Windows Vista Backup

hi, i have a short question ..

if i install windows vista, will my data on drive C get deleted? I currently
use windows XP and am thinking of upgrading, but i'm scared that i will loose
my data.

Thanks

You will not lose your data. If you upgrade, all your current Windows programs (Office, etc.) and their files will be there and they will work just fine. Vista moves pictures and documents to updated locations but they are still available. I hope you have the final version as you won't be able to go back to XP later. If you think you may want to go back, you should back up your XP files. (You should always backup your documents and application files, of course)
"Abhi" <Abhi@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:77C0EAD8-D300-4C96-BC13-6C8032B4B403@microsoft.com...
hi, i have a short question ..

if i install windows vista, will my data on drive C get deleted? I currently
use windows XP and am thinking of upgrading, but i'm scared that i will loose
my data.

Thanks

If the upgrade goes well, no problem. But there is always a chance that you
might get an unstable system due to applications that do not play well with
Vista.

The safest is to make a backup of your system to an external hard drive now.
Next use the Windows Easy Transfer wizard in Vista (when you get it) to copy
all your files and settings to shiny media or an external hard drive so that
you can have them if the upgrade does not go to you satisfaction and you
decide to reformat, reinstall XP, and then apply the Vista upgrade.

If you don't have an external hard drive, now is the time to get one. They
more than pay for themselves.

"Abhi" <Abhi@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:77C0EAD8-D300-4C96-BC13-6C8032B4B403@microsoft.com...
> hi, i have a short question ..
>
> if i install windows vista, will my data on drive C get deleted? I
> currently
> use windows XP and am thinking of upgrading, but i'm scared that i will
> loose
> my data.
>
> Thanks
>

While he probably will not lose his data, it is possible that he will. A
crash or error while writing partitions and boot records could easily render
his hard drive unusable without a complete format.

For the OP, I suggest doing a backup, like Colin said, to an external drive
but then I recommend formatting your hard drive and doing a clean install of
Vista and not an upgrade.

Dale

"SteveC" <sconklan.nospam@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:A5B88312-A38A-4E1C-861B-3E3291538FDB@microsoft.com...
You will not lose your data. If you upgrade, all your current Windows
programs (Office, etc.) and their files will be there and they will work
just fine. Vista moves pictures and documents to updated locations but they
are still available. I hope you have the final version as you won't be able
to go back to XP later. If you think you may want to go back, you should
back up your XP files. (You should always backup your documents and
application files, of course)
"Abhi" <Abhi@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:77C0EAD8-D300-4C96-BC13-6C8032B4B403@microsoft.com...
hi, i have a short question ..

if i install windows vista, will my data on drive C get deleted? I currently
use windows XP and am thinking of upgrading, but i'm scared that i will
loose
my data.

Thanks

Abhi wrote:

> hi, i have a short question ..
>
> if i install windows vista, will my data on drive C get deleted?


If you do a clean installation, yes.

If you do an upgrade installation, no.



> I currently use windows XP and am thinking of upgrading, but i'm scared
> that i will loose my data.


Even if you do an upgrade installation, there are no guarantees that it
always works perfectly. However unlikely, it's always possible that
something might go wrong. For that reason it's prudent to be sure you have a
backup of anything you can't afford to lose before beginning.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

"Abhi" wrote

> hi, i have a short question ..
>
> if i install windows vista, will my data on drive C get deleted? I
> currently
> use windows XP and am thinking of upgrading, but i'm scared that i will
> loose
> my data.

To add to what others have said, I suggest you invest in a drive imaging
program, such as Acronis True Image 10 which is also Vista compatible, and
external USB drive. Image your current system, then do the upgrade (make
sure you run the upgrade advisor first). If the upgrade goes well, then
fine, if not you can restore the system from the image, and then install
Vista clean either as a stand alone or as a dual boot.

You can either upgrade or setup a fresh copy that will clean your previous
Windows version.
If you choose to upgrade all your settings and files will be saved.

Regards,

"Abhi" <Abhi@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:77C0EAD8-D300-4C96-BC13-6C8032B4B403@microsoft.com...
> hi, i have a short question ..
>
> if i install windows vista, will my data on drive C get deleted? I
> currently
> use windows XP and am thinking of upgrading, but i'm scared that i will
> loose
> my data.
>
> Thanks
>

What would happen to your data if you did not do an upgrade, left your PC
alone, then the hard drive crashed? Will you lose all your data? Have you
even thought of backing up your data just in case your hard drive crashes?
Actually, it's not IF your hard drive will die, it's WHEN your hard drive
will die. Most likely it should last a long time, but it could go at any
time. Just like a Heart Attack among Humans, you never know. (that reminds
me.... less meat, more vegetables, and get out from the computer and
exercise)

Make sure you always have an up to date backup of all your important data.




"Abhi" <Abhi@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:77C0EAD8-D300-4C96-BC13-6C8032B4B403@microsoft.com...
> hi, i have a short question ..
>
> if i install windows vista, will my data on drive C get deleted? I
> currently
> use windows XP and am thinking of upgrading, but i'm scared that i will
> loose
> my data.
>
> Thanks
>