PC Hard Drive Question

[Hercules]

If I backup my PC with an external hard drive, is it safe to remove most of my stuff so my PC's hard drive is nearly empty so I can add more to it and/or have a faster PC again?

Then when I want to access this stuff I just plug it in and work with it?

And if so does all that data get shot back into my PC or does it just stay outside my PC's hard drive to just be there to access my data?

[smithgroup]

It depends how you do the backup in the first place.

If you backup all your files from your PC into one big compressed file on the external hard drive (like using an actual backup program), then no, you cannot delete files from your main drive because you wont be able to restore the files one by one.

The best way to do what you want is to simply drag the files you want off of your main pc onto the external drive in an explorer window.

Confirm they are actually on the external drive, then you can delete the file from you main pc to make room.

[First Edition]

Originally Posted by Hercules

If I backup my PC with an external hard drive, is it safe to remove most of my stuff so my PC's hard drive is nearly empty so I can add more to it and/or have a faster PC again?

Then when I want to access this stuff I just plug it in and work with it?

And if so does all that data get shot back into my PC or does it just stay outside my PC's hard drive to just be there to access my data?

most external drives, like the 1 TB drives you see for 100 bucks at best buy, just compress the files, so you can't retrieve them one at a time

[Hercules]

Originally Posted by First Edition

most external drives, like the 1 TB drives you see for 100 bucks at best buy, just compress the files, so you can't retrieve them one at a time

You mean I can't pick at files while they are outside my PC they have to be put back in to my PC or a new PC look at them?

[aramos]

Originally Posted by Hercules

You mean I can't pick at files while they are outside my PC they have to be put back in to my PC or a new PC look at them?

Nah, you can load movies and files off the external drive, but it'll load slower (perhaps not noticeable to you).

Some cheap USB/HDD's may become corrupted, so don't rely on the backup for your crucial information!

[First Edition]

Originally Posted by Hercules

You mean I can't pick at files while they are outside my PC they have to be put back in to my PC or a new PC look at them?

with my experiences with back up style drives, yes that is my experiences... although, i'm sure not all of them are like this

[pod]

I dont use back up software. Dont like what it does. I have an extra internal drive I copy important files to as needed. They are always accessible and no compression or special file extensions. Just copies. Depending on what external hard drive you have you could just do the same. It doesn't need to be setup up as an automatic back up system. Just a drive.

But in my experience, if its a western digital external drive don't trust it with important files....

[Hercules]

Originally Posted by pod

I dont use back up software. Dont like what it does. I have an extra internal drive I copy important files to as needed. They are always accessible and no compression or special file extensions. Just copies. Depending on what external hard drive you have you could just do the same. It doesn't need to be setup up as an automatic back up system. Just a drive.

But in my experience, if its a western digital external drive don't trust it with important files....

I have HP simple save just for reference.

[Stigger]

i use external hdd's and split them into partitions and save the files, programs or whatever, then i use acronis with another external hdd and make a back up of all the partitions i need every month on the second hdd.