Michael you failed to give us the operating system. If it is Windows 7 then that has a back up program which you can use. If XP you'll need to determine if Western digital provide a back up program on the new external drive.

Either way once you have created an image you should then be able to re-install it at any time onto your C: drive. Be aware that immediately after creating the back up your computer will be changed so any data saved after that back up will be lost until you create either an incremental backup or another full back up.

Many external hard drives have the software built in to do what you want to do. Did yours prompt you to make a backup or ghost image when you plugged it into the computer? I have a Toshiba external drive that automatically makes a new backup on a schedule I set (I've chosen once a week).

I am curious,want to go XternalHD route, but unsure what, or how to go about it. I have XP, and I believe I understood to get a HD with some software to help in the process? I read other postings, and see that some don't have software, and after reading reviews of various HD, pros and cons both ways.
Can someone, in simple steps please explain to me more on this concept? I thought perhaps the HD operated quite the way the thumb drives do, and all I had to do was move from puter to XHD, all would be copacetic. Apparently not?

Sorry guys I have no idea what you are talking about.My computer is xp.

you can use your external drive just like a flash drive..

but you can take a third party soft ware and back up your
xp to the external...

some drives come with the backup or imaging soft ware on it..

I mostly clone the drive.

This way anything goes wrong you just plug in the cloned drive. You will be in full operation in minutes with all files, and all programs. No restore or backup needed.

dcarch

Sorry guys I have no idea what you are talking about.My computer is xp

Then give us the model number of the external drive so we can help.

Have you plugged it in as kudzu suggested? What happened?

It is a western digital 2.0 mybook essential. I believe its capacity is 23.9 gh. It starts up everyday and tells me the amount of pictures it has,movies,other essentials.It shows me files being transferred to the backup from my computer.It shows how many mb it has moved over.

Michael,
I assume what you have on that external drive is there (that is what they are for) and when hooked up to a new computer can be opened to access like a flash drive and what I do with my external Verbatim drive.

I just bought the Western Digital My Book Essential 500GB but didn't hook it up yet.
On the box, it says it does updates automatic making me believe each time a person adds to a file, it adds on the drive.
BUT----I am wondering if in order to get that funtion, do I have to click the free trial software called AutoBackup that displays at the end of installation that later wants $$?

If so--That is a trick sales pitch cause that is the reason I bought it thinking it automatically backs up not having to pay extra.

urlee,I never saw any sales pitch about wanting money, I just want to know if it really is backing stuff up and if it's backing up what I want it to.

michael, go here and under See your life safe in one place click on WD SmartWare Software to play that video.

urlee,I never saw any sales pitch about wanting money
I meant it says on the box it auto downloads your files but think you have to pay to have it do that.

Here is a link that might be useful: My Book

Whoops I'm sorry----Click on Learn more to play the video.

I just want to know if it really is backing stuff up and if it's backing up what I want it to

Yes! My friend got a 1tb WD My Book and picks what files she wants to go on there like I do with my Verb external drive.
Just don't put shortcut icons on it as it is not saving the file (pics) and will not open on another computer.
You are only saving the shortcut icon. (smiles)

Urlee, thank you very much, the video was very informative.

You are welcome.
Glad to be of some help to you.

PS:

Did you find this page?
Click on the guided tours.

Here is a link that might be useful: Video of

Yes I even have that video in my Favorites so I can review it anytime I want to, thanks again

michael,
If you have RealPlayer, you can DL the video's so they play back on RealPlayer to have in your "My Library".
Then you just open RealPlayer to play the one you want.
Really neat.

Example

{{gwi:1506564}}

Enjoy!

If i ghost my hard drive it copy's my Operating System and every thing else that is on it? And I just plug in the new hard drive either internal or external?
Thank You. BC