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Computer help

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As mentioned in #225 I've used Macrium Reflect and it is good but it has sat in my computers unused lately. It is 'overkill' for my simple needs. I only have 65Gb of data and images which I would not like to lose but don't use 'backup' programs. I simply plug in a 250Gb USB drive and copy the data over. It takes about 30 minutes. I have two of these drives.

I notice a well know retailer is selling a 1Tb usb plug-in drive for £44 !

I store password files and financial files on a 16Gb usb flash drive copied to another drive and only me and my son know where they are kept.
:)
 
Smudger said:
Thanks again for all your replies & help. I think i`ve mentioned this before, that i have a slight problem with dyslexia & have to read most things a few time to understand it. Nevertheless, i enjoy a challenge & shall see where i go with Macrium! :dizzy:View attachment 139993
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30............I was chatting with my dyslexic mate and I said "fred", can you smell gas?" He replied "Mate, I can't even smell my own name!"
 
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As you can see, i`ve downloaded Macrium but not sure what to do next. Do i clone this disk or image this disk. Also will i need a 128gb usb? Or would it be ok to copy just my personal files & photos & then if the worst happens & my pc dies, could i install those files onto a new pc? Thanks again for any help (the simpler the better)
 
Hi, Smudger, we all do things slightly differently. As mentioned in #234 I have used Macrium Reflect but what I do now is as follows ...

Copy all my important data and photos (65Gb of it) to an external HDD drive. I don't use a back-up program, I simply drag the files from where they are in the computer to the external drive. Did it yesterday and it took about 45 minutes to copy them over and while it happens I carry on using the computer.

1) Created a recovery usb ... for use if a Win 10 computer completely crashes and won't run.
2) I used Settings and clicked recovery.
3) Clicked 'Creating a Win 10 recovery drive'
4) This took me to a Microsoft website which gives full instructions and says you need a 16Gb USB

I now have a 16Gb usb for recovery. I needed one about 3 years ago when Win 10 completely crashed and I had to boot from the recovery drive. Win 10 seems much more reliable these days so probably the need has reduced.
recov.jpg

If Win 10 is simply not running correctly you can use commands in Settings which can re-install Windows either clean or keeping your existing files and data. A recovery usb is not needed for this. This is mentioned in the large Windows 10 thread.

My computers are
Dell 5770 laptop 17" screen.
Acer Aspire TC 885 desktop
Old Lenovo with Linux Mint.
Apple iPad and iPhone.
 
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oM, I have started making a recovery drive. My next question is.. can i drag & drop personal files onto this usb or is it solely for recovery?
I have just checked progress of creating recovery drive, "a problem occurred cannot create recovery drive" Have tried & formatted two usb``s both have failed. I think i`ll give up trying & just drag & drop my personal files. Thanks for your help.
 
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Smudger, it is about 3 years since I used one and as far as I remember it is just for booting your computer which has to be set to boot from a usb. I think you will find that you cannot put anything on it because it shows as disk full.

I've just looked for mine to see whats on it but I can't find it ... :rolleyes:

Most people I know with Windows computers don't bother with one. I did once recover a relative's computer with the normal Settings recovery procedures.
 
Smudger said:
As you can see, i`ve downloaded Macrium but not sure what to do next. Do i clone this disk or image this disk. Also will i need a 128gb usb? Or would it be ok to copy just my personal files & photos & then if the worst happens & my pc dies, could i install those files onto a new pc? Thanks again for any help (the simpler the better)
Click to expand...

A clone is a bit by bit copy of one hard to another hard disk, it is when you want to make an exact copy of a hard disk. This is where you may want to replace a small hard disk with a larger hard disk, or maybe move from a hard disk to an SSD. So you DONT want this option.

To make a disk image backup you need to make sure the 3 partitions have ticks against them in the screen shot above (which they do) then select the option "Image selected disks on this computer".

You then select the USB drive and folder name you want to hold the image (it may be worth creating a folder on the USB in advance) and begin the image creation.

But if you just want to backup your personal files then all you need to do is copy them (or drag and drop them) to a folder on your USB.

Make sure you copy ALL your personal files in ALL your personal folders which include "Downloads", "Documents", "Music", "Pictures", "Videos", "Favorites" and any folders you have created (folder names do vary across versions of Windows). There may also be files in your "Public" folders as well.
 
guilbert53, I am currently making a disk image & so far everything is going fine. I will use another usb to drag & drop personal files. Cheers!
 
