Driver for a Dell XPS 8500 - ?

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I guess I'll just have to backup everything to
keep things simple.

I think I'll start another thread on how to create
a boot disk unless you can give me easy to follow
instructions.

See Paul's reply.

By the way I've tried to look all of this up in my
Windows 7 for Dummies 8 books in 1) which I have
found totally useless.

I always dislike all the "xxxx for Dummies" books. Besides their not
being good, I think their title are insulting and I refuse to
patronize them.

If you want a good Windows 7 book, I recommend "Windows 7 Inside Out"
by Bott, Siechert, and Stinson.

 

[magineer02]

I appreciate all the time and effort
with the film strip tutorials; they are
very helpful but I thought you or Ken
had said that you don't like using Microsoft
for creating backups?

Another thing I wonder about is once I create
backup CD how to use it if I catch a virus or
something?

At present from what you and Ken have told me
I plan to buy the Seagate dedicated external
HD using Macrium to backup my HD and also to
create a boot disk.

Robert

 

[magineer02]

If you want a good Windows 7 book, I recommend "Windows 7 Inside Out"

by Bott, Siechert, and Stinson.

Thank you for good tip on Windows 7
Inside and Out. I really appreciate it.

Robert

 

[Paul]

I appreciate all the time and effort
with the film strip tutorials; they are
very helpful but I thought you or Ken
had said that you don't like using Microsoft
for creating backups?

Another thing I wonder about is once I create
backup CD how to use it if I catch a virus or
something?

At present from what you and Ken have told me
I plan to buy the Seagate dedicated external
HD using Macrium to backup my HD and also to
create a boot disk.

Robert

I like any software that works

The "System Image" function on Windows 7, is
easy and it works. It saved me from a catastrophe
on my laptop. So that one is OK.

There are other Windows backup softwares, which
have a few rough edges. In which case, I'll
take an easy-to-use third party program instead.

On Windows 8, I still use the (hidden) Windows 7
software. They left it in place. You just have to
find it

Macrium Reflect Free, is similar in many ways
to the "System Image" function on Windows 7. One
difference, is it may not overwrite old backups
on you. With System Image, I move them to another
place on the disk, so the old ones don't get
overwritten.

Paul

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thank you for good tip on Windows 7
Inside and Out. I really appreciate it.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[magineer02]

Good information Paul and I was going to ask if
backups overwrite each other?

Thanks,
Robert

 

[magineer02]

I think I have a handle on what to get etc. and
I want to thank you and Paul for all your great
information and taking the time to help me. I
appreciate it very much.

Thank you,
Robert

 

[Paul]

Good information Paul and I was going to ask if
backups overwrite each other?

Thanks,
Robert

The file-by-file backup method in Windows 7 does not.
It uses a rolling scheme, where the oldest backup might
be considered for removal.

The "System Image" function I'm talking about, is not
a true backup system. What it is intended for,
is preparing a complete snapshot of something, so
that if there is say, a broken disk, you restore the
whole thing. It is simple, but it is limited in
how useful it is. Because it is quick to set up,
it's one of the cheapest ways to get started.
Doesn't take a lot of time to make one.

In other words, if you have *no* backups, you'll be
very thankful to have one of those. But, if you wanted
a safety net for individual files, it's not the way.
If you were worried about losing yesterdays work, the
System Image is not practical for that.

When I make a System Image, I move the folder to some
other place, for a rainy day. When I make a folder to
hold what the System Image dumped, I make notes about
what the backup is for. This is not a lot of extra work.

A true backup system, gives you better access to individual
files, like "I want my lunchmoney.xls file from Feb 23".
And the System Image isn't intended for that sort of thing.
You can, with a small bit of work, extract individual files.
But you don't get a convenient interface to do it with.

The file-by-file backup method, can do incremental
backups, so your second backup session takes much less
time than the first. Then, at regular intervals, so
it won't lose anything, it makes a full backup again.
Each of these is a "backup set". And when you run out
of space, the oldest backup set can be deleted to make room.
You can keep several backup sets on your external disk
before it runs out of room.

Since, by default, it uses 30% of the external disk, if
you were doing file-by-file, you find the setting to
allow it to use most of the disk. Then you're getting
your money's worth for the $100 spent on the backup drive.

