I have Dell xps, and as long as I do not turn it off the tech told me that I should have time to back my folders up.. I tried, but got an error message.. So my question is this.
How can I back up I tunes ( I have a bunch of tv shows)
all the software I have… I dont want to have to reinstall all of ot anf mess with re-activations ect..
Can I somehow save my software files, and just reinstall them on the new hd??
It’s not really possible to do what you’re asking with the programs. The installation information is all stored in Window’s Registry. If you don’t copy the registry information as well with the programs, then you can’t run a lot of the programs. The programs depend on the registry telling them where everything is located. To change the registry to match your new stuff is even more of a tedious task–even more so than just reinstalling everything.
As far as the TV shows and what not, that I assume you should be able to just copy, since it is in no way directly connected to the registry.
Hate to break it to you, but unless you do some major registry hacking and weeding, you will have to reinstall all the stuff. It would be much easier.
Hope that helps
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You can back up iTunes in two ways. Doing it from iTunes itself is safer (but not always more convenient).
This is how:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302392
And doing it yourself, you need to click the “Unlock” option and then you can just copy your whole “My Music” folder.
Again, here’s a detailed how-to on that:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300173
If you want to back up everything, just use any disk imaging software or easier – system restore that comes with windows.
As for your hard drive, what is failing? Did it fail a SMART test or is it just the file system?
I have had both happen to me, the SMART fail is weird. I had a drive “Burn out” and sometimes it would refuze to start, but if I let it cool down, it’ll work again.
As for a file system, you can do two things:
1. Get the manufacturer’s software bootable disk (Like WD’s Data Lifeguard or Maxtor’s Powertools) and run all scans and repairs you can. They work hard.
2. And this is what worked for me, but it takes a bit more work and experience: I downloaded and burned a Linux Live CD (boots from a CD/DVD) and I used the utilities to manage my drives from the operating system while my drive isn’t in use.
For the rest of the programs… It’s too much work to back them up, you’d need to search tons and tons of folders in the registry and back them up, organize and then restore individually. You’d be better off just re-installing. Plus, a clean start always makes your PC run better for a while
As for Disk Imaging…. I’m not a fan… If you have any errors in your files or undetected viruses etc… it’ll just copy them over and you ARE risking the blue screen of death (and as we all know, that’s not a good thing) by starting the PC up with different hardware.
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This is absolutely possible in a process called Hard Drive Imaging. Hard Drive images are complete copies of a hard drive partition including all user files, the operating system, and hidden files making the process extremely simple and quick. Because the OS is preserved the registry is also meaning you don’t have to worry about activations or anything and you get the added bonus of not having to reinstall or setup windows to your preferences. There are many programs that do this however the best ones are Norton Ghost and PowerQuest Drive Image. They can be found at:
Norton Ghost: http://www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice/products/overview.jsp?pcid=br&pvid=ghost10
PowerQuest: http://www.powerquest.com/home_homeoffice/products/backup_recovery/ghost10/index.html
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im not sure you can save the registrations stuff from your progarms you may have to try and burn what u can on cd or dvd and just do a fresh install you may also want to try and run some hd software there is a good one that i have used with some success it is called spinrite you basically make a boot disk or boot cd and restart your pc and it attempts to fix hd problems if you need help locating the program email me
armient@yahoo.com
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