks and DVD-Rs.
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I suggest buying an EXTERNAL Harddrive. I bought a 8gb FD for a few bucks, but it's not big enough to hold EVERYTHING you want to back up, well, maybe.
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For everybody's reference I am quite sure bobh refers to the "System Restore" functionality, with as far as I'm aware only stores to "System Volume Information", as Broni Explained in his other post on the subject.
I suggest buying an EXTERNAL Harddrive. I bought a 8gb FD for a few bucks, but it's not big enough to hold EVERYTHING you want to back up, well, maybe.
I have a few flash drives, with special labels:
"Programming"
"Documents"
"Application Installers"
"GOATS"
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Tell us more about these GOATS... ::) ;)
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I still wouldn't use flash drives for anything mission critical. Especially goat pics.
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I still wouldn't use flash drives for anything mission critical. Especially goat pics.
HA, I fooled you all! everything BUT the "GOATS" disk contains GOATS, whereas the GOATS disk contains programs and other boring crap.
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I went to the Geek counter at Best Buy and bought a flash drive. I told the clerk what I wanted it for - put my system back up on it. There were no directions so when I called the store he said just plug it in. I asked if I would be told where to put my back up and he could not answer but gave me a number to call. The person who answered said you could not put back up on a flash drive. I wondered if that person knew what they were saying. has any body used a flash drive to save system back up? I am running Windows Vista on an E Machine.
Bob tell us more about what exactly it is you want to backup and we can advise further...
A normal Windows install will not fit on a USB drive as mentioned above...
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A normal Windows install will not fit on a USB drive as mentioned above...
Er, they come a bit bigger than 32 MB these days patio...
At today's exchange rate, 16.25 UK pounds is 23.27 US dollars.
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p29/badoit/pendrive.jpg)
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OK I hope this doesn't get too long. I use system back up a lot. I don't have anybody to teach me so I just try things. This gets me in trouble. I do system back up often so that when I get in trouble I can do a restore at a date before my mistake and I can go from there. For some reason (I don't know why) when I do a back up it goes to my (D:) area or file or what ever it is called. I was told to stay out of this area as that is my recovery area. I read that a flash drive was better than DVD so I went to get one. I told the clerk that all I would put in it was my back ups so he said a 2 GB was big enough. I came home, plugged it in and started doing things. Sure enough pretty soon I had things messed up big time. That is the reason for my recent posts. I have most things straighten out now but I still don't have a place for my system back ups. I am afraid to plug in the flash drive until I get some help. Thanks for your interest. Bob
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Let the backup area on the hard drive be for the operating system. Use the flash drive to back up other files you do not want to lose.
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Er, they come a bit bigger than 32 MB these days patio...
Thanx so much for the update Dias...
I had no idea flash drives had grown in capacity this much since they came out....
Guess i should replace my 256MB one now...
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What version of Windows is 32MB other than Win 98SE ?
Certainly not Vista...
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a win98 install weighs around 500MB...
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I see flash drives are up to 64GB now. Kingston 64GB DataTraveler 150 Flash Drive - DT150/64GB (http://www.buy.com/prod/kingston-64gb-datatraveler-150-flash-drive/q/loc/101/210199009.html) :o 8)
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i have a great variety of them but my current pride and joy is a Corsair 32GB which i use practically everyday. They are just great for moving things from one computer to another or putting programs on you don't use all that often such as Everest. truenorth
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More news on what NOT to do. I found a site that asks where you want restore points put. There are two choices: Bob-PC (D:) or Windows (C:). Apparently I had for some unknown reason checked Bob-PC(D:). I have now checked Windows (C:) so the restore points are not going into my (D:). The only thing in (D:) now is the RECOVERY which I will be careful to leave alone. Thanks for all the help. I am learning!!!! Bob
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Actually- System restore stores data on all drives that it's enabled for.
However as you've discovered there was no reason to have it enabled for D:.