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help wanted/computer guru please

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  • #1

    help wanted/computer guru please

    Hey all,

    I have been having issues with my computer for sometime now. It seems that there is some kind of issue with my hard drive. I have a Dell Inspiron 530 with a 500 gig hard drive. I have had to call Dell numerous times about this issue and they have helped out a lot. Now since my last error, they are replacing my hard drive. I have to back up the files that I want to keep. I am kind of clueless with this as I have never done it before. I need some suggestions as to what exactly to back up. Like I said, I know how to turn this thing on and use it, but I am kinda clueless as to what exactly I need to back up. Also, should I just burn these files to a DVD or a CD.

    Any help at all is appreciated
    Andy
    Keeping MOL family friendly! If you need help or have a question, don't hesitate to shoot me an email or PM. 101impala@gmail.com
    Andy M. Moderator
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: help wanted/computer guru please

    i had a similar problem but when my hard drive went i couldnt access anything. i am no computer expert (i have trouble uploading pics here!) but i would save your info on cd then put them onto the new hard drive

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: help wanted/computer guru please

      Originally posted by miahjohn View Post
      i had a similar problem but when my hard drive went i couldnt access anything. i am no computer expert (i have trouble uploading pics here!) but i would save your info on cd then put them onto the new hard drive
      So far I can access everything on the machine. I just get this crazy back up message at start up which I can override.

      Andy
      Keeping MOL family friendly! If you need help or have a question, don't hesitate to shoot me an email or PM. 101impala@gmail.com
      Andy M. Moderator

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      • #4
        Re: help wanted/computer guru please

        I guess there is also the possibility of an external hard drive. I have a Western Digital one that I use to back up some stuff.
        2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

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        • #5
          Re: help wanted/computer guru please

          Originally posted by Murr1525 View Post
          I guess there is also the possibility of an external hard drive. I have a Western Digital one that I use to back up some stuff.

          Hey Matt,

          I actually thought about that. I have been thinking about it anyway to use for pictures and stuff like that. Great idea Matt. May just do that tomorrow. How the heck do I get that stuff to tranfer to the external HD.

          Andy
          Keeping MOL family friendly! If you need help or have a question, don't hesitate to shoot me an email or PM. 101impala@gmail.com
          Andy M. Moderator

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          • #6
            Re: help wanted/computer guru please

            when you start your computer hit F12 until a screen comes up. you have to press F12 as soon as you push the on botton to start computer. the screen that comes up should be a diagnostics test prompt. run the diagnostic tests. it takes a while but has worked for me several times....my 3 year old likes to turn the computer on and off and push as many buttons as he can before i get to him and he locks up the computer.

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            • #7
              Re: help wanted/computer guru please

              Originally posted by miahjohn View Post
              when you start your computer hit F12 until a screen comes up. you have to press F12 as soon as you push the on botton to start computer. the screen that comes up should be a diagnostics test prompt. run the diagnostic tests. it takes a while but has worked for me several times....my 3 year old likes to turn the computer on and off and push as many buttons as he can before i get to him and he locks up the computer.
              Been there done that. Turns out the issue is with the computer though. I had thought it was someone doing something wrong at first.
              Keeping MOL family friendly! If you need help or have a question, don't hesitate to shoot me an email or PM. 101impala@gmail.com
              Andy M. Moderator

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              • #8
                Re: help wanted/computer guru please

                Yea, get a external hard drive; some of them you plug in, push a button and it backs everything up without you doing anything else. All of our computers have external back up drives and then we have one huge one that backs up all of the computers so everything is saved twice should we every loose data or have a emergency and just need to grab the data really quick.

                Ryan
                Attack life, it's going to kill you anyway.

                This is your life. Choose to live it to the fullest.

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                • #9
                  Re: help wanted/computer guru please

                  Well, they plug in with a USB cable, and it just shows up like any other disk drive.

                  At the moment I just use mine more like a CD... dragging and dropping what I want.

                  But if you needed everything, programs and all backed up, there should be a way to do that also. I think Windows has a function to do that as well somewhere.
                  2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

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                  • #10
                    Re: help wanted/computer guru please

                    Get an external, or bust it open and run a slave drive and then just put it on that way. It acts the same as using an external, but they are a lot cheaper.

                    As for what to back up, you won't need any technical files or windows stuff, just get the stuff YOU know you want or need. For examples, music, pictures, word documents, your cookies, saved special stuff...whatever you know you would still want. Just grab the files and drag them over...

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                    • #11
                      Re: help wanted/computer guru please

                      I would also go with an external hard drive. I think that would be the easiest and best route to go. You should only buy one on sale though. They are on sale a lot, make sure you buy the proper size for your hard drive though. Good Luck.
                      Joel
                      Firefighter/EMT-B
                      Rejuvenation Auto Detailing
                      "Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Dirt Back!!!"
                      '99 F-150

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                      • #12
                        Re: help wanted/computer guru please

                        Originally posted by Andy M. View Post
                        Hey all,

                        I have been having issues with my computer for sometime now. It seems that there is some kind of issue with my hard drive. I have a Dell Inspiron 530 with a 500 gig hard drive. I have had to call Dell numerous times about this issue and they have helped out a lot. Now since my last error, they are replacing my hard drive. I have to back up the files that I want to keep. I am kind of clueless with this as I have never done it before. I need some suggestions as to what exactly to back up. Like I said, I know how to turn this thing on and use it, but I am kinda clueless as to what exactly I need to back up. Also, should I just burn these files to a DVD or a CD.

                        Any help at all is appreciated
                        Andy
                        Run a program called Spinrite on the drive.

                        http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm
                        Hard drive data recovery software
                        AeroCleanse, LLC
                        Wisconsin's Elite Detailing Service
                        www.aerocleanse.com

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                        • #13
                          Re: help wanted/computer guru please

                          I prefer setting it up as a slave, then copying what you need over. Otherwise, the USB option is a good call.
                          NOTE: Post count does not reflect actual detailing knowledge.

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                          • #14
                            Re: help wanted/computer guru please

                            Andy,

                            Get an external USB hard drive like the ones mentioned above and hook it up. From Windows XP or Vista you have 2 options. WinXP has the "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" and Vista has the "Windows Easy Transfer" wizard. Both OS's also have a "Backup" utility.

                            You can find these utilities in by going to Start --> Programs --> Accessories --> System Tools

                            With the Backup utility you can backup your entire hard drive including OS and reinstall it on a new hard drive. With Vista all you would have to do is boot up on the Vista DVD and run the Restore without reinstalling the OS first. With XP you would need to reinstall the OS first, then do a restore. If you use a backup and restore, you don't have to reinstall and reconfigure your apps and settings.

                            If you plan on installing a fresh operating system then the wizards are the best way to go. They will backup up whatever data and settings you choose and let you transfer them to the new computer.

                            What are the error messages you are getting?

                            Mike
                            Why do we drive on a Parkway, and park on a Driveway

                            George Carlin

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                            • #15
                              Re: help wanted/computer guru please

                              Sorry to hear about that, Andy...

                              How much space did you use on the hard drive?

                              If you have an iPod, you can store some files on there, too.


                              Well, let me know if you need any help replacing the drive and reinstalling Windows.

                              Chris
                              Chris
                              Dasher Detailing Services

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