Maintenance :: Backing Up Windows 8 - 1 TB External USB HDD
Jul 1, 2013
My laptop came with Windows 8 pre-installed and I want to make a backup of it in case it crashes. I have a 1 TB external USB HDD. Can I use it for both making a backup of Windows and then continue using same drive to make auto backups of my PC per request. Or do I have to have separate memory devices, i.e., one that only contains a backup of windows and one for other backups. Just wondering before I do any backing up because if I backup Windows on my 1 TB drive and the rest gets blocked for other saves then that would be a waste of good memory space..,
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Sep 16, 2014
I am trying to to back up my files, using file history, but the program will not recognize my Iomega portable hard drive.
I keep getting this error message every time I try to back up the files.
"File history does not recognise this drive"
There doesn't appear to be any problem with the Omega as I have copied my files to this and double Save when modified.
It seems this problem has been around generally for a long time now as W8.1 search turns many pages on this and I have tried several of the suggestions without success.
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Jun 12, 2014
In few days I will have my new computer with Windows 8.1, and I wonder what solution would be the best for easy backing up and restoring of system drive in the new machine. For last 5 years I've been using Acronis to create an image of entire partition c: , with windows and all my crucial software, and if only my system felt slow or there was too many stuff installed, I simply restored it from this image (of course app data was moved to d:, so that no settings of my programs were replaced). From time to time I was making new image, so that it was always ready to work 'out of the box' with all the updates etc..
Any different solution to accomplish the same as I don't want to move app data to d: any more because I'll have ssd drive for my system, and I would prefer to have it all in one partition, so my solution will no longer be effective. Is there any native Windows 8 solution for system backup and is it any good? Or maybe I could simply backup "windows" and "program files" folders, and restore just them. Would it be as effective as restoring entire partition?
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May 15, 2014
When I bought my new Asus laptop, lady told me I should buy a 32 gb stick to back up o/s, as M/S no longer supply a recovery disk. I started the sequence.
control panel--recovery--create a recovery drive--then got a bit scared .....
I went through it with MS but after booting up, I inserted stick, r/c, properties, stick was empty???
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Jun 19, 2013
I have a Toshiba Satellite C855D laptop and I was wondering if there's a way to backup my files onto a computer with a new harddrive I just bought-
Amazon.com: WD Blue 1 TB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache - WD10EZEX: Electronics
Basically, I just want to have the same files from my latop on my desktop computer with a fresh harddrive. Ofcourse the new harddrive that I will install onto the desktop wont have an OS, so how would I do it? I dont have an external HD either.
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Nov 19, 2013
I'm having an issue with the new File History (sure do miss the windows 7 backup) thing in 8.1.
Basically when I tell File History to run it says it's updating for a minute or two, then says it's done, but it doesn't actually back up anything at all. I have it set to backup to my 750GB external drive (connected via esata) which is solely for backups. The only files that show up on it are the configuration files.
Here's the setup I'm working with:
HP DV7-4285dx laptop with > 2 week old fresh 8.1 install
SanDisk 256GB SSD (C: internal; for OSs and installed programs only)
Samsung 1TB HDD (D: internal; for data only)
Sandisk 750GB HDD (G: external over esata; for backup)
I'm suspecting the problem might have something to do with the fact that I have all of my documents, music, etc. folders redirected (changed the targets of all of the folders in my user directory to D:UsersMatt...) to my D: drive instead of them being on the C: drive.
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Oct 31, 2013
I'm trying to backup my Quicken data files using File History. I tried creating a new Library folder and moving the files into it, but they don't backup to my external HD when using File History.
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Oct 7, 2013
see attchments...I think I need to know what service or process needs to be turned on.
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Sep 15, 2014
File history seemed to be working OK. But then I added a library in Windows Explorer with my Google Drive folder. I don't have much stuff in this folder, less than 1GB. The problem is that File History is not backing up this folder in its backups.
Do I have to delete the file history backup and redo it again every time I add a library? (I haven't tried it but it'd be a nuisance wouldn't it?).
