Tips for moving files?

[YedZed]

I'm being conscripted to move all the files from a computer to an external hard drive and update the computer. Obviously, I will probably need to do some troubleshooting there as well, including some virus/bloatware removal. 

What I'm bringing: Usb boot drives for WIndows 10, 7, and screwdriver. 

I want to make sure I don't miss something. I know all the obvious places to get files from (desktop, documents, music, etc).

I'm, asking any of you out there that had done similar things. Any tips for organization? Any tricks for this sort of thing? Is there anywhere that stuff might be stored that I might miss?

[Daveeede]

You'll need time if there are a lot of files.

[Anghammarad]

you could try out drivesnapshot for making a mountable image of the old drives. Well i can't say for sure if the unregistered one is working for some time or just able to make those... but for quick backup I usually use that...

 

Edit for the link: 

 

http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/index.htm

[ARikozuM]

I would make an image of the OS drive before and after you're done doing what you need to do. I usually move everything into a folder with the PC's name so that you can put multiple users on a single drive. Make sure that your client has all of the program discs that he'll need if you're reinstalling the OS. 

[YedZed]

6 minutes ago, Daveeede said:

You'll need time if there are a lot of files.

I plan to charge by the hour, so I might just stay there the whole time.

[YedZed]

5 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

I would make an image of the OS drive before and after you're done doing what you need to do. I usually move everything into a folder with the PC's name so that you can put multiple users on a single drive. Make sure that your client has all of the program discs that he'll need if you're reinstalling the OS. 

There is only a slight chance I will need to do that. The USBs are more of a precaution than an actual use case.

[YedZed]

6 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

I usually move everything into a folder with the PC's name so that you can put multiple users on a single drive. 

 

Not sure what you mean by this.

[ARikozuM]

1 minute ago, YedZed said:

Not sure what you mean by this.

If the PC is known as "ARikozuM-Tower", I'll create a new folder on the external drive as "ARikozuM-Tower". That way if there's another user, "Schnauzer-BARK", they can be located on the same external drive without having their files mixed up. 

[LogicalDrm]

Ask them which softwares are important. Then find out where those store customization files. For most software you can copy-paste settings after reinstall.