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Windows 7 backup

AlanAlan
By AlanAlan
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I want to backup my windows 7 drive and do a clean install of windows on a new ssd. How do I backup all my data on my windows 7 drive? If I backup will it backup everything? I have a old laptop with a hard drive can I back up my computer on that?

unplug the hdd

plug the ssd in

install windows to ssd

once windows is installed...plug the hdd back in

If you need remote help fixing something on your computer

I can help over Teamviewer if you wish

just msg me on my profile

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How do I back up my windows 7 drive in windows 7? Can I use myold laptop drive?

you don't need to back it up if you are just adding a ssd

 

just unplug it so you don't get confused

If you need remote help fixing something on your computer

I can help over Teamviewer if you wish

just msg me on my profile

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How can I backup my windows 7 drive onto another drive?

Ok, you want to backup?

Plug an external HDD to your system. Select all your files from your Windows 7 drive and past them the external HDD.

If you don't have an external HDD, you can get your self a series of blank writable DVDs, and start copying the data. The number of DVD's you'll need will depend on how much data you have in your Windows 7 drive.

I recommend to backup the files you need, and not the entire drive, but you do what you want.

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I give up..someone else take over him :angry:

Ok, you want to backup?Plug an external HDD to your system. Select all your files from your Windows 7 drive and past them the external HDD.If you don't have an external HDD, you can get your self a series of blank writable DVDs, and start copying the data. The number of DVD's you'll need will depend on how much data you have in your Windows 7 drive.I recommend to backup the files you need, and not the entire drive, but you do what you want.

I don't think you understand my question so I have a desktop with windows 7 and I can have a free upgrade to windows 10 so i bought a ssd for a clean install of windows 10. I am asking how can I backup the windows 7 drive so I know that my data is safe

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I don't think you understand my question so I have a desktop with windows 7 and I can have a free upgrade to windows 10 so i bought a ssd for a clean install of windows 10. I am asking how can I backup the windows 7 drive so I know that my data is safe

Ah! Ok.

So FIRST, keep in mind that you can't just clean install Windows 10, you need to upgrade your system to Windows 10 from Windows 7/8. I am mentioning this as people don't know. There is apparently a way to enter Windows 7/8 product key in Windows 10 after the setup, and Windows 10 should take it and activate fine, but so far, no one is coming back to me with feedback that it worked or not for some reason. So I don't want you to waste your time, and go with the safe, and tested route by everyone.

Once done the upgrade, make sure Windows 10 is activated, and then NOW and only now, you can clean install it. Meaning you plug in your SSD, and install Windows 10 clean, and the OS should automatically activated, even after you hit the Skip button in the setup to enter a product Windows 10 key, which it will ask on a clean install of the OS. The reason for this is that when you upgrade, it generates a hardware ID unique to your system, based on its specs and serial number of your motherboard and possibly other parts, and send that to Windows Activation Servers. So when you clean install Windows 10, despite a new drive, Windows 10 will detect that the generated ID already exists, and activate with the Windows Activation Server.

Alternatively, you can install your new SSD in your system, then install Windows 7, then upgrade to Windows 10. This way will be longer (as you need to install Windows 7 first), but your HDD will be untouched, so your data will remain apart. You can even unplug the HDD from the system during the installation of Windows 7 and upgrade to Windows 10, just to be sure nothing touches your data.

But, to backup your data, if you want to do that, and that is actually great! We should all backup our stuff in any case. You simply need to connect a USB flash drive, or external HDD, or insert in your disk burner a blank disk, and select the files you want to backup, and copy them to the USB flash drive/external HDD or blank disk (and once done collecting your data on disk, burn the disk). Folder to pay attention for:

-> Documents

-> Music

-> Pictures

-> Contacts (if you used it)

-> Videos

-> Desktop (if you have any files there)

-> Downloads (if you downloaded important data and didn't move it at the proper place)

-> Music

For your saved games, this is is a bit tricky. I want to say "backup Saved Games folder", but that would mean that the game developer spent 5sec of their time coding things properly. That requires effort. They like to use already done code from previous projects, and treat people computers are trash bin for data... I mean we are just gamers rights? :sigh:.

