BackUp Question!!

[Obieone]

The lcd screen on my Acer laptop is f'ed up so I have to fedex it to the company for servicing. They told me I should backup all the stuff I want to keep off my hard drive because they may have to format it .... I don't know why they would have to do that if they are simply replacing the screen :thinking: but I dunno !!

Just how exactly do I do that ... my daughter (and I) have a ton of music and pictures on it ... and I'd like to keep my .docs and email addy's .... I'm asceered of loosing it all ..... can you please help me :o ...

Obieone

[Obieone]

Okay I've been thinking about this ... would I just buy a few of those memory stick thingees and save what I want on to those :thinking: ??? See.... there's hope for me .... :o

By the way has anyone communicated with patonb lately ??


J

[Obieone]

Would using a website like this work https://www.gotomypc.com/mm/g25semLMlp.tmpl? ??

Obie

[PN]

Obi: you need to get an External Hard Drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136182) or a (16 GB may not be enough storage) or a USB Flash Drive (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3106971&Sku=C13-2536). I use both. I haven't heard from patonb in many months. If you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask.

[PN]

Obi: You have two other options. If your laptop has a CD or DVD burner, you can back up your files and folders onto a DVD or CD disc. The laptop probably would have come with back up software. The USB flash drive, I think is the easiest way to back up your data but there is a size limitation. Another option would be to do an on-line back up with a company such as Carbonite (http://carbonite.com/) which offers unlimited storage for $50 a year.

Below are some screen shots after I put in my USB flash drive. What you want to do is drag your files or pictures into the USB device. You know someone should really do a video on how to back up your data.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm114/ssuusc/USB.jpg

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm114/ssuusc/USB2.jpg

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm114/ssuusc/USBthree.jpg

[sjean423]

Obie, the flash drive (memory stick thingy) would work fine, if you have enough room on it. You are just copying the files from one place to another. An external drive would have more space, you would probably need the space if you have a lot of pics.

But this problem is pointing out that you really need to back up the pictures especially! (The music is replaceable, but it would be good to get a backup of that as well). I wouldn;t want to trust a flash drive for long term storage .... too easy for someone to accidentally mix up and use for something else. :(

Your email addresses may be saved on the server of your isp. Are they available if you use a different computer to access your email? But another thing you might want to back up is your bookmarks from your web browser. What do you use for a browser? I can tell you how for Firefox or IE.

I really like this external hard drive. WD Passport (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015WM4TW/sr=1-2/qid=1247194883/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1247194883&sr=1-2)
(Poke around for prices, you can get some good deals). It is about the size of a deck of index cards. My daughter was having a lot of hard drive issues w. her laptop and we bought her one.

HAven;t seen anything from Patonb in a while myself. Hoping after all that time on bed rest, he is out living it up!

[Obieone]

Thanks for the responses you guys .... but I just realized I have another little problem .... how do I do this when I can only see about 1/3 of the screen most of the time . Sometimes by sheer luck I can get a little more viewable area if I press down on the screen with my thumbs .. but it's hit or miss ... sometimes I'll get the whole screen back for a second and then it slowly fades into flickery lines and fog !! The music I can get over but the pics, docs and addresses ..... geez :( ....

Obie

[sjean423]

obie, do you have a desktop computer at home? If so, you can take the monitor from that computer, and connect it to the laptop. I can't talk you through that, I get someone else to do my hardware issues usually. Julie's friend will know how to do it. It isn;t hard tho .... I just don;t know offhand what goes where.

As far as the small window of visibility. You know how you can shrink the window you are viewing down ..... on the top corner, there are the boxes to minimize the screen, resize it or close it? ( _ , 2 boxes , X) the middle one gives you a smaller window, and you can use the mouse to make that window the size and shape you want. This works online, and offline, when using folders and such. If you can get the screen to behave enough to do it. Then with everything in a smaller window, it is easier to get it into the area of the screen that works. (Have a similar problem w. my laptop, but my daughter uses it all the time. I guess when you watch movies on an ipod, watching them in a 4 inch window isn;t bad.)



And don;t forget your bookmarks, tell me what your browser is and I will tell you how to get them saved.

[sjean423]

ps, worst case scenario, your kids must have some computer wiz friends. The data is all there, even tho you can;t see it. They could get someone to copy it for you. The place that is fixing the screen probably won;t need to reformat, but they need to cover themselves, in case the problem isn;t exactly as you described it.

[CapnGimp]

OBIE,
You can remove the hard drive and put it in a usb enclosure, take it to another computer and copy the data you want to save that way also. The external monitor is the BEST idea if you have an external vga port on your laptop. Just plug the monitor in with the laptop power OFF. NEVER plug/unplug devices with power on, except Firewire, USB and eSATA devices.
When you turn your laptop on, hopefully it will install the monitor itself. Oftentimes, you have to rc on desktop, rc PROPERTIES, click SETTINGS tab and here you set it up for two monitors. Clone would be what you need.

There isn't a MAGIC back up my pooter button. You have to copy/paste/move/drag n drop or manually, what you wish to save. Individual programs MAY have a way back up to a file which you would then move to your saving place.

I use opera for a browser so b/u is a very simple thing. It also has SYNC built-in, I keep my bookmarks and contacts online so I can access them from any computer, anywhere. But I'm smart like that :D Been trying to get UpEEpZ to use a REAL browser for years, lol.

Hope ya get it soon.

[Obieone]

OMG thank you Steph and Capn' .... I never even thought about resizing .. it worked perfectly :applaud: and I will talk to my 'puter man servant and ask him to do the hook up the monitor idea .... I'm kinda stubborn about asking for help with this stuff cause I like to be able to figure it out on my own but I guess I'll have to cave on this. What would I do without you all ..... {{{{hug}}} thanks again !!

Obie

[Obieone]

One more thing I keep forgetting to say I use Firefox but I've been tempted to try Opera ... I'm a little sceered to try something new ... and yes Steph I'll remember to save my bookmarks ... thanks for reminding me ..I have a boatload of them I'd hate to loose all those Stumbles :D
!

Obie

[rybread]

In Firefox, go to bookmarks -- manage bookmarks -- backup and you can select where you want them to go. I would recommend getting a backup hard drive to backup all your pictures and music on because I can almost guarantee, there's going to be some music on there that you don't know where you got it. Most of those external hard drives come with software to back up whatever you want onto it. I sent you a PM so give me a call if you have any problems or let me know if you have Yahoo or anything and maybe I can take control and do stuff for you. Hope I can help some

[mags85]

OBIE i WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND CHANGING YR iNTERNET OPTIONS TO 2 DAYS INSTEAD OF 20 you can do this on yr tools on anywab page yr on see above and go onto the acer site they have everything on there site to download what you need