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Nov 26, 2013
Running Windows 8.1 and File History was working OK for my computer, actually on two different computers worked just fine. (I never could get File History to work with Windows 8). Then suddenly this feature just up an quit. Got a little "red" flag in the Action Center. Using the control panel an "setting" up File History my system says that file history is turned off. I never did turn it off, it seems it just up an turned itself off.
But here is the thing, I select my external drive to use for file history and the system says the service can not be started because its disabled or no enabled devices are associated. It "sees" the drive but will not enabled this drive. I have used various windows programs, such as system services..to "turn" on file history. But there seems not to be anything that will fix file history.
It seems all the support is non specific to file history not working. I have yet to see a simple fix to "make" Windows 8.1 to again run file history. I would just like to point and click to backup the computer...but windows is now becoming NON-USER friendly to manage these types of things.
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Mar 14, 2013
New to Windows 8 - setting up a couple computers .Can I use one external HDD for the backup as well as for the recovery? I mean, it seems when I set up the first one a week ago, there was an option in the recovery section of control panel to create something for disaster recovery. (Create a recovery drive) I think it said everything on the drive would be erased when it was created. Now that I've created it on a 250GB HDD, I am wondering if I can do my backups on there as well? Or is this recovery drive supposed to be a dedicated flash drive or something like that?
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Jun 14, 2013
I just did a backup (using File History) of files to an external HD. When I looked in the Folders on the HD, there were multiple copies of the same files; some with different dates, and others with the same dates but different ?file numbers. How to do a backup so that files are not duplicated. I'd also like to have files with changes overwrite the old file, provided that I haven't the file name.
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Nov 29, 2012
it says File history cannot recognize my external HD.
Under the icon of my external HD it says "Unknown error". Its HP SimpleSave 1TB external hard drive.
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Aug 7, 2013
Just running some tests on three average external USB2 HDD (self powered) 1TB drive -- Thicker older WD model -- not the Passport type but still self powered.
On a USB2 connection the data transfer still around 50% FASTER than when formatted with standard MBR.
Unless you NEED the older MBR system I can't see ANY disadvantages to making all my disks GPT where possible - except for the small SSD I have as my Boot disk -- even on a non UEFI system (where a GPT disk won't be bootable - but perfectly fine for DATA etc).
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Jun 20, 2013
I just installed Windows 8. I used to have Vista. With Vista I could connect my Seagate external hard drive and then find the Backup function and create a backup. How would I do this with Windows 8?
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Jul 18, 2013
I was trying to install Kali linux as a partition on my windows 8, and was using EasyBCD to add Kali linux to the boot entry. Somehow I ended up deleting the Windows 8 boot entry, not deleting the Windows 8 drive but deleting the boot entry meaning I can't boot into it. I have tried MANY MANY MANY solutions to fix it. I've tried using a recovery disk but that just shows the windows logo and reboots and reboots and does the same stuff.
Eventually I just gave up and thought I'm just gonna get rid of this windows 8 which by the way came pre-install with my Toshiba L855-149, and just install windows 7. Of course I NEEDED my files so just an hour ago, I removed the hard drive from the laptop, put it into HDD Docking thing I have which allows me to add the hard drive as an external drive to my other win7 desktop PC. I started copying all my files which I am still doing now. I was thinking is there a way to make some sort of restore point from the hard drive or something? Is there another way to boot up windows 8?
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Jan 3, 2014
I was wondering what you'd recommend for the following:
I want a program that synchronizes my files with my external hard drive.
The client I use right now, Memeo Instant Backup, is decent, but has the following issues:
1. Takes a lot of resources to run
2. Is extremely slow
3. Doesn't mirror deleting files on my hard drive, keeps them on my external and causes it to get full
Is there a program I can use that just literally copies my user folder onto an external drive, and as I delete/move files on my hard drive, its mirrored on the external hard drive?
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Mar 3, 2013
I have USB external hard disc 320Gb that I use to try Windows 8 since Developer Preview until the latest PreRelease. I boot from this USB HDD to keep internal HDD intact and protected with end point encryption.
It went very well until at some point suddenly I cannot boot from it anymore. All the file is in perfect condition when accessed from other system.
