Doing a backup?

[MarcKjensen]

Hi.
I need to backup my C: drive. I only have a laptop to transfer to. how can I do it?

sincerely

 

[ss202sl]

Network

 

[USAFRet]

This depends on what, exactly, you want to back up, and why?

 

[MarcKjensen]

I want to transfer my os to a new SSD, but was told to backup the whole C: before i did anything.

 

[USAFRet]

I want to transfer my os to a new SSD, but was told to backup the whole C: before i did anything.

A few considerations here:

First, can you actually clone from your existing drive to the new drive?
How much space is used on your current drive?
How large is the new SSD?
How 'old' is the install?

To back up the entire C drive, you want to make an 'image'. If both devices are on the same LAN (through your router) probably easy.
Or, you just need to back up your personal docs. Anything else is easy to replace and reinstall.

Personally, I always recommend a clean instal with a new SSD, but cloning from old to new is also a possibility.

 

[MarcKjensen]

I dont know if I can clone, I presume I can download a program that does that.
My current usage is 281GB. My new SSD is 120GB. But i only want windows and 2 games to be on the SSD for now.
I believe the install is from 2011/12

Okay, the second problem I have with the installation is, I have windows 8 OEM. And I do not have a cd or anything to install from, because I got a ripped copy and updated it and paid for it. So I believe my only solution is to clone it.

 

[USAFRet]

Multiple problems here:

"My current usage is 281GB. My new SSD is 120GB. "
That won't work, obviously.

"But i only want windows and 2 games to be on the SSD for now."
There is no application that does that.

I believe the install is from 2011/12
3 or 4 years old. Resintall.

And I do not have a cd or anything to install from, because I got a ripped copy and updated it and paid for it.
Paid for what, from where? They did not give you an install DVD?

 

[MarcKjensen]

okay, so its all or nothing?

he did lent me a dvd to install from, but that version of windows was not legit, so I updated windows and paid for the version.

 

[USAFRet]

okay, so its all or nothing?

he did lent me a dvd to install from, but that version of windows was not legit, so I updated windows and paid for the version.

Paid for, from where?

 

[MarcKjensen]

windows detected it was a illigal copy and asked me to verify it. then I went to their website and bought a copy.

 

[USAFRet]

windows detected it was a illigal copy and asked me to verify it. then I went to their website and bought a copy.

And did you do a reinstall with what you bought from MS?

In any case, you can probably get your install media from here:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

It will ask for your license key.
You can generate an install DVD or USB from what it gives you.

And since it was a known 'illegal' install...a clean install from what you get from MS is strongly recommended.
And in your case, with all the other issues....required.

 

[MarcKjensen]

windows detected it was a illigal copy and asked me to verify it. then I went to their website and bought a copy.

And did you do a reinstall with what you bought from MS?

In any case, you can probably get your install media from here:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

It will ask for your license key.
You can generate an install DVD or USB from what it gives you.

And since it was a known 'illegal' install...a clean install from what you get from MS is strongly recommended.
And in your case, with all the other issues....required.

I just did what you recomended, tried to restart to get into bios. Now my pc wont start up. I am currently writing from my laptop. I dont know what to do :/

 

[USAFRet]

I just did what you recomended, tried to restart to get into bios. Now my pc wont start up. I am currently writing from my laptop. I dont know what to do :/

Step by step, how did you arrive at this point?

 

[MarcKjensen]

I followed the instructions from the link you posted, made the iso file, burned it to a dvd, then i rebooted to go into bios til change from where to boot. i pressed del as it said i should to get to bios. and froze for 2 min and shut down.

 

[USAFRet]

I followed the instructions from the link you posted, made the iso file, burned it to a dvd, then i rebooted to go into bios til change from where to boot. i pressed del as it said i should to get to bios. and froze for 2 min and shut down.

Did you try it again?
Even without a USB or DVD...it should go into the BIOS.

 

[MarcKjensen]

yes, I tried several times with and without the cd in. The pc turns on for approx 30 seconds, then shuts down. but nothing happends on the screen.

 

[MarcKjensen]

An 8 hour work day was all it needed. It's working now.