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can i get a usb flash drive with enough gb

13 years ago

to backup my office computer?

If I use the Windows backup software and something happens and I have to restore at some point, will all my word processing software still function? Reason I'm asking is, some of the software programs I use are so old that I can't even find the original disks (WordPerfect, Quicken 2003) any more. Would I still be able to use the programs from a "restored" copy of my backup? Hope that makes sense.

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Comments (8)

Elmer J Fudd
13 years ago
So long as you've backed up any important data files, I wouldn't fret about losing these antique programs. There are many choices of free and easy to use software you can press into service in a flash. Even Google Drive (formerly Google Docs) offers free software-like apps for word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, etc., that are completely compatible with current competing programs (which what you now have may not be). And, file backups are unnecessary (unless you're paranoid), Google keeps your files in their proverbial "cloud".

To replace your (almost) 10 year old version of Quicken, try Mint. Now owned by Intuit, it's free, highly recommended and widely used. Play with it now, switch over on Jan 1, and wave goodbye to Quicken 2003. Or, get a new Quicken, it's not that expensive and it'll serve you for another 10 years.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
13 years ago
You would be better off using an imaging program that will create a snapshot of your entire hard drive or clone it so that you can put it back on another drive exactly as it currently exists that will cover your settings and programs, the operating system everything exactly as it is. There are several free imaging programs these are a couple you can look at.
Macrium Reflect
EaseUS Todo Backup Free

flash drives come in very large sizes now so I am sure you could find them to fit your needs.
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you should be able to right click on the folder itself and select delete, you should be able to drag and drop items to and from the flash drive. The most important thing is to always remember never ever remove anything like a flash drive until you have clicked the remove safely icon down in your systray and select which item you want to disconnect from your pc and wait till it says it is safe to remove. Not doing that can really mess stuff up. I have no idea why it would change the order unless did it perhaps put them in alphabetical order? if you right click start then explore and open your explorer tree find the drive letter assigned to the flash drive then from the right pane you should be able to drag and drop anything into that drive and in the same manner remove stuff from that drive. Or go to my computer find that drive select it and view what is on it and manipulate the data. When you select a picture on the flash drive and right click on it do you not have options listed there as to how you want it to open?
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mikie_gw
13 years ago
Might be easiest and very much quicker to stick another hard drive in the computer and automate a weekly or monthly system image backup to it.
angelaid
Original Author
13 years ago
I have a Seagate external drive on my desk that does daily backups, but if there was a fire, or other catastrophe, it's not going to be much help. Was thinking a usb stick would be easy to backup to every day and stick in my pocket.
cat_ky
13 years ago
Is security an issue? If so, I would not be backing up to a USB drive and putting it in your pocket, where it could accidently fall out and picked up by almost anyone. I think locking the external in a vault at the end of the day, would be a better option.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
13 years ago
I also back up really important things to an online storage locker so I have something off site plus I can get to it from any computer anywhere. Adrive which I have had for years gives you 50GB free storage and you can purchase more.
http://www.adrive.com/
Personal Basic (FREE 50GB)

so that would be another option.
nearandwest
13 years ago
To answer your initial question.....you can get a 64 GB flash drive, which should be plenty of room to backup what you have on your computer.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
13 years ago
I have seen up to a 500GB flash drive not that anyone would want one but they are out there so the size should not be an issue at all they come in lots and lots of sizes.

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