I try to recover with Recovery disc, but found nothing. I delete bootmgr to force corrective action. But still problem not solved.
Later I read that Grub cannot boot if boot loader and file required for boot is beyond 137Gb (128x1024x1024x1024 bytes). But I never read that Windows has same limitation. Anyway I would like to prove that.
I find UltimateDefrag that can move certain files to beginning of the disc. I select bootmgr, boot folder, and Windows folder to be placed in front. It works. I can boot again from my external USB HDD.
I just wonder how to keep those file in 128GiB boundary, it won't happen again?
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Feb 18, 2013
Recently i upgraded my system to windows 8..N after clean install i backed up the copy of my C drive (Includes System Image) to my external 2TB Hard Drive.. It took around 250GB of hard drive space..Now since i am running out of space i decided to delete the back up copy from My hard drive.. I deleted WindowsImageBackup and all associated files using control panel..But around 150GB space is missing(not visible) from my external Hard Drive..
As You can see from attached pic that 125 GB free out of 1.81TB..But size of all files including hidden files is 1.53TB..
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May 19, 2014
I created some windows 8 system images(Using the internal system image tool). Now I find restore points more useful, but I would have to turn the system protection on for an external hard drive. The problem is that I don't understand the sophisticated message Using system protection on a drive that contains system image backups will cause other shadow copies to be deleted faster than normal. Does it mean, that under some circumstances my manually created full system images could be deleted to create a restore point? I would like to keep the system images. Also, I hope it doesn't override existing directories on this harddrive, but I don't want to try it out without being sure.
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Nov 12, 2013
I have windows 8.1 and I have noticed that my externall hdd turns off after a few mins of being idle (The led turns off as well.), but I can still see it on the windows explorer and it turns on again when I click on it.
Is that normal ? It doesn't happen on Windows 7.
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Sep 15, 2014
I've got an older SSD 120 GB. I was wondering if by partitioning it I could create a BOOTABLE Windows install disk. I've no problem with USB STICKS but using a bootable reserve SSD would be great IMO as I could then also have all my various other programs on it like Ms OFFICE and PHOTOSHOP so re-installing Windows together with the applications should be a breeze.
Perhaps the Bootable USB STICK procedure could be used as on boot the computer thinks it's a Disk anyway ( says USB 2.0 LEXAR HDD) for the USB STICK.
Note I'm not talking here about RUNNING Windows from an external HDD -- that can be done easily enough with Windows Enterprise (Windows to GO) but simply creating a Windows install media that will boot off an external SSD (NOT a USB STICK). I have the ISO's.
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May 16, 2013
A few months ago my laptop broke and it needed repairs. The HDD was replaced and i got my laptop back with one new HDD inside and one "broke" HDD in a bag. Later the "Repaired" Laptop crashed again so i bought a new one and took the HDD out of the old laptop. I bought a HDD case with USB connection and both of the HDD's where intact. The oldest HDD contained windows 7 and the replaced contained windows 8. Now i want to sell the Windows 8 HDD so i want it to be clean of personal files but i want it to keep windows 8. I thought the solution was to run the windows 8 on the HDD so i can use the program deletation program of that windows 8. The problem is i dont know how to run windows 8 of a hard drive. I have searched the internet but with no success.
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Aug 23, 2014
My wife just got a new PC running Windows 8.1 Pro and she wants to re-connect her external hard drive that has all her game files on it to the new PC.
While the new PC recognizes the drive it states that it needs to be initialized , doing so would wipe the data currently on the drive which would be unacceptable. How to get the new PC to recognize this drive and its data?
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Jan 3, 2014
I work on malware and viruses and I use a junker XP machine to do it. I have been doing it for many years, however, I have my first Windows 8 hard drive to scan and my XP machine beeps at me but the new drive never shows up for me to scan with my malware scan tools. Does this have something to do with Windows 8?
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Oct 9, 2014
I was downloading files from an external drive that iI had used as a back up for windows vista. Now where they landed in my windows 8.1 computer and if they were only photos, music and videos. I'm having a hard time with windows 8. How do I locate the downloads. I thought of doing a system restore but I would rather locate those files.
