Idiots guide to backing up please

comping_cat

Ive just been reading the back up your computer sticky, and if im being honest, its all gone over my head. Ive never backed up a computer before, realise i need to be able to but have no idea where to start.

Do i need to buy something to use to back up the computer (laptop) - i have cd disks and dvd disks somewhere here, but i remember downloading some photos onto a disk before, and not all of them fitting, so i would guess i need something bigger for a whole laptop.

I really am an idiot when it comes to this this type of thing, so could do with some non technical advise (if you know what i mean )

Thank you in advance.

Take_it_like_a_man,_sonny

What version of Windows do you run?

squirrelz

Try this if you're on Vista or W7

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/back-up-your-computer.html

comping_cat

Take_it_like_a_man,_sonny wrote: »

What version of Windows do you run?

It is Windows 7

Knarf44

Windows 7 has its own inbuilt Backup and Restore program:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/products/features/backup-and-restore

It's not difficult to do - watch the embedded video and you'll see.

Here's a clearer step by step guide:

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/1838/using-backup-and-restore-in-windows-7/

sp1920

You can also back up stuff and keep it "in the ether" (Cloud computing), so copies of important folders and files are stored somewhere on a server for you to retrieve if you need to. If you do this and want to avoid paying, check what is being backed up and only tick the boxes of stuff you really need to back up, because if you go over a certain amount then you have to pay. If your Broadband is with Virgin, then have their own service for this, so I presume other providers also do, or there are websites like Mozy and Dropbox which offer free storage. Google is also a great place to store documents, free with their email account. Hope this helps.

savageHK

It depends what you are trying to do. Are you only trying to keep a copy of (say) photos and some documents? Do you know how much (in terms of size) you need to back up? CD/DVDs are really quite small nowadays, you can get much more onto some new USB sticks and much, much more onto an external hard drive. Also think of why you want to backup; if it's just worry that your computer might break there's no problem keeping the backup in the same place, but if your house burns down a different solution would be needed to prevent both your backup and your computer going up in flames at the same time!

comping_cat

Thank you everyone, yes, im with Virgin so i can look into their back up system. Its basically photos i have stored (too many for a couple of disks which is why im thinking i need to back up) but you have all given me some excellent ideas as to what to do - thank you.

timmmers

I sent you a PM that may help with this cat...be quick if you can though it's time sensitive ..perfect answer to this problem though.

maimee_magic

Does windows XP have it's own backup?

Knarf44

http://www.winxptutor.com/ntbackup.htm

This may help but there are lots of other programs including other free ones that can do the same thing.

Hope it helps.