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Dell XPS 8700 BACKUP-RESTORE MEDIA
I just made a new Complete Factory Restore of my XPS 8700. I used an external WD My Passport drive. I cleaned and reformatted the drive before I started and the creation seems to have been successful. I wasn't sure how much space it would take so I had this 500GB Passport available. The restore took about 10 GB.
MY QUESTION IS : Can I store other folders/files on this drive and it won't mess up the restore function?
Regards
JH
beamermt79
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January 23rd, 2016 15:00
As far as I know yes, just keep your backup files/folders in a single folder in the root directory. The restore program should ignore it since I believe its just a generic script that it runs.
ieee488
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January 23rd, 2016 17:00
I wouldn't.
I don't know what software you used to do a "Complete Factory Restore" of your PC. I used Dell's Backup and Recovery and I used a 16 GB USB flash drive which I am keeping in a very safe place.
jhoard
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January 24th, 2016 20:00
Thanks, See my reply to ieee488
jhoard
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January 24th, 2016 20:00
I am using the Dell Full Backup/Restore program. My XPS is a couple of years old. I received a message from Dell that I should create a new updated backup. My original was on DVDs. Now that I know the size requirements of the backup I followed your method and created another backup on a 16gb flash drive. I will keep the one I made on the WD 500gb Passport Elite. I think as long as I don't have any other individual files in the root, a restore should work, but I plan to keep the 16gb flash drive as primary.
I suppose I can read up on the restore process but I am curious. The backup seems to have autorun and the files needed to boot the computer if the hard drive has failed and I have to install a new one. I am wondering if for sure it is suppose to boot the computer and just what all is restored? Is the original Windows 7 Home Premium restored to a new hard drive along with all the drivers etc that originally came on the computer?
I want to hang on to this computer & Windows 7 and avoid the invasive & controlling Windows 10, as long as I can.
Thanks for your comment.
beamermt79
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January 26th, 2016 13:00
If you use the Dell Backup and Restore function, it copies the restore partition from your current hard drive and backs that up to whatever format you choose being a DVD set or USB drive of some sort. If you ever use it, it will restore your computer to factory condition or the condition it came in when you first bought it and turned it on.
In terms of keeping other files on it, you can but its user preference. As IEEE488 stated he wouldn't, but I have done it myself and had no issues. I put everything in the root labeled 'stuff' or 'backup' or whatnot and it was fine. However as IEEE488 stated the best practice is to get a USB flash drive, store the backup and recovery software on it and keep it in a safe place.
Philip_Yip
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January 28th, 2016 01:00
If you copy files to and from this USB flash drive the chances are you delete something important by mistake as mentioned it is recommended not to use the USB flash drive for other purposes.