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Hey all,
I have a little problem. My hp elitebook 8540w with windows 7 can't run backups. I have tried every solution on the net, from removing the 100MB system partition to removing language packs, but to no avail.
Then I tried downloading Fbackup 4. With this program I can succesfully transfer files to my external harddrive. However I'm not sure if this can be used to succesfully restore if something happens: With this program, I just copied the entire C and D section (C being the local disk, D being 'HP recovery') to the external harddrive.
However I do not have something like a shadow copy.
Is having the C and D drive of my computer enough to restore my laptop if something happened? Like, are the system settings/window 7 specifications in the C drive?
I hope this is enough information, I figured the laptop specifications are of no use to my question not really having anything to do with it. Thanks alot!
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I don't know what exactly u mean with "system settings/windows 7 specifications". I think u mean just CTRL+C'ing and pasting your whole C and D drive onto a clean drive? This doesn't work. But it really isn't hard to just install Windows and get started again.
Personally I backup all of my big programs that don't need reinstalls, like SC2 for example. All my personal files, the AppData folder and my media disk. I just clean install, paste everything back, adjust my windows sensitivity, install minor programs(Web browsers, Drivers, Vanity things, etc..) and I'm good to go.
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I only backup important files, usually to the web. I never backup any system stuff, everything can be reinstalled and settings are not hard to remember or even important
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I'm not too good with this stuff sadly, haha. I made a repair disc, and I now have this 'backup'. But I don't have any windows 7 install CDs or anything- it was already installed when I ordered the laptop through my university. In the event of a hard drive disk failure, will this repair disk + the C/D drive be enough to get my laptop in it's current state again?
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On January 04 2013 23:12 Henk wrote: I'm not too good with this stuff sadly, haha. I made a repair disc, and I now have this 'backup'. But I don't have any windows 7 install CDs or anything- it was already installed when I ordered the laptop through my university. In the event of a hard drive disk failure, will this repair disk + the C/D drive be enough to get my laptop in it's current state again? U can download a Windows 7 ISO file from some torrent site, your activation key should be on the bottom of your laptop. I don't know why u are so keen on copying your Windows version as well?
Sometimes yes, it's really dependent of what the problem is. Your harddrive can also just die completely but it's rare.
Backing up files externally is the best way to make sure u don't lose files. If u have some cash to spend, buy 3 harddrives and put them in RAID5 (If one fails, u can just replace it and lose no files at all). Costs like 500-700 euro..
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RAID 5 is insane unless you have a lot of important shit that must stay online for long periods of time. Internet backup of important files/copy to secondary hard drive is the smarter idea.
RAID exists to decrease downtime. He's running a laptop, why does he need a RAID 5 for? It's not a backup either, backups for one are much cheaper.
To the OP: I don't know why you're having trouble but it sounds like you want to create system image. Google that and you should get some answers. Windows 7 has decent backup utilities so I dunno why you're finding this difficult.
You want to put this image on a DVD or something. The C and D drive are just partitions located on the same hard drive, I believe. If the drive dies, it's wiping your C and D drive.
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That's the problem; I can't create a system image. The backup feature of windows 7 gives error after error, hence I tried using another program which basically just copied C: and D: to the external harddrive.
So I guess basically my question was this; can I restore my system (if my regular hard drive crashed) without having a system image? I do have the windows product key like Gihi said, and the repair CD + C/D drives. I would prefer not downloading a torrented windows 7 though, especially since I do have the original version..
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5930 Posts
Well what are the errors.
The provided CDs will probably put your laptop back to its original state if that's what you are asking.
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You can try to use Clonezilla . All you have to do after cloning is to edit the unqiue ids for one of the harddrives but there are plenty of tutorials on that matter . If your old drive has physical damage it may not work at all , but its worth a shot . I used it myself a few weeks ago and replaced my old hdd with an ssd without having to reinstall my os or anything else . It also supports clone to image or only clone certain partions .
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I made the repair CD myself by inserting an empty CD and running 'create repair CD'. I'm not really looking to solve the backup errors, I have tried everything the internet provided (as I stated in my main post), I was just asking if the things I have already done now are enough to ensure I can restore my laptop if my current HDD was to fail.
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On January 05 2013 02:31 Womwomwom wrote: RAID 5 is insane unless you have a lot of important shit that must stay online for long periods of time. Internet backup of important files/copy to secondary hard drive is the smarter idea.
RAID exists to decrease downtime. He's running a laptop, why does he need a RAID 5 for? It's not a backup either, backups for one are much cheaper.
To the OP: I don't know why you're having trouble but it sounds like you want to create system image. Google that and you should get some answers. Windows 7 has decent backup utilities so I dunno why you're finding this difficult.
You want to put this image on a DVD or something. The C and D drive are just partitions located on the same hard drive, I believe. If the drive dies, it's wiping your C and D drive. You are obligated to read the OP his posts before replying. He is using an external HDD and wants to backup his whole pc, he seems pretty keen on never losing his stuff if something happens to one of his HDDs, hence the RAID suggestion. 1 or 5 would be ideal. I don't see how him having a laptop or a desktop relates to having a RAID setup with a diskstation. He also stated he has tried a lot of ways to backup, make ghosts, etc.
