I have tried to save my data in FH to an external hard drive using windows easy transfer as described in the 'How to's'. I appear to have saved something, but I cannot seem to access what I have saved on the external hard drive. Does anyone know what I am doing wrong?
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* Saving data to external hard drive
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tatewise
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Saving data to external hard drive
What are you trying to achieve?
Windows Easy Transfer is intended for transferring data & settings from an old PC to a new Windows 7 PC, or when upgrading a PC to Windows 7.
Only Windows Easy Transfer can read & write the files, and it transfers not just FH but all other software data & settings.
Have you read the Windows Easy Transfer Learn How sections?
It would also help to know what Windows OS you are using (XP/Vista/7) and which version of FH (2.3, 3.1, 4.1, 5.0).
Windows Easy Transfer is intended for transferring data & settings from an old PC to a new Windows 7 PC, or when upgrading a PC to Windows 7.
Only Windows Easy Transfer can read & write the files, and it transfers not just FH but all other software data & settings.
Have you read the Windows Easy Transfer Learn How sections?
It would also help to know what Windows OS you are using (XP/Vista/7) and which version of FH (2.3, 3.1, 4.1, 5.0).
Saving data to external hard drive
Hello,
Thanks for your reply. I am trying to make a back-up of my data in the event of a hard disk failure in my PC. I have read the windows easy transfer how to section, but got a little confused. I am using windows vista and FH version 5.0. After a bit of research on the internet, I have realised that I have probably successfully saved the data to the external hard disk, but that, in the event of a hard disk failure, I would then need to transfer the data from the external hard disk to a new PC using windows easy transfer and also re-install FH on the new PC. Do you agree?
Thanks for your reply. I am trying to make a back-up of my data in the event of a hard disk failure in my PC. I have read the windows easy transfer how to section, but got a little confused. I am using windows vista and FH version 5.0. After a bit of research on the internet, I have realised that I have probably successfully saved the data to the external hard disk, but that, in the event of a hard disk failure, I would then need to transfer the data from the external hard disk to a new PC using windows easy transfer and also re-install FH on the new PC. Do you agree?
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tatewise
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- Posts: 27078
- Joined: 25 May 2010 11:00
- Family Historian: V7
- Location: Torbay, Devon, UK
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Saving data to external hard drive
The simple answer is 'yes I agree'.
The snag is that you don't know when your hard disk or PC will fail.
So you would have to use Windows Easy Transfer (WET) on a regular basis to keep its dataset up-to-date.
Running WET is a rather tedious manual process.
However, WET does save many User Account and other settings that conventional Backup & Restore does not.
I suspect Vista WET can only transfer to Vista, and you need to use Windows 7 WET to tarnsfer to Windows 7.
You are correct in that all your programs, such as FH, would need to be re-installed too, so make sure you know all their installation licence codes.
If you simply want to recover after a hard disk failure, on an otherwise identical PC, then a disk image backup is better, because it captures absolutely everything.
After restoring the image to a new hard disk, everything should be back, and no program installation is required.
In addition to all that, you should also have an automatic daily/weekly routine backup regime.
This protects your latest files, not only against total disk failure, but also to recover accidentally deleted/corrupted files.
The snag is that you don't know when your hard disk or PC will fail.
So you would have to use Windows Easy Transfer (WET) on a regular basis to keep its dataset up-to-date.
Running WET is a rather tedious manual process.
However, WET does save many User Account and other settings that conventional Backup & Restore does not.
I suspect Vista WET can only transfer to Vista, and you need to use Windows 7 WET to tarnsfer to Windows 7.
You are correct in that all your programs, such as FH, would need to be re-installed too, so make sure you know all their installation licence codes.
If you simply want to recover after a hard disk failure, on an otherwise identical PC, then a disk image backup is better, because it captures absolutely everything.
After restoring the image to a new hard disk, everything should be back, and no program installation is required.
In addition to all that, you should also have an automatic daily/weekly routine backup regime.
This protects your latest files, not only against total disk failure, but also to recover accidentally deleted/corrupted files.
Saving data to external hard drive
Thanks for your advice and help.