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Jul 16, 2014
I am on an i7-12gb RAM+SSD Asus laptop, running Windows 8 x64. I am using two external HDDs attached via USB. One is an external-powered 2TB 3.5" WD, and the other is a 1TB 2.5" 5400 rpm Matshita HDD.
I store my music and movie collection in these drives, and a few setup files for the programs that I use.My problem is, from time to time when I boot up my computer, I start my browser, Word, iTunes, even Snipping Tool, etc. or when I need access to some function in a program (e.g. language proofing in Word, some function in Photoshop CS6, etc) my laptop randomly needs to access one, or both of my external drives and read something from there. I hear the whirring sound from the HDD and then my laptop starts responding again. This does not happen all the time, but it happens frequently enough to spoil a good workflow a few times during the day.
My external HDD's are slow in access times, and the 2TB WD actually shuts itself off after a non-use period and takes 6-7 seconds to turn back on.
So this translates into me randomly waiting for 6-7 seconds while using my laptop.
This case has been the same since using Windows 7 and through a few fresh installs.
I want these two HDD's to just store my files and not interfere with my OS' working.
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Jun 25, 2014
Just want to say that on a decent laptop (i5 processor) running Windows to Go from a standard external USB2 disk (using a 7200 RPM old laptop drive connected via a sata==>usb2 connector) performance is certainly totally ACCEPTABLE. Even running Photoshop is OK - and I've connected the USB drive via an UNPOWERED USB hub !!
The Windows to go system is certainly nice as a portable system with my own copies of Office etc in various languages and keyboard configurations -- certainly when I'm on site where other languages / keyboards are used.
For those who think you have to use a "certified" device -- you don't -- you can install on "bog standard" devices -- you will need to extract the IMAGEX program from the WAIK -- you can use the Windows 7 WAIK (downloadable from Ms) if you haven't got it. Ensure you chose the x86 / x64 version depending on what version of Windows you want in your Windows to go system.
Here's how to create a Windows to Go system on a "normal" device. (You still of course need Windows 8.1 Enterprise).
Creating a Non-Certified Windows To Go USB Drive ....
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Jul 27, 2014
Few days ago I bought a new Lenovo Thinkpad Edge E540. It has two USB3.0 ports and one USB2.0. I bought the machine without OS and installed Windows 8.1 Pro(x64) myself. Everything seems to be working fine except when I want to use My WD Elements 1TB external HDD in USB 3.0 port. It just doesn't get recognized. In USB 2.0 port it works fine.
What I've gathered and tried so far :
- Device manager does not show anything not even Unknown Device , yet my USB 3.0 Kingston pendrive works fine out of the box in the same slot
- I'm pretty sure the USB power is not the issue because the WD HDD , when plugged, starts blinking for a while , then lights up fulltime and i can feel and hear the drive spinning
- I've disabled USB selective suspend in my Power plan
- I've disabled Fast Startup
- In msconfig , im stuck at "Selective startup" (if changed it doesnt even let me APPLY and switches back to Selective right after I close/change tab in msconfig, I tried doing it in safe mode , same thing)
Using my harddrive in USB3.0 speed is essential for me.
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Apr 12, 2013
I successfully managed to create a virtual hard drive on my external drive to try boot windows 8 off it. I managed to boot it up and the login screen also appears as normal. I have a successful login, But on the second time login I am faced with black screen and the cursor. I'm aware that Microsoft has released a fix for this. I have attached the executable in the zip. I tried running this fix but it didn't work . After the black screen appears, even in safe mode I cannot run explorer.exe or open any folder to try running any executable files
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Sep 23, 2013
In windows 8 everything worked pretty great, but now after doing a clean and fresh install of 8.1 pro it can sometimes take up to 30 seconds to access any of my external usb or esata hard drives. This never ever happened on windows 8. It doesn't always happen but it happened enough for me to make this thread. I tried changing ownership and security policies to my account just to make sure, and i tried reinstalling the drivers for the drives too and it still does this!
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