just looking for easy,& free backup program

[Guest]

i am needing a backup program as I have to wipe the hard drive it has way too
many problems. also I'm looking for help in reinstalling all the moicrosoft
stuff. I have Windows XP and small business, and it's a dell computer. I s
there a backup program within windows xp? or do I have to download one? I
tthink that's all for now.

Thanks,
Lisa

 

[Steve Freides]

i am needing a backup program as I have to wipe the hard drive it has way
too
many problems. also I'm looking for help in reinstalling all the
moicrosoft
stuff. I have Windows XP and small business, and it's a dell computer. I
s
there a backup program within windows xp? or do I have to download one?
I
tthink that's all for now.

Thanks,
Lisa

On Dell's I have worked on, after you reinstall XP, you need to get Dell
tech support on the phone because you will have a lot of things that show as
yellow question marks in Device Manager. Typically there are half a dozen
or so drivers you must install, and Dell highly recommends you install them
in a very specific order. That done, your machine should work fine.

As to backups, before you give up completely, you might try the Repair
option of your WindowsXP installation CD's - it can sometimes fix problems.
Other than that, the easiest thing is to install another hard drive in the
machine, perhaps via the USB port using an external hard drive, and copy all
the files you wish to preserve. When you're back up and running again, copy
the files back from the external drive. The advantage of the Repair option
is that, unlike a complete reinstall, you may be spared having to reinstall
all your software.

Hope that helps some.

-S-

 

[Patrick Keenan]

i am needing a backup program as I have to wipe the hard drive it has way
too
many problems. also I'm looking for help in reinstalling all the
moicrosoft
stuff. I have Windows XP and small business, and it's a dell computer. I
s
there a backup program within windows xp? or do I have to download one?
I
tthink that's all for now.

Thanks,
Lisa

Sometimes there is a backup program, but it isn't always included in OEM
distributions. You have to check yours.

And whatever you use, you absolutely must verify the backups before you
remove the originals. Restore the files to another folder and be *sure*
they work.

Another approach is to treat your current disk as the backup. This approach
has a few advantages - you don't have to worry about whether the backup
actually worked, and newer drives may be faster. And if you're having
system problems already, you won't have to wrestle with them to get the
backup to work. You can just bypass the problems.

And of course, you must consider that you have to back up to *something*
big enough to accept the file.. like another hard disk.

I see new 80-gig drives for under CDN$50, and 250-gig drives for CDN$75.
If your Dell came with XP reinstall CDs rather than a recovery partition,
simply remove the old drive, set the jumpers on the new one the same way.
Put the new drive in, and make your new XP and Office install. Then,
attach the old drive, either internally or via a USB2 drive case or adapter
(about $20 - $30), and simply copy the old files over. No worries about
reinstalling or configuring the backup program; you'll just have your data.

If you use the XP backup utility, note that if you choose the full system
backup, you have to have a floppy on hand, and the system must have a floppy
drive, something not all Dells do. And, you're going to need something
large to write the backup to... such as another hard disk. By default,
ntbackup can't write to CDs or DVDs.

HTH
-pk

 

[Guest]

I don't have a spare hard drive, actually I just need to reinstall windows
system 32 as I got several pups on it and I think I have a few files missing.
I've worked with the support team but they can't seem to be able to help me,

Lisa

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I don't have a spare hard drive, actually I just need to reinstall windows
system 32

That can really only be done as part of a reinstall, either complete or
repair.

as I got several pups
pups?

. on it and I think I have a few files missing.

Have you tried sfc? This is the System File Checker, which will require
the install CD.

I've worked with the support team but they can't seem to be able to help
me,

Lisa

You might consider a better support team who have physical access to your
system.

And if your data is of value and isn't otherwise backed up, and if you have
install CDs, consider the 2nd hard drive option. It's straightforward,
quick and very reliable. Compare the cost of the drive, perhaps a maximum
of $75, to the value of your time and your data.

Since it's a Dell, use the service tag number on the back of the PC to
identify any drivers you need to download, if you can't find the original
driver CD.



HTH
-pk

 

[Plato]

i am needing a backup program as I have to wipe the hard drive it has way too
many problems. also I'm looking for help in reinstalling all the moicrosoft

Have you already tried the many free anti-virus and anti-spyware
programs that can be downloaded and used for free?