Backing up programs?

adam2008 · 11 Mar 2009 at 19:52

So i am pretty sure my hdd is faulty so im going to try and back it up, i was wondering how i would go about backing up a program such as photoshop, i have no idea where the disk is so reinstalling would be tricky. Could i just copy and paste the program files and copy all registry entries for the software aswell or would this not work. If this way of doing is possible will it allow me to back up games as well?

Richiev4 · 11 Mar 2009 at 19:58

Norton Ghost or something like that, you cannot simply back up the program folder because you need the reg entries - Norton Ghost will make an image of your current HDD ready to put back on a new on.

Some one correct me if I'm wrong

Rich

adam2008 · 11 Mar 2009 at 20:00

i was thinking of this but how would i transfer all of the data to the next drive its around 400 gigs at the moment so im not quite sure what to do any ideas? would copying the registry entries from regedit not work then?

Gunnar · 11 Mar 2009 at 20:33

Richiev4 said:
Norton Ghost or something like that, you cannot simply back up the program folder because you need the reg entries - Norton Ghost will make an image of your current HDD ready to put back on a new on.

Some one correct me if I'm wrong

Rich

You're right. So long as the Op has a HDD which is equal to or larger, and the source drive is accessible then Norton Ghost will create an exact image of it. I do it all the time to ensure I've got a backup HD (just in case !).

adam2008 · 11 Mar 2009 at 21:40

Thats what i am saying i havent my other hdd is 80gigs the data on this is 400gigs will the copying of registry items and program files work?

quackers · 11 Mar 2009 at 21:43

no as said you can't copy the program files/registry keys, it'll throw a fit. I'd get some sort of external drive to back up your data and then do a ghost image on just the operating system and program files

reflux · 11 Mar 2009 at 21:58

Making an image of your drive is the easiest way to go about it I think.

Acronis TrueImage can do it - I'm giving it a shot right now and it seems really easy to use.

adam2008 · 11 Mar 2009 at 22:33

just as a tester i tried it with civ 4 copied the registry files and the program files worked a treat, do you reckon other newer programs and games will work.

datawrite · 11 Mar 2009 at 22:35

Acronis is a great program. Easy to use.

adam2008 · 11 Mar 2009 at 22:59

Can't use it though ill just have to copy the files over via usb.

Defenestration · 12 Mar 2009 at 01:03

adam2008 said:
Thats what i am saying i havent my other hdd is 80gigs the data on this is 400gigs will the copying of registry items and program files work?

As 400GB obviously won't fit onto an 80GB hard drive, I gather you only want to backup certain apps ?

If this is the case, then you could try the following (although with large complicated apps, it's unlikely to work):

- copy the program folder for each app you wish to backup, along with any program related data in the App Data folders
- export the registry branches for each app and then import them onto the new OS HD.

Unfortunately, some apps register parts of themselves with the Windows and install drivers and services, which will not be backed up this way.

As others have mentioned, the best way would be to image the failing hard drive/partition, and then restore to the new hard drive. Some imaging apps allow you to exclude certain files/folders, so you could try excluding any apps you have the CD/DVD for, and anything else you don't want, to reduce the size of the backup image.

bledd · 12 Mar 2009 at 09:26

out of 10, how gutted would you be if your hard drive died..

even if it's 1/10..

buy a hard drive, solely for backups.

partition your current drive into...
C:\Windows + Apps
D:\Documents (& Steam folder)

use Acronis True Image to image C:\ on a weekly basis, and take Manual backups of D:\