Re-formatting Winxp - How?
<div class="IPBDescription">Got to do it differently this time.</div> In the past I've always saved all important files (favorites, email messages and addys, configs etc.) on my second computer which was networked with this one. I loaned my Dell to my brother and no longer can exercize that option.
I am completely ignorant regarding an alternative method of backing up my important files. I do have a cd burner on here, and plenty of media to use with it, but they are what, 750mb a piece? And don't they need to be formatted a certain way first? No I don't own a zip drive before you suggest that.
My question is simple, what is the easiest, cheapest method to backup my important files prior to re-formatting?
I am completely ignorant regarding an alternative method of backing up my important files. I do have a cd burner on here, and plenty of media to use with it, but they are what, 750mb a piece? And don't they need to be formatted a certain way first? No I don't own a zip drive before you suggest that.
My question is simple, what is the easiest, cheapest method to backup my important files prior to re-formatting?
Comments
One ideal way is to store it online. Either get some one to lend you some FTP space, rents some, or if it isn't to much gmail it.
I was gona say, don't you have some space from BM.org also?
Another question, I guess the best method would be to collect these files into a sizeable folder (locally), then zip it before uploading. Are there any file types it just won't do any good to zip? With an upload speed of 350kbps what would you limit file/folder sizes to?
That would be kilobits.
This is what I plan on doing next time I format + reinstall (hopefully sometime in the near future)
Edit: if you've got a fast (24X and up) CD burner that should be adequate; a 52X burner can write a CD in something like 2-3 minutes...but if you have loads and loads of stuff to save it can still take a while, in which case I suggest the HD thing again...and if you want to use your original HD for the operating system, hook up the new one as a slave and just drag everything you want to keep over. When you format, it may be a good idea to disconnect your storage drive to make sure you dont erase the wrong one by mistake <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Website is <a href='http://www.7-zip.org' target='_blank'>7-zip.Org</a>. Program is done under the LGPL terms, and I can certify the installation as virus, and spyware-free.
On backup terms, if you've got an iPod not filled to the brims with illegal music downloads, like mine, you can use it with 7-Zip for a huge amount of backup. I could probably squeeze nearly 100GB into my 20GB 'Pod, word size dependant.
Failing that, DVD remains to be the best backup in terms of cost per MB. Get a good one like an NEC 3520-A drive, and some good DVD-R's, like Tuff-Disc, or Verbatim (both of which are compatible with the 3520), then back up the data to DVD. If you're careless with them, then back it up to 2 discs, with the same content, to ensure that you aren't going to lose anything. Don't go for dual layer discs, as they are too expensive at the moment, and useless if you don't look after discs very well.
Patch FTW.
can you do segemnts with 7-zip?
Plus, 7-Zip doesn't have annoying "You must buy me or never be able to access you archives again (or just reinstall me in 29 days time)" crap associated with it.
Open Source software FTW!
and 1/2 the point of reformating is cleaning out your registry <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Plus, 7-Zip doesn't have annoying "You must buy me or never be able to access you archives again (or just reinstall me in 29 days time)" crap associated with it.
Open Source software FTW! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Last time I tried 7zip, I couldn't do stuff like dragging and dropping, extracting to a new folder (you have to create it first) and whenever the archive was passworded, it still extracted if the password was wrong, thus losing precious time when the archive is large.
When that's fixed, I'll go for 7z.
Good points. If I burn to CD how do I format them?
Good points. If I burn to CD how do I format them? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
CD-R's you don't need to, only CD-RW need(needed? don't think you need to these days) to burn to them. Grab a decent burning program like Ahead Nero and get burning.
Just burn CDs using Nero or some other CD-Burning program.