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Computer Help and Support

hunter

(39,557 posts)

8. I regularly back up my entire home folder to external hard drives.

Reply to UTUSN (Original post)

Sat Jun 7, 2025, 07:43 PM

Jun 7

When I build a new computer I grab all my old files from a backup drive.

I've got files going back to the 'seventies and emulators for all the computers I've commonly used since then such as my Atari 8 bits and my MSDOS machines.

I'm a Linux guy who hasn't used Windows much since the beginning of the covid pandemic so I'm not going to recommend any Windows backup software. But I highly recommend making regular backups to external drives. These backups are useful in all sorts of ways beyond computer failures or losses.

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UTUSN

33 replies

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Highlight:

*UPDATE* see Post 22 ZOWIE! - Which is the simplest way to transfer files/pics from old laptop to new? [View all] UTUSN Jun 7 OP

My backup and transfer strategy. usonian Jun 7 #1

Thanks. Maybe for the future. UTUSN Jun 7 #4

I have a claudette Jun 7 #2

OK, this sounds same as transferring on-and-off of the thumbs/GoogleDrive etc. (not the USB). UTUSN Jun 7 #3

If you have Google drive can't you just use that? LearnedHand Jun 7 #5

You have a point. I guess i have it, use chrome and gmail. What's sneakernet? UTUSN Jun 7 #6

I don't know what the size of the drive is LearnedHand Jun 7 #7

Have never used powerpoint at all. Will it do what simple Publisher did for me: UTUSN Jun 7 #9

Basically it's plugging a drive into one machine,,, lastlib Jun 8 #18

Thanks, not to prolong, but "plugging a drive" - I've heard of downloading drives, but what is a UTUSN Jun 8 #19

Any USB drive--thumb drive or external hard drive--or SSD card..... lastlib Jun 8 #20

Thanks UTUSN Jun 8 #21

I regularly back up my entire home folder to external hard drives. hunter Jun 7 #8

Thanks but way beyond me. UTUSN Jun 7 #10

Thumb drives sound the easiest for you. Cloud works well aslo but usually have a limit like 750GB Eko Jun 7 #11

Thanks. Had been convinced about google, now swayed by you to thumb. UTUSN Jun 7 #12

You can get a usb disk drive cheap also. Eko Jun 7 #13

Is it a piece of machinery? Connects by usb or how? UTUSN Jun 7 #14

usb cable, its a usb cd drive to be clear Eko Jun 7 #15

Wow thanks for everything! That ought to do the program part. UTUSN Jun 7 #16

No prob. Eko Jun 7 #17

*ZOWIE*! - got/connected/installed an LG jobber and DOWNLOADED the Publisher 2007!!!!!!!!!!!!! UTUSN Jun 8 #22

Nice! Eko Jun 8 #23

Transfering data files LPBBEAR Jun 9 #24

Thanks, but my hassle free method would be to hire you and pick up the thing when you were done! UTUSN Jun 9 #25

Friends! usonian Jun 9 #26

So you are your friends' thumb/disc/cloud object. I mis-read your headline "Friends!" UTUSN Jun 9 #28

I was once asked to bring a "zip drive" to a menorial service. usonian Jun 9 #30

"confusion in terminology" speaks to me. A peeve in my old age has been communicating, UTUSN Jun 9 #31

I'm probably older than you. usonian Jun 9 #33

That would be great... LPBBEAR Jun 9 #32

I've used cloud backup for this for years. Basso8vb Jun 9 #27

********FINAL UPDATE******** - have now Saved the missing folder onto thumb & opened it on new laptop UTUSN Jun 9 #29