How can I use my external hard disk drive to regularly backup my Windows XP laptop in as simple a manner as possible? Ideally, I would want something that works like Time Machine on the Mac—I would really like something I can set and forget. Free solutions are best, obviously, but I'm willing to buy software for this. [more inside]
posted by grouse on Nov 25, 2009 - 12 answers

Help me save time and frustration reinstalling my programs/settings after a fresh Windows install / upgrade / etc. [more inside]
posted by Alabaster on Nov 14, 2009 - 4 answers

I'm a few weeks away from rebuilding my PC with Windows 7 and need help understanding how to deal with NTFS permissions. [more inside]
posted by chrisch on Oct 21, 2009 - 5 answers

I have two computers, one Windows, one Linux. How can I make it so they synchronize automatically with each other, as in, I update the file on one computer, and the updated file gets put onto the other? Networking? Using an external hard drive? What software might be useful? Bonus points for free software
posted by gilsonal on Aug 22, 2009 - 13 answers

Advice for a server newb who needs help getting started with a simple media/backup/torrent server? [more inside]
posted by wastelands on May 29, 2009 - 12 answers

Want to build a backup/storage/print server for a home network that the users will never have to be aware of [more inside]
posted by ConstantineXVI on Apr 21, 2009 - 14 answers

Cleaning up the old laptop for sale -- what must I do to get it ready to hand over to someone else? [more inside]
posted by terrier319 on Mar 13, 2009 - 8 answers

What is the best way to automatically backup a website (files and database) to a Mac? Suggestions for Windows? [more inside]
posted by HC Foo on Mar 11, 2009 - 4 answers

Need to turn off Windows Live One Care Backup [more inside]
posted by minsid on Jan 28, 2009 - 2 answers

What folders to back up from a dead windows pc when booting ubuntu in live cd mode? [more inside]
posted by FidelDonson on Jan 9, 2009 - 5 answers

I'm helping out an elderly lady who is using a laptop with XP which is showing signs of unreliability. It is now permanently sat on a table so it doesn't get moved around. She is especially concerned about a failure leading to a loss of outlook express e-mails. This person is easily confused by all things computer related so it has to work with minimum intervention and be as simple as possible. I was thinking of using an external drive and Acronis true image 11 home. I would set up True image to mirror on to the external drive. I was also thinking of automatically forwarding all outlook express mails to a web mail account - yahoo mail - as she has a yahoo account already. Being able to read from a webmail account would allow uninteruped service should anything go wrong. Is there anything wrong with this?
posted by conrad101 on Aug 18, 2008 - 11 answers

What's the best way to setup a 500gb external hard drive to backup windows and linux? [more inside]
posted by kraigory on Aug 4, 2008 - 8 answers

Data Backup Filter: I have about 6TB (yes TB, not GB) of data. I need to back it up BEFORE it crashes. I also need a good way to share it on the network. How can I do this? Details within... [more inside]
posted by arniec on Jul 8, 2008 - 28 answers

What is your favorite Online Backing Service? and why?
posted by omaralarifi on Mar 31, 2008 - 13 answers

What's good, easy-to-use, backup software for Windows? [more inside]
posted by kindall on Feb 24, 2008 - 15 answers

How can I save my digicam pics (retrieved from various old CDs and DVDs) and not spend weeks on it? Currently many of them crash (Windows) Explorer. [more inside]
posted by ClarissaWAM on Jan 14, 2008 - 6 answers

What's the best software and method for completely backing up a website to DVD? [more inside]
posted by asuh on Oct 25, 2007 - 10 answers

Maybe obvious backup question: I want to achieve: an external hard drive with an exact copy of my main drive's contents that can, in the event of my main internal drive's failure, be swapped into the machine for instant everything-as-it-was. I also want incremental backup, so that I can keep this drive constantly up to date with a daily backup process. This is a Windows XP ThinkPad laptop; I've got the external backup drive in its little case already. [more inside]
posted by amtho on Aug 20, 2007 - 35 answers