On January 05 2013 03:43 Henk wrote: I made the repair CD myself by inserting an empty CD and running 'create repair CD'. I'm not really looking to solve the backup errors, I have tried everything the internet provided (as I stated in my main post), I was just asking if the things I have already done now are enough to ensure I can restore my laptop if my current HDD was to fail. I'll sum some situations up for you, so u understand what the things u have already done can repair/recover ^^
- In most cases, u will be able to restore your system if something happens. If a problem occurs and u can fix it with the repair CD, u will keep your files & your system. - If a problem occurs and the CD doesn't fix it, you can always put your harddrives in another PC (Or just connect them with all the SATA3 ports these days) and get your FILES back this way (Not your system, although u can recover most program preferences etc) - If your harddrive crashes (Which VERY rarely happens, but it can always happen. Even during the most regular of tasks) you lose everything u haven't backed up on your external HDD. Your CD won't help here. Your C and D drive are most probably on the same HDD, so u'll lose everything on both.
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On January 06 2013 20:33 Gihi wrote:Show nested quote +On January 05 2013 02:31 Womwomwom wrote: RAID 5 is insane unless you have a lot of important shit that must stay online for long periods of time. Internet backup of important files/copy to secondary hard drive is the smarter idea.
RAID exists to decrease downtime. He's running a laptop, why does he need a RAID 5 for? It's not a backup either, backups for one are much cheaper.
To the OP: I don't know why you're having trouble but it sounds like you want to create system image. Google that and you should get some answers. Windows 7 has decent backup utilities so I dunno why you're finding this difficult.
You want to put this image on a DVD or something. The C and D drive are just partitions located on the same hard drive, I believe. If the drive dies, it's wiping your C and D drive. You are obligated to read the OP his posts before replying. He is using an external HDD and wants to backup his whole pc, he seems pretty keen on never losing his stuff if something happens to one of his HDDs, hence the RAID suggestion. 1 or 5 would be ideal. I don't see how him having a laptop or a desktop relates to having a RAID setup with a diskstation. He also stated he has tried a lot of ways to backup, make ghosts, etc. Show nested quote +On January 05 2013 03:43 Henk wrote: I made the repair CD myself by inserting an empty CD and running 'create repair CD'. I'm not really looking to solve the backup errors, I have tried everything the internet provided (as I stated in my main post), I was just asking if the things I have already done now are enough to ensure I can restore my laptop if my current HDD was to fail. I'll sum some situations up for you, so u understand what the things u have already done can repair/recover ^^ - In most cases, u will be able to restore your system if something happens. If a problem occurs and u can fix it with the repair CD, u will keep your files & your system. - If a problem occurs and the CD doesn't fix it, you can always put your harddrives in another PC (Or just connect them with all the SATA3 ports these days) and get your FILES back this way (Not your system, although u can recover most program preferences etc) - If your harddrive crashes (Which VERY rarely happens, but it can always happen. Even during the most regular of tasks) you lose everything u haven't backed up on your external HDD. Your CD won't help here. Your C and D drive are most probably on the same HDD, so u'll lose everything on both.
Thanks alot man!
So the repair CD should help with most problems. I have my entire C and D drive on the external harddrive right now, and I placed the harddrive in a safe. I have a laptop, so I figured if it was ever stolen, I would still have those files. (Thus, even if my harddrive crashes, I still have the C and D drive).
So would you say the Repair CD + the C and D drive on the external harddrive are enough to be 'safe' from most stuff that could happen?
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On January 06 2013 22:14 Henk wrote: Thanks alot man!
So the repair CD should help with most problems. I have my entire C and D drive on the external harddrive right now, and I placed the harddrive in a safe. I have a laptop, so I figured if it was ever stolen, I would still have those files. (Thus, even if my harddrive crashes, I still have the C and D drive).
So would you say the Repair CD + the C and D drive on the external harddrive are enough to be 'safe' from most stuff that could happen? Yeah for sure. I'd download an ISO of Windows 7 as well, in case the repair CD doesn't work and u have to reinstall Windows from scratch. There are some programs u can install which automatically copy the folders specified from your C and D drive to your external drive. I know myself, I always get lazy or just forget and I'll wait too long to backup, so I get it done automatically!
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Downloading the ISO right now!
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Good, u can either burn it on a DVD (I'd advise googling very specificly, my burns always fail for some reason) or make a bootable USB (This is easier and more accessible imo) U don't have to keep a USB for it if u go with that option, just put the ISO file on your external HDD and if u ever need it, go to a nearby friends PC or something and make the bootable USB then ^^
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Yeah I figured I'd need something like daemontools to unpack the ISO, which might be hard to do without a laptop. Using a friends computer should work then. Not sure on how to make a boot USB, but I'm sure I'll find out if I ever need it.
I got the windows 7 ISO file from here; http://www.mydigitallife.info/windows-7-iso-x86-and-x64-official-direct-download-links-ultimate-professional-and-home-premium/
Apparently it's the legal and official way of downloading it. However I never used a customer account for windows 7. My windows 7 is legal, the code is on the bottom of my laptop - will that be enough to activate this windows 7 copy? Thanks alot!
