new pc - things to do list

closed

If you get a Seagate/Maxtor external drive (or have a seagate drive internally), you can use maxblast (which is acronis trueimage) free from the seagate website

Is it Vista or Windows 7?

ccleaner has an option to run at startup, so you can set it and forget it, it will tidy up temp files when you boot.

ih8stress

closed: It's Windows 7 on a Dell Inspiron desktop. How do I check what make the internal drive is, please? (I've tried right clicking on c: drive properties and looking at the hardware tab but don't see any maker's name)

Thanks

closed

http://www.gtopala.com/download/siw.exe

click on storage.

Provided at least one drive is seagate or maxtor (internal or external), then maxblast should work (haven't tried it on W7).

Or you could try this:

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

or windows7 system image backup

http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/01/18/windows-7-windows-backup-overview

Richie-from-the-Boro

Win7 backup is [ as closed says ] part of your default install with Win7, so you already have it.You don't need any other software backup other than Win7 Backup.

It works extremely well, is quick, and will restore from DOS [ remember to make the Restore CD, you will be # prompted # by windows after you have finished making your backup ] if you ever completely ' goose ' your machine.

ih8stress

closed wrote: »

or windows7 system image backup

http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/01/18/windows-7-windows-backup-overview

Thanks for this. Have done some of the things it shows (great for someone like me who needs step by step guides:D). eg. already set up backup though I let windows choose and I think it only did the files, not a system image. (Will be looking into it fuller in the next day or two.)

I did create a system repair disc (already created a recovery disc previously which I assume is different?).

Richie-from-the-Boro

Me - bold

Thanks for this. Have done some of the things it shows (great for someone like me who needs step by step guides). eg. already set up backup though I let windows choose and I think it only did the files, not a system image. (Will be looking into it fuller in the next day or two.)

- making a ' selective ' rather than a ' full ' backup is false economy, always make an image backup [ it's only cost is time & space ] if ever your in real trouble you will thank your god you did !

- not making a full image means / re-registering your serial number with Microsoft / doing a full re-install / putting all your programmes & favourites & preferences back on etc / a nightmare.

I did create a system repair disc (already created a recovery disc previously which I assume is different?)

- no !, you only need to make one restore disk once. It's universal, no need to make a separate one each time you back up.

- there is no need to make & keep more than one image, just delete [ Win7 will not allow you to delete any backup image .. .. .. see # (1) below the old one and make a new up to date one.

(1) To be able to delete the old [ redundant ] image, disable the ' User Account Control ', if you don't know how to do this - come back here and ask.

hope this helps you and others

daedana

ih8stress wrote: »

Sorry in advance if similar threads elsewhere.:)

Got my nice shiny new 1week old Dell desktop. :j
I've made system recovery back-up discs.
I've removed McAfee and installed Avast in its place.

I intend to download the following:
malwarebytes
superanitispyware
ccleaner
defraggler

When I come to use them, do I have to do this in safe mode or normal mode?

Can someone please remind me how often, and in what order, I need to do these checks.

Do I also have to do Disk Clean-up on my computer, or will the above include this action?

Is there anything else I need to do to keep my computer running smoothly?

Thanks

I think that it's not really a possibility to keep you computer running smoothly, but I would recommend installing the newest Ubuntu in to it.

You can find the newest one here. Many might find this as spam more than a tip, but I would recommend this. Hope this helps.

ih8stress

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

- making a ' selective ' rather than a ' full ' backup is false economy, always make an image backup [ it's only cost is time & space ] if ever your in real trouble you will thank your god you did !

I DID try to do a system image at the time onto dvd's but for some reason after doing the first disc it came back with a message that there wasn't enough room. However, have tried it again today and got it to work okay (put it onto 4x dvd's).:)

- not making a full image means / re-registering your serial number with Microsoft / doing a full re-install / putting all your programmes & favourites & preferences back on etc / a nightmare.
Hopefully, I've avoided this now:)

I did create a system repair disc (already created a recovery disc previously which I assume is different?)

- no !, you only need to make one restore disk once. It's universal, no need to make a separate one each time you back up. I wasn't sure if they were different in some way, as they have different names?

- there is no need to make & keep more than one image, just delete [ Win7 will not allow you to delete any backup image .. .. .. see # (1) below the old one and make a new up to date one.

Don't really understand this bit - if you mean SYSTEM image, I've only got it on the 4xdvd's haven't I? (See my query below).

(1) To be able to delete the old [ redundant ] image, disable the ' User Account Control ', if you don't know how to do this - come back here and ask.



hope this helps you and others

It has helped me to a certain extent, thanks richie:T

When I set up the backup to start with, I opted for the 'let windows choose' option. I was not able to tick the 'include system image box as it was greyed out for some reason.

So the backup is just for libraries and all users files and scheduled for every sunday.
As mentioned above, I have now managed to do a (separate) system image onto dvd's.

I assume if I changed to the 'let me choose' option, then it would backup the files AND system image (if ticked) onto my computer? Then I would need to look into deleting old images as mentioned above.

If I have got this correct, can someone please advise how I can alter to the 'let me choose' option (I can't see it in change settings).

Thanks:)

Richie-from-the-Boro

"" making a ' selective ' rather than a ' full ""

- right, didn't realise you were making to DVD's, it takes longer and consumes DVD's unless you buy re-writeable DVD's. Best option when you can afford it is to buy a USB hard drive, see #1 below.

"" not making a full image means ""

- good, we all like the ' feel ' of our own puter with things exactly where they should be, sometimes putting our music / docs / URL's / email etc back takes longer then the O/S installation. Importantly you will never need to ask for help with driver roll-back, virus removal etc because you can do a full re-install in 5 minutes.

"" no !, you only need to make one restore disk once ""

- "" they have different names? "" , because you're making to DVD's and not a HDD I don't know if a different ' system repair disc needs to be made each time, perhaps someone reading this can tell me / you !

"" there is no need to make & keep more than one image ""

- ditto the above, I didn't realise you were using DVD's. Here you will need to update your image to DVD's by making a new set / or / use re-writeable DVD's see # 2 below.

#1. - one of these : http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=257315 if you can afford it means that :

- you can back up once a week automatically
- always have loads of spare room
- never need to keep more than one backup, unless you want to keep 2 for safety / additional insurance against corruption
- keep an additional separate copy of docs / pics / etc
- backup other computers if you want to
- plug it in the tele [ if your tele supports USB devices ] and watch movies / slideshow family pictures / video's that were on your puter and can now be seen on your big tele. etc
- the list is endless but the biggest benefit is if you get a bad virus you can get rid completely in about 5 minutes with a full restore, and no need to ask anyone for any help

#2. - re-writable are just like the ordinary DVD's, except you can ' rub them out ' and write them again and again and again !

Sublime_2

The seagate drive is cheaper £64.30 delivered at Amazon. I've got one, and they're good. Much quicker than using DVDs. You just plug it in, and you're set. You don't need any extra software, as you can drag and drop files to it.

I do use windows backup, and disk image though, and have recently downloaded Seagate DiscWizard, which although doesn't say for windows 7 works fine.

Enjoy your new computer. :beer: