I need some help from an expert on data transfer.

[janebeth]

I need some help from an expert on data transfer.

My HP laptop stopped working; apparently motherboard failed. I had been using a Seagate external drive to do back-ups; so I do have some back-up data. I forgot to back-up for last two months, and I don’t want to lose two months of data.

I removed the HP hard drive and put it into a case to use as an external USB drive so it could be accessed. I want to backup the now external HP drive onto my Seagate external backup drive. I will use a Lenovo laptop with the HP drive attached to a USB port on one side of the Lenovo and the Seagate drive attached to a USB port on the other side of the Lenovo.

Lenovo “my computer” shows “Hard Disk Drives (1)” -- Local Disk (C) and “Devices with Removable Storage (1)” -- DVD RW Drive (D).

I expected to see just one new drive when I attached the HP external USB. Instead it shows four new drives shown as: RECOVERY (E), Local Disk (F), SYSTEM (G) and HP_TOOLS (H).

QUESTION: What should be backed up? Just Local Disk (F)?



The Seagate drive attached by USB says, “Mixed content options” and includes clicking on “Use this drive for backup”, and then asks, “What do you want to back up? – Let Windows choose or Let me choose.

Under “Let me choose” it shows “Data Files” and “Computer” with check boxes under each title.

“Data Files” has check boxes for “Back up data for newly created users” – and – “endusers Libraries”. Those both seem to be for the Lenovo, which I don’t want to backup.

“Computer” has check boxes for: Local Disk (C), RECOVERY (E), Local Disk (F) and SYSTEM (G). I guess that Local Disk (C) likely refers to the LENOVO, which I do not want to backup. Note that HP_TOOLS (H) is not shown.

At the bottom is box to check to: “Include a system image of drives: System Reserved, (C) A system image is a copy of the drives required for Windows to run. You can use it to restore your computer if it stops working.”

QUESTION: Should this box be checked or does it refer to the Lenovo that I do not want to backup?

I can provide screen shots if that will help.

I’m not sure what to check or how to proceed to save the data from my old HP drive. What should I do?

Thanks for your help.

 

[GhislainG]

QUESTION: What should be backed up? Just Local Disk (F)?

Yes, but you can browse F: and G: to see their contents. The the other partitions are useless on a Lenovo laptop. I wouldn't use the backup software to copy the info. I would simply copy the files or folders to the backup unit. The backup software should be used to backup your new Lenovo laptop.

 

[janebeth]

QUESTION: What should be backed up? Just Local Disk (F)?

Yes, but you can browse F: and G: to see their contents. The the other partitions are useless on a Lenovo laptop. I wouldn't use the backup software to copy the info. I would simply copy the files or folders to the backup unit. The backup software should be used to backup your new Lenovo laptop.

Why wouldn't you use the backup software in the Seagate? My Seagate did the backup automatically when the HP drive was in the HP computer. Now I must do it manually since the HP drive shows up as four separate drives, which confuses the Seagate.

The Lenovo is new and so it has no data and does not need a backup just yet. Please explain what you mean about other partitions are useless? Sorry I don't know much about computer science.

What are your thoughts about my second question regarding the dialogue boxes that appear from the Seagate drive? Should I check just Local Disk (F)? What about the box at the bottom that says check to: “Include a system image of drives: System Reserved, (C) A system image is a copy of the drives required for Windows to run. You can use it to restore your computer if it stops working.”

 

[HoboCannibaL]

browse the "F:" look at the contents, copy and paste what you want from them to the new back up drive

if you use the seagate back up options, you're going to back up the lenovo if you're not careful, it's just simply easier to manually copy the files and transfer them to the new back up.

if you're confused about whats what when it comes to the hard drives and partitions, unplug the drives and get to know whats being used for the lenovo, the hp, and then your back up.

 

[janebeth]

browse the "F:" look at the contents, copy and paste what you want from them to the new back up drive

if you use the seagate back up options, you're going to back up the lenovo if you're not careful, it's just simply easier to manually copy the files and transfer them to the new back up.

if you're confused about whats what when it comes to the hard drives and partitions, unplug the drives and get to know whats being used for the lenovo, the hp, and then your back up.

Hi Hobo,
I want to get the difference in data between what my Seagate already backed-up and new data from the last two months. The data isn't dated and I don't remember exactly what data is new. There was lots of data on the HP before the motherboard failed. That's why I'd like to use the Seagate backup software. There's no point and no room to copy everything. I already have most of it on the Seagate, just not the last two months of data.

Yes I'm seeking advice so as to avoid backing up the new Lenovo. So I asked about what to select or which boxes to check. I have clearly listed all the drives in my above post. I listed what the new Lenovo shows, what drive letters appear when I add the HP drive and what the dialogue boxes say when I attach the Seagate backup. Now I just need to know what to do.

 

[HoboCannibaL]

ok, i would still browse the files to make sure they are what you need, and then backup the drive to your new seagate being SURE you only backup that drive.

if you have access to internet/computer etc....you can even go as far as transferring them to a cloud, and restoring them when and where you want them with no devices.

i'm not sure if your external is going to try to overwrite any of your old backups depends on the type of backups you do...ie: incremental, differential...etc...

also if you have a local computer shop by you, see if they do data recovery, and can have them do what you're wanting, they will charge, but if the data is that important....its kinda worth it (imo)

on a separate note, if you plan to use the backup drive to back up the system (you may want to back up the system "G:" as well, but i would backup your backup before doing that, easiest way is to a cloud then try it, if it doesn't work, then try another way etc....at least you won't mess up the backup you have already {=^.^=}