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Backing up data before restoring

  • 11-11-2014 04:05PM
    #1
    peejay1986
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,768 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    I'm here seeking advice. I've been handed a laptop (Asus K55A) that needs a fresh Windows 8.1 restore on it as it's being passed on to a relative.

    Just wondering, what's the best way to backup data to an external HDD in order to bring that data back on to a new laptop, once it's bought. Is there any software that would essentially be able to clone folders?

    Also, is using the onboard restore partition a safe way to 'wipe' the laptop? It's going to a relative but not one that we're overly familiar with. Nothing overly sensitive on the laptop but just want to make sure I'm doing this right.

    Appreciate any help.


Comments

  • #2
    mp22
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Regional South Moderators Posts: 6,854 Mod ✭✭✭✭mp22


    Drag and drop the folders to the external hd. Restore the laptop to factory fresh that should sort everything.


  • #3
    Fysh
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 11,196 Mod ✭✭✭✭Fysh


    If you want something easy and built into windows, robocopy at the command line should do it. If all the stuff you want to back up is in one folder, the syntax is something like: 
    robocopy <source> <destination> /e /zb /r:3 /w:0

    Where /e means "include empty folders", /zb means "restartable mode if available, backup mode if not", /r:3 means "retry 3 times in the event of an error", /w:0 means "wait 0 seconds before retrying".

    See here for more info and the various switches available.

    If you've got a bunch of different subdirectories, you could define the commands for robocopy to copy each one, prefix them with "start /wait" so that each copy runs to completion consecutively rather than concurrently, then stick them in a batch file. Run the file as a user with the relevant permissions and leave it to churn away - if there's a significant amount of data involved it might take a while to copy across.


  • #4
    peejay1986
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,768 ✭✭✭peejay1986


    Appreciate the responses. Cheers!

    As it turns out, Windows 8.1 seems to have redirected where Windows looks for the recovery files. Now, Windows can no longer find the files to initiate recovery mode. A workaround seems to have been found here:

    http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/39197-unable-use-built-asus-recovery-partition-3.html

    But I need to source a 16GB USB drive before I can do anything. Sigh.


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