So in this case, you have no choice to check on the web, each and every game, where they put the same games files, as each game put it at different places.

Then you can upgrade to Windows 10.

Technically, Windows 10 upgrade form Windows 7 or 8, will keep your personal data intact, and most programs will transfers. A quick Windows Update will be needed to get the latest Windows 10 drivers, and you might need to install manually the drivers of some devices, but that is about it. You should be ready to go.

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Ah! Ok.So FIRST, keep in mind that you can't just clean install Windows 10, you need to upgrade your system to Windows 10 from Windows 7/8. I am mentioning this as people don't know. There is apparently a way to enter Windows 7/8 product key in Windows 10 after the setup, and Windows 10 should take it and activate fine, but so far, no one is coming back to me with feedback that it worked or not for some reason. So I don't want you to waste your time, and go with the safe, and tested route by everyone.Once done the upgrade, make sure Windows 10 is activated, and then NOW and only now, you can clean install it. Meaning you plug in your SSD, and install Windows 10 clean, and the OS should automatically activated, even after you hit the Skip button in the setup to enter a product Windows 10 key, which it will ask on a clean install of the OS. The reason for this is that when you upgrade, it generates a hardware ID unique to your system, based on its specs and serial number of your motherboard and possibly other parts, and send that to Windows Activation Servers. So when you clean install Windows 10, despite a new drive, Windows 10 will detect that the generated ID already exists, and activate with the Windows Activation Server.Alternatively, you can install your new SSD in your system, then install Windows 7, then upgrade to Windows 10. This way will be longer (as you need to install Windows 7 first), but your HDD will be untouched, so your data will remain apart. You can even unplug the HDD from the system during the installation of Windows 7 and upgrade to Windows 10, just to be sure nothing touches your data.But, to backup your data, if you want to do that, and that is actually great! We should all backup our stuff in any case. You simply need to connect a USB flash drive, or external HDD, or insert in your disk burner a blank disk, and select the files you want to backup, and copy them to the USB flash drive/external HDD or blank disk (and once done collecting your data on disk, burn the disk). Folder to pay attention for:-> Documents-> Music-> Pictures-> Contacts (if you used it)-> Videos-> Desktop (if you have any files there)-> Downloads (if you downloaded important data and didn't move it at the proper place)-> MusicFor your saved games, this is is a bit tricky. I want to say "backup Saved Games folder", but that would mean that the game developer spent 5sec of their time coding things properly. That requires effort. They like to use already done code from previous projects, and treat people computers are trash bin for data... I mean we are just gamers rights? :sigh:.So in this case, you have no choice to check on the web, each and every game, where they put the same games files, as each game put it at different places.Then you can upgrade to Windows 10.Technically, Windows 10 upgrade form Windows 7 or 8, will keep your personal data intact, and most programs will transfers. A quick Windows Update will be needed to get the latest Windows 10 drivers, and you might need to install manually the drivers of some devices, but that is about it. You should be ready to go.

Can I backup it with my laptop's hard drive?

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Yes, any HDD or SSD. Anything that can carry "data". You can use floppy disks if you want. Windows doesn't care.

Do you know how to do this?

So I have a hp desktop that is windows 7 and it has a free upgrade to windows 10 and I bought a new ssd ,can I install that that upgrade on the new ssd?

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Do you know how to do this?

So I have a hp desktop that is windows 7 and it has a free upgrade to windows 10 and I bought a new ssd ,can I install that that upgrade on the new ssd?

Ok in your case it is a bit tricky, because OEM systems like HP, Dell, Acer, etc. Builds the system to exactly a set of specific setup.

This means that the chances that there is another SATA port, let alone a SATA cable for plugging your laptop HDD to use as backup, is slim to none.

Like you have to be really lucky (and you need a SATA cable). AND, let's not forget, it needs power, so the chances that it has a spare power cable for a second HDD is also slim.