-might be wise to keep that code on the HDD as well, in case my laptop gets stolen...
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On January 07 2013 04:30 Henk wrote:Yeah I figured I'd need something like daemontools to unpack the ISO, which might be hard to do without a laptop. Using a friends computer should work then. Not sure on how to make a boot USB, but I'm sure I'll find out if I ever need it. I got the windows 7 ISO file from here; http://www.mydigitallife.info/windows-7-iso-x86-and-x64-official-direct-download-links-ultimate-professional-and-home-premium/Apparently it's the legal and official way of downloading it. However I never used a customer account for windows 7. My windows 7 is legal, the code is on the bottom of my laptop - will that be enough to activate this windows 7 copy? Thanks alot! -might be wise to keep that code on the HDD as well, in case my laptop gets stolen... Yeah it is enough. And good thinking ^^
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5930 Posts
You are obligated to read the OP his posts before replying. He is using an external HDD and wants to backup his whole pc, he seems pretty keen on never losing his stuff if something happens to one of his HDDs, hence the RAID suggestion. 1 or 5 would be ideal. I don't see how him having a laptop or a desktop relates to having a RAID setup with a diskstation. He also stated he has tried a lot of ways to backup, make ghosts, etc.
I have read the OP so keep the sass to yourself. RAID is not a solution at all no matter what. RAID is designed to reduce downtime and is designed for systems that stay online for 24/7. He does not need this, he literally has one hard drive (two if lucky) in his Elitebook that is partitioned into a C and D drive.
The solution is just a backup of media/document files and a ghost image of the C drive. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. Spending something like that "costs like 500-700 euro" for that is the definition of stupid. Not surprisingly, your final suggestion ignores the RAID route.
So tell me why RAID is at all sensible for his requirements? People seem to be particularly stupid about RAID on Teamliquid but a simple external hard disk backup (or even cloud backup, even better) does exactly what RAID 1 will do for the majority of people only without the cost. And RAID 5? You've got to be kidding.
When you have a problem where Windows won't let you do a very simple task, like a system image, it helps if the person actually tells us what the error is. Because that's an actual solution instead of relying on the a created repair CD, which will do nothing but repair Windows 7, or the provided HP repair CDs, which will probably put the computer back in its original factory state.
If that's fine with the user, cool, but he'll lose just about all software (hence professional software licences) and OS/program configuration settings installed on his laptop if the hard drive dies. Maybe assumptions are making a fool out of me but he has a Elitebook, the most expensive of all business laptops, so I'm assuming he has something on there.
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Oh OP, be sure u downloaded the right ISO, u can make sure what system u have (U probably did but I just thought what if u didn't and u end up installing 32 bit instead of 64) by pressing the Windows-key + R, typing dxdiag, and it should show there on the first screen u'll get!
On January 07 2013 14:22 Womwomwom wrote:so I'm assuming he has something on there. How clever of you. And what's a good way to make sure your files will never get lost to disk failure? Oh yes. RAID 5. And the handy thing is he can always access them from anywhere if he sets it up right. I was just reasoning by the hand of the OP's posts. No ghost, keen on keeping his files, probably works a lot out of home since he uses a laptop. A RAID 5 setup would do all that automatically, perfectly safe, and he'd have his own media center & private datacloud on top of it.
On January 07 2013 14:22 Womwomwom wrote: I have read the OP so keep the sass to yourself. When you have a problem where Windows won't let you do a very simple task, like a system image, it helps if the person actually tells us what the error is. Because that's an actual solution instead of relying on the a created repair CD, which will do nothing but repair Windows 7, or the provided HP repair CDs, which will probably put the computer back in its original factory state. He said himself that he has tried many things on the internet. I'm quite sure the thread would have been titled "Can't make an image of my system" if he was willing to go on with that. Also u just told him to "google it" while he explained he tried several options, which he, without a doubt, found on Google. So either u didn't really read anything but the title and a shard of text here and there, then or u have some defunction in your brain which prohibits u from processing the information u absorb. My money's on the first.
On January 07 2013 14:22 Womwomwom wrote: If that's fine with the user, cool, but he'll lose just about all software (hence professional software licences) and OS/program configuration settings installed on his laptop if the hard drive dies. Maybe assumptions are making a fool out of me but he has a Elitebook, the most expensive of all business laptops, so I'm assuming he has something on there. No, a repair disk just allows u access to Windows's system recovery options, it doesn't just install a clean Windows (Windows 7 doesn't fit on a CD), hence I advised him to get a separate ISO for if he ever needs to reinstall Windows. It's kind of annoying how I have to explain the thread you're posting in to you. Also, he'll barely lose OS/program configuration. OS configuration is what to the average user? Mouse sensitivity and the type of backgrounds u use? Maybe some personal touches here and there which u can download again? Program configuration will be pretty much entirely saved on his external drive, AppData will cover 90% of it, the rest might be saved in different folders, which u can copy once u google where the program saves its stuff.
If u want to discuss this further u can PM me, because I doubt we're helping the OP at this point.
User was warned for this and the previous post - there's no need to be a dick when posting!
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