This is the file-by-file backup. And it tells you something
about the 30% limit.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/11/23/managing-backup-disk-space.aspx

*******

If you want to read the whole series of articles on Windows Backup,
they're here.

The set of five blogs is:

Protect your files and PC with Windows 7 Backup 23 Oct 2009
http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/...-your-files-and-pc-with-windows-7-backup.aspx

Learn more about system image backup 31 Oct 2009
(This is the second post in a blog series on backup and recovery offerings in Windows 7.)
http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/10/31/learn-more-about-system-image-backup.aspx

Recovering your files in Windows 7 11 Nov 2009
(This is the third post in a blog series on backup and recovery offerings in Windows 7.)
http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/11/12/recovering-your-files-in-windows-7.aspx

Managing backup disk space 22 Nov 2009
(This is the fourth post in a blog series on backup and recovery offerings in Windows 7.)
http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/11/23/managing-backup-disk-space.aspx

What to do when your system misbehaves 9 Dec 2009
http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/12/09/what-to-do-when-your-system-misbehave.aspx

HTH,
Paul

 

[magineer02]

Thank you very much Paul, you've given me allot
of good information and I want to thank you for
all your good help and for taking the time to
help me and answer my questions.

If I have any problems later I can always post
it here. I think now I will start a new post
about my Word problem.

Many Thanks,
Robert

 

[magineer02]

I have a last question if I may; On Windows 7
it has something called the Action Center located
on the taskbar and once before and again today it
required a backup of the computer.

I have been using a flash drive for this but is
this going to continue or do I have to change to
settings once I get my external HD?

I still thinking whether I'm going to use the
Microsoft backup features vs Macrium. From what
you've told me Macrium imitates the features of
Microsoft, is that not correct?

Thanks,
Robert

 

[magineer02]

I have a last question if I may; On Windows 7
it has something called the Action Center located
on the taskbar and once before and again today it
required a backup of the computer.

I have been using a flash drive for this but is
this going to continue or do I have to change to
settings once I get my external HD?

I'm still thinking whether I'm going to use the
Microsoft backup features vs Macrium. From what
you've told me Macrium imitates the features of
Microsoft, is that not correct?

Thanks,
Robert

 

[Paul]

I have a last question if I may; On Windows 7
it has something called the Action Center located
on the taskbar and once before and again today it
required a backup of the computer.

I have been using a flash drive for this but is
this going to continue or do I have to change to
settings once I get my external HD?

I'm still thinking whether I'm going to use the
Microsoft backup features vs Macrium. From what
you've told me Macrium imitates the features of
Microsoft, is that not correct?

Thanks,
Robert

You can do one of each if you want

The next time the Action Center comes calling,
see if there is a control panel to look at,
with the details of what backup scheme is running
and what it is doing.

You might be seeing something different on your
computer, than I see on mine. By default, my Acer laptop
uses some third-party software. Whereas I used the
System Image from Windows, when I wanted a quick snapshot
for safety. It is possible for an OEM (Dell), to add
in their own software. And I won't see Dell software
on my Acer.

Paul

 

[magineer02]

I could take a screen shot(s) but I don't know
how to post it here? I suppose I should start
a separate post concerning this.

I also mention I've posted my Microsoft Word
problem.

Additionally, I have another issue that just
surfaced with Defraggler and I will also post
that.

I want to thank you for all your good help and
advice.


Thanks,
Robert

 

[Paul]

I could take a screen shot(s) but I don't know
how to post it here? I suppose I should start
a separate post concerning this.

I also mention I've posted my Microsoft Word
problem.

Additionally, I have another issue that just
surfaced with Defraggler and I will also post
that.

I want to thank you for all your good help and
advice.


Thanks,
Robert

You can post pictures on picture hosting sites,
then give us a URL to them.

I use imageshack.us for pictures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_photo_sharing_websites

What I look for in a hosting site, is one with no
registration. I don't wish to "edit my collection".
Simply being able to post single pictures, without
ownership, is good enough for my purposes. Since
most of my pictures will be screen shots.

The imageshack.us can be operated without registration.
You clear browser cookies before visiting, and pretend
this is your first visit to the site.

Paul