The easiest thing, is to get an external HDD, OR and an external HDD enclosure for laptop HDDs (it is basically like an external HDD, but there are no drive inside. You connect your own, in your case, a laptop HDD. They are many variations of this, from simply dock type station where you insert the laptop HDD into the dock, and have a nice USB cable to connect to your PC, or just simply a cable, where you have the connector for a laptop HDD, and the other end you have a USB cable). Another option, and perhaps the easiest, is to get a several GB large USB flash drive. Maybe a 32GB or 64GB, all depending on how much data you have.

Regardless of the method above, the steps after that are identical. You'll notice a new drive in "My Computer", and this is the connected drive. Simply open it, make a folder inside, call it say: "Backup", and simply copy your files form the system and paste them on the "Backup" named folder (or whatever you decided to call it).

Once your backup it done, and you are sure you have everything, restart your system, and unplug the drive (or eject it from "Safely Remove Device" icon next to the clock). Of course, if you plugged the laptop HDD inside the computer as you wanted, and assuming it has the needed connector, then you want to shutdown the system, to allow you to safely remove the laptop HDD that you plugged in.

Once your backup is done, you want to first upgrade to Windows 10. Once Windows 10 is upgraded, make sure it is activated (See under Windows 10: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation). Once it is activated (can take time), now you can download Windows Media Creation Tool (https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10), plug in a USB flash drive, and start the tool setup. Click the option that the setup is for another system (even thought it is the same, as you'll replace the HDD with the SSD), and follow the wizard. This will download Windows 10 in full, and put it on your USB flash drive.

Follow these instructions:

http://www.howtogeek.com/224342/how-to-clean-install-windows-10/

Your Windows 10 should be activated and ready to go after you followed the above instructions.

Once done, plug your drive that contains your backup, and transfer back your files via copy and paste operation.

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Ok in your case it is a bit tricky, because OEM systems like HP, Dell, Acer, etc. Builds the system to exactly a set of specific setup.This means that the chances that there is another SATA port, let alone a SATA cable for plugging your laptop HDD to use as backup, is slim to none.Like you have to be really lucky (and you need a SATA cable). AND, let's not forget, it needs power, so the chances that it has a spare power cable for a second HDD is also slim.The easiest thing, is to get an external HDD, OR and an external HDD enclosure for laptop HDDs (it is basically like an external HDD, but there are no drive inside. You connect your own, in your case, a laptop HDD. They are many variations of this, from simply dock type station where you insert the laptop HDD into the dock, and have a nice USB cable to connect to your PC, or just simply a cable, where you have the connector for a laptop HDD, and the other end you have a USB cable). Another option, and perhaps the easiest, is to get a several GB large USB flash drive. Maybe a 32GB or 64GB, all depending on how much data you have.Regardless of the method above, the steps after that are identical. You'll notice a new drive in "My Computer", and this is the connected drive. Simply open it, make a folder inside, call it say: "Backup", and simply copy your files form the system and paste them on the "Backup" named folder (or whatever you decided to call it).Once your backup it done, and you are sure you have everything, restart your system, and unplug the drive (or eject it from "Safely Remove Device" icon next to the clock). Of course, if you plugged the laptop HDD inside the computer as you wanted, and assuming it has the needed connector, then you want to shutdown the system, to allow you to safely remove the laptop HDD that you plugged in.Once your backup is done, you want to first upgrade to Windows 10. Once Windows 10 is upgraded, make sure it is activated (See under Windows 10: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation). Once it is activated (can take time), now you can download Windows Media Creation Tool (https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10), plug in a USB flash drive, and start the tool setup. Click the option that the setup is for another system (even thought it is the same, as you'll replace the HDD with the SSD), and follow the wizard. This will download Windows 10 in full, and put it on your USB flash drive. Follow these instructions:http://www.howtogeek.com/224342/how-to-clean-install-windows-10/Your Windows 10 should be activated and ready to go after you followed the above instructions.Once done, plug your drive that contains your backup, and transfer back your files via copy and paste operation.

When I try to install windows 10 on the ssd it keeps freezing at copying windows files. What do you think is the problem?

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What do you mean freezing? How many minutes did you wait?

When I got on the installing windows " copying windows files ", "Getting files ready for installtion"," Installing features" ''installing updates", finishing up I was stuck on this part the whole computer froze I was not ale to move the mouse because it froze

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