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I have an older (2002) computer that is doing nothing in my cellar. Can I use its hard drive to back up my current computer and if so, how do I do that?
computer back up
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dex3361
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You would be better off to get a dedicated external hard drive for back up. You could use it as a back up but it would be a hassle.
Code54
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You could do it if you wanted. The big thing is it a large enough hard drive to backup your current data? All you need is and ext. hard drive case (see Ebay - cheap) and hook it to your USB port, format it and drag and drop whatever you want to back up. I use an old one to keep a copy of my system at work in case something ever happens at my home and I lose my daily backup system (fire, theft, etc)
radioman
Super Member
what os ? you could use microsoft backup. Is new and old pc a desktop ? just same your time, pull old HD out and drop iun new pc. backup directly to the old drive. If you have a desktop to laptop, create a folder for backup on old pc and open a share and backup via your home network settings after you mapped it on the new drive. All of this is free.
Wait, what you just said to me was like explaining to a 3 year old on how nuclear fission works. If I need to pull anything out and place it in another, its not happening. Yes they are both desktops and what I was hoping for was a way to connect the two computers, press a button, and have all my computers contents spew over to the other computer. If not, then I need another way and I do not wish to use off site back up.
GPintheMitten
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I don't recommend using an 8 year old harddrive for backup. It is probably too small to make it worth your while taking it out of the old computer and putting it in a case to use as an external harddrive for backup. And the reliability on an 8 year harddrive isn't the best.
Take a look at how much data you have on your new computer to see how large a harddrive you need to back it up. Depending on how tight your budget is, get 1 terabyte external backup (that's 1000 Gigabyte) or for a little less get around 320 to 500 Gigabyte.
Do a search and you'll find them at a number of retailers with products for less than a $100.
I typed in "best buy external harddrive" and got a number of hits at Best Buy that would suit you. You plug them into your USB port and back up your computer.
If you need more help, just stop by your favorite retail store for computer related products and they'll explain everything to you.
Take a look at how much data you have on your new computer to see how large a harddrive you need to back it up. Depending on how tight your budget is, get 1 terabyte external backup (that's 1000 Gigabyte) or for a little less get around 320 to 500 Gigabyte.
Do a search and you'll find them at a number of retailers with products for less than a $100.
I typed in "best buy external harddrive" and got a number of hits at Best Buy that would suit you. You plug them into your USB port and back up your computer.
If you need more help, just stop by your favorite retail store for computer related products and they'll explain everything to you.
dex3361
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I agree
I don't know much about anything but I have seen programs advertised that transfer data from one computer to another. For instance if you bought a new computer and wanted to download data from the old to the new. Seems it should also work in reverse. You can also subscribe to auto backups. I've heard them advertised on the radio. The nice thing about that is your data is is always being backed up so you don't have to do it manually. you might have to be on dsl for it work .
NuBota
Gold Member
Arrow, I agree with the others about the external USB hard drive. It is the best way to go nowadays. Just about all come with backup software and some even have a "push button" to run your backup
I have an old system on my home network that serves as a print server and file shares for storing files. But you have to know how to set up the networking to make this an option and, as others have mentioned, have enough capacity. In my case there are multiple computers (5+) in the house, so this makes it worthwhile. Of course, nowadays, they (i.e. Linksys, etc) make network devices (much smaller than a desktop) to provide those functions - I am just too cheap to spend the money.
If you have only one PC to backup - just get the USB hard drive (HDD) and connect it direct. Use the software that came with it and you're done! Only about 100 bucks. Saves the power and headache of keeping another machine running.
If you have multiple PCs, the network solution is the "sophisticated" way to go - either with the special devices mentioned above, or using your old PC. Or you can just move the external drive between machines or buy one for each.
If you use your old PC, you may still need to get the USB HDD (since you don't want to open the case) and connect it to your old machine to give it the needed capacity, then do the whole network setup so all of your machines can access it. The one potential problem there is the USB port on your older machine may be an older version and will run much slower than your newer one(s)
-Eric
I have an old system on my home network that serves as a print server and file shares for storing files. But you have to know how to set up the networking to make this an option and, as others have mentioned, have enough capacity. In my case there are multiple computers (5+) in the house, so this makes it worthwhile. Of course, nowadays, they (i.e. Linksys, etc) make network devices (much smaller than a desktop) to provide those functions - I am just too cheap to spend the money.
If you have only one PC to backup - just get the USB hard drive (HDD) and connect it direct. Use the software that came with it and you're done! Only about 100 bucks. Saves the power and headache of keeping another machine running.
If you have multiple PCs, the network solution is the "sophisticated" way to go - either with the special devices mentioned above, or using your old PC. Or you can just move the external drive between machines or buy one for each.
If you use your old PC, you may still need to get the USB HDD (since you don't want to open the case) and connect it to your old machine to give it the needed capacity, then do the whole network setup so all of your machines can access it. The one potential problem there is the USB port on your older machine may be an older version and will run much slower than your newer one(s)
-Eric
eepete
Platinum Member
+1 on external USB drive.
Since they are < $100, consider if you want to get two. One for backup that is kept at home, and one for off site storage. Every 6-12 months you get it and back stuff up. Are all the pictures you've taken, financial records, and other data worth $100 if your house burns down?
So maybee after the 1st drive works, think about a 2nd one and a relative/friend/work place to store it.
Pete
Since they are < $100, consider if you want to get two. One for backup that is kept at home, and one for off site storage. Every 6-12 months you get it and back stuff up. Are all the pictures you've taken, financial records, and other data worth $100 if your house burns down?
So maybee after the 1st drive works, think about a 2nd one and a relative/friend/work place to store it.
Pete