So it's come to this - I see no other option than to ask a "help me fix my PC" question. After some troubleshooting the STOP errors seem to have been resolved, XP now boots successfully but is excruciating slow to the point of being unusable. Details and specs below the fold. [more inside]
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane on Mar 4, 2007 - 25 answers

Is it possible to set EFS (Windows encryption) for an entire drive? I can set EFS for a folder, but not for an entire drive. Is there a way around this? [more inside]
posted by tiamat on Feb 19, 2007 - 8 answers

My dad needs help with total computer backup (particularly Outlook). Computer in question is an older Dell model, running Windows XP. No one in our family is a computer genius. More information and particular stickyness inside. [more inside]
posted by sperose on Jan 2, 2007 - 13 answers

I want to set up a PC as a file server for my Mac. I'll also use it for light video gaming and website testing. What OS should I run? What else should I consider? [more inside]
posted by jruckman on Dec 26, 2006 - 4 answers

Please help me recover my hosed NTFS partition(s). [more inside]
posted by grouse on Oct 17, 2006 - 12 answers

Is there a free Windows utility that will synchronize local directories with a remote one by (S)FTP? [more inside]
posted by skryche on Aug 8, 2006 - 10 answers

Network backup question: I need to backup 6 PCs using an 8 tape autoloader (Dell LTO2 T122) and ntbackup. Currently, the simple setup scheduled backups are quite flakey. [more inside]
posted by srboisvert on Jun 6, 2006 - 15 answers

I own all of the southpark dvds and I want to rip each episode to an individual file for my media center. I know I can do this manually but it is tedious. Is there any Rip software that can do a batch conversion?
posted by lukeomalley on May 4, 2006 - 2 answers

How can I fix the corrupted jpegs on my Win XP computer? [more inside]
posted by skryche on Mar 23, 2006 - 9 answers

I'm trying to access some old backup CDs and can't remember what backup program I used to create them. The only thing Windows can see on the CDs is a README.txt file that says: "This disc is a backup CD. Except for this file the contents of this disc must be accessed using your backup software." The rest of the data is invisible and presumably in a proprietary backup format. I followed this advice to no avail. Anybody know what backup program I used back then?
posted by ao4047 on Feb 10, 2006 - 4 answers

I've a dual boot windows/linux laptop which is periodically attached to a novell network. Does anyone know of a utility to copy files from a drive on a laptop to the network, where they'll get backed up, without me having to remember to do it?
posted by handee on Nov 16, 2005 - 7 answers

We are considering acquiring a failover backup for a Windows 2003 server at my work. Is there a good turnkey solution for failovers for under $2000-3000? Is there *any* solution available at that price? Firewall recommendation bonus question inside. [more inside]
posted by fishfucker on Sep 30, 2005 - 20 answers

How do I backup lots of files in DOS (Windows "recovery" mode)? [more inside]
posted by clgregor on Jul 31, 2005 - 15 answers

What's your favorite Windows XP data backup option? [more inside]
posted by agropyron on Jun 9, 2005 - 15 answers

WindowsXP, 250 gig shared backup hard drive, and a lab full of people with sensitive information that needs to be backed up on said drive but shouldn't be accessible by anyone other than the user who put it there. Security is giving me fits and I'd appreciate some helpful advice. [more gory details inside] [more inside]
posted by caution live frogs on Sep 13, 2004 - 5 answers

The bell tolls for ME. Help this loser to upgrade from Windows ME to XP Pro. [4 questions inside...] [more inside]
posted by Termite on May 2, 2004 - 12 answers

Windows Backup Software? I'm looking for software that will backup data from multiple Windows computers onto a Windows server regularly without a user starting the backup. Hopefully it will be automatic. Thanks.
posted by Argyle on Feb 17, 2004 - 14 answers

I have a WinXp machine with three hard drives, each one holding 100GB. I'm researching backup alternatives, and there are tons these days (tape drives, external firewire drives, jazz drives, etc.). I'd like to find a solution that strikes a nice balance between ease of use, cost and durability. Any suggestions?
posted by grumblebee on Jan 8, 2004 - 8 answers