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backing up new computer

10 years ago

I have a new HP pc, W10. I want to do a complete backup to an external hard drive. Can I avoid backing up Facebook files? Don't think they're worth using space for.... Also, would this backup take the place of a recovery disk? Thanks.

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Comments (4)

Richard (Vero Beach, Florida)
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Maybe you'd like to create a "system image"? Something like this?

.

I really don't know about the Facebook files. If you're talking about cached browser files I suppose you could clear browser cache prior to backing up but the space required to backup a few cached browser files would probably be so small that it wouldn't matter much either way.

.

"Also, would this backup take the place of a recovery disk?"

Yes. I would either download and burn the bootable Windows 10 ISO or at least create the "system repair disk" (when offered by the system image tool). That way I'd have something to boot to in order to do the recovery (just in case my system wouldn't even boot up).

---

"Restoring from a System Image Backup

Should
you ever need to restore your system image backup, start by making sure
that the drive containing the backup image is connected to your
computer. From here, insert a Windows installation disc and boot into
setup.

Once in Windows setup, click "Next," then choose the
"Repair your computer" option in the lower-left corner. Next, click
"Troubleshoot," then "Advanced Options," and select "System Image
Recovery." From here, simply select the system image backup you created,
then follow the prompts, and your computer will be fully restored to
the exact state it was in when you created the backup."

---

The above quote comes from:

http://windows.wonderhowto.com/how-to/make-full-system-image-backup-windows-10-0162966/

.

Another possibility...

I use a third party utility (Acronis True Image, there's a free Western Digital edition as well as a free Seagate edition), because of familiarity and habit. And I suppose because I've also used it to restore successfully (earning my confidence). I'm not saying the Windows image tool is either superior or inferior to Acronis; I'm not qualified to judge.
ruobet55
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks so much!
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User
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I've been using Acronis for many Years to make Clone Drives! I've never had a problem with Acronis True Image. With the Upgrade to Windows 10 my Acronis no longer works, need to Upgrade to a Newer Version for Windows 10.

I did however use a Freeware Program called AOMEI Backupper and it does the same job Acronis did for me and it's done it in Windows 10 for Free!

Guess I could have downloaded the Free Version of Acronis from Western Digital as I do have a Brand New 500gb WD Black Drive in my Laptop! I added this WD Drive after I'd already cloned the drive using AOMEI Backupper!

I had gone from a 500gb Toshiba Drive @ 5400rpm to a Crucial 256gb SSD Drive and kept the 500gb for storage. I wanted to Clone the Toshiba Drive to the New SSD Drive and used AOMEI Backupper to do this so I didn't need to reinstall everything again. I then replaced the 500gb Toshiba Drive @ 5400rmp with a 500gb Western Digital Black Drive @ 7200rpm.

I haven't tried the Back Up Portion of AOMEI Backupper, just the Clone portion. One of these days I'll get around to testing it! The Clone portion worked without a hitch and I'm expecting the same from the Back Up portion!
ruobet55
Original Author
10 years ago
Guru son and I are going to back up our 10s on 8 GB flash drives - together, 1750 miles apart! Thanks for your answer!

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