Found my mislaid recovery usb then realised it was for an earlier computer so remade it for my Acer. It took an hour with 9.7Gb used. Hope I never have to use it ... ;)
 
For anyone using Linux Mint, the latest release of 19.3 Tricia can now be downloaded or 19.2 upgraded. I have Cinnamon and MATE, both updates from 19.2 went very smoothly. Actually Cinnamon, more or less, updated MATE at the same time they way I have them configured.
 
mw0njm. said:
Norton or McAfee wich is best?... my subs are up next week with norton
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I`ve always used Norton 360 deluxe. I believe it`s on special offer at currys, but don`t buy online if you possibly help it. The reason is buying Norton online they sometimes forget to activate it & you end up having to go to Currys in the end.
 
mw0njm. said:
Norton or McAfee wich is best?... my subs are up next week with norton
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I wouldn't use either of them. I did have Norton but thought the interface was like something from the early days of computing. I renewed it once online and then noticed it had slipped in an 'auto-renewal' ... it had my card details and could renew each year.
I was not going to allow that and it was not straight forward to block it. Eventually I decided to uninstall it and that was not easy I had to use a 'Norton Removal Tool' to completely get rid of it.

I use the built-in Windows Security, a weekly scan with Malwarebytes, and my own common sense.
 
I've always found Norton and McAfee rather clunky and greedy of CPU power. Having used Malwarebytes on many occasions to fix other people computer problems, I opted to buy the paid version two years ago and I've found it very good and not intrusive at all. I've no idea how prices compare however, and I leave you to make that comparisons yourself.

Maurice :cool:
 
The update mentioned in #248 went well but on restart the CPU was working hard and Task Manager showed that the 'Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64 - Jan 2020' was ploughing through my laptop and using 81% of the cpu. After a minute things quietened down because I presume it did not find anything malicious.
:)
 
thanks for reply all i think i will use my laptop. and do a fresh install on the desk one to .get rid of norton its slowing my machine down,and is too protective
 
How do i back up my files (w10) Automatically backup my files is switched on & i`ve tried to backup to usb but there`s nothing going to usb so obviously i`m doing something wrong. Usb is my preferred option. I`m also getting a window saying reconnect your drive, your file history drive has been disconnected for too long, reconnect it.?
 
mw0njm. said:
have you unplugged the usb,waited a moment and plugged it back in.
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Pete, yes, the usb is fine. I`ve had stuff on it & i`ve formatted it, so it`s not the usb. It`s probably me not doing something i should be doing. I can move the files to usb manually, but i would prefer to auto do it every day.
 
Smudger said:
Pete, yes, the usb is fine. I`ve had stuff on it & i`ve formatted it, so it`s not the usb. It`s probably me not doing something i should be doing. I can move the files to usb manually, but i would prefer to auto do it every day.
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i do it manualy...no doubt later the gurus will help you sort it smudge.:D
 
Last night the lightning took out most of my electronics items. my laptop was one of them..it had a cd/dvd player in it.
i have looked but cant find anywhere that sells them now. i dont want to have to carry a stand-alone cd player. any ideas folks were i can buy a replacement
 
mw0njm. said:
Last night the lightning took out most of my electronics items. my laptop was one of them..it had a cd/dvd player in it.
i have looked but cant find anywhere that sells them now. i dont want to have to carry a stand-alone cd player. any ideas folks were i can buy a replacement
Click to expand...
I have that is doing nothing
 
mw0njm. said:
Last night the lightning took out most of my electronics items. my laptop was one of them..it had a cd/dvd player in it.
i have looked but cant find anywhere that sells them now. i dont want to have to carry a stand-alone cd player. any ideas folks were i can buy a replacement
Click to expand...
I have one that is doing nothing
 
Lumpammer said:
I have one that is doing nothing
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Lumpammer, You can edit your first update, you don't have to enter it all again (see the edit button)

I think poster wants one that fits inside their laptop rather then an external one that plugs in.

And as far as I know these are not standard items and one would need to be bought for the specific laptop.
 
mw0njm. said:
thanks LUMPHAMMER but the storm blew my laptop/it fried it. i went to pc world,and they said you cant buy laptops now with dvd built in.
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Actually MW, I think you are better off without one built in. mine does not and it lighter and easier. I have a separate dvd that I hardly use. mostly for file storage I use memory sticks or thumb drives. Also purchase a 2TB portable HD to back everything up from Amazon. $40.00us.
 
OUTLOOK PROBLEM.

I had a problem with Outlook dropping out. MS recommended uninstalling office 2013 which I did. I reinstalled and everything is fine except cant receive emails without doing it manually!!

Any ideas would e appreciated!
 
Richarddye said:
Actually MW, I think you are better off without one built in. mine does not and it lighter and easier. I have a separate dvd that I hardly use. mostly for file storage I use memory sticks or thumb drives. Also purchase a 2TB portable HD to back everything up from Amazon. $40.00us.
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thanks mate. i think i will have to go with the times and get a new model and a sep dvd drive for my box sets.
 
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