Help needed - Computer stuff
 

On Jan 10, 10:27*pm, "Canuck57" wrote:
wrote in message

...





On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:43:15 -0500, John H.
wrote:

On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:14:08 -0500, wrote:

On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:41:43 -0500, HK wrote:

wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:07:52 -0500, John H.
wrote:

I have a 160 GB external hard disk to which I tried to back up my
documents
and settings using the Windows backup system.

After about a half hour, I get a message saying there's not enough
room for
the backup, and that if the hard disk is FAT 32, the backup can be no
larger than 4 GB. So I checked, and sure enough, the external HD is
FAT 32.

Now what? I already have about 50 GB of stuff on the external HD that
I
don't want to lose by reformatting (if that's what's required).

You have a couple of options.

If there is enough room on your computer's harddrive, copy the
archives there temporarily while you work on the external drive. Then
you can use a program called "Partition Magic" to do the
reconfiguration without risk to your archives. Partition Magic "could"
do the conversion with the files in place, BUT: No matter what method
you use to convert the disk to NTFS, the only way to guarantee your
files will be safe is to back them up somewhere else.

The other option is to buy another external hard drive. They are dirt
cheap these days. Newegg is very reliable to deal with and has a ton
of external drives to chose from. They even have a no name 160gb drive
for less than $70 including shipping. I've got several Maxtor's and
they have been great. Still relatively cheap.

I also HIGHLY recommend that you do NOT use Windows Backup for
anything you care about. The reason is simple: When you want to
recover those backups a couple of years from now, you will find that
every new version of Windows has a new version of windows backup, and
they are NOT compatible! *Use a separate backup program.

Jesus. This is overkill. It is a relatively trivial task to convert a
drive from FAT32 to the New Technology File System, aka NTFS. There's a
simple procedure to accomplish it, which I posted here. You can do it
without losing the data on the hard drive. I've done it a few times
without any problems.

I don't care if you've done it a thousand times with no problem. It's
HIS data on the drive, and he said he doesn't want to lose it. I
believe him, and took that into account.

You have firmly established your lack of computer expertise in many
previous posts. Now you are recommending that he risk data he said he
doesn't want to lose. Guess what? You could cross the freeway
blindfolded as many times as you've converted drives while they have
data on them, and you might survive every time, as well. Please try
THAT experiment and get back to us.

One more time:
"No matter what method you use to convert the disk to NTFS, the only
way to guarantee your files will be safe is to back them up somewhere
else"

Which is the same advice Microsoft gives.

It's also just plain common sense.

The difference between me and HK is that I am presently employed by a
medium sized city (one of the larger cities in Connecticut) to oversee
the entire city network, which includes all city departments, Police,
Fire, Utilities, school system and libraries. A few more than 40
servers, and 2500+ desktops.

And this is my "retirement job"!

Any you use Microsoft for anything critical?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Our partner in Fla. runs a totally microsoft powered web server with
several websites, what would you like to know?

Help needed - Computer stuff
 

Canuck57 wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:43:15 -0500, John H.
wrote:

On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:14:08 -0500, wrote:

On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:41:43 -0500, HK wrote:

wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:07:52 -0500, John H.
wrote:

I have a 160 GB external hard disk to which I tried to back up my
documents
and settings using the Windows backup system.

After about a half hour, I get a message saying there's not enough
room for
the backup, and that if the hard disk is FAT 32, the backup can be no
larger than 4 GB. So I checked, and sure enough, the external HD is
FAT 32.

Now what? I already have about 50 GB of stuff on the external HD that
I
don't want to lose by reformatting (if that's what's required).
You have a couple of options.

If there is enough room on your computer's harddrive, copy the
archives there temporarily while you work on the external drive. Then
you can use a program called "Partition Magic" to do the
reconfiguration without risk to your archives. Partition Magic "could"
do the conversion with the files in place, BUT: No matter what method
you use to convert the disk to NTFS, the only way to guarantee your
files will be safe is to back them up somewhere else.


The other option is to buy another external hard drive. They are dirt
cheap these days. Newegg is very reliable to deal with and has a ton
of external drives to chose from. They even have a no name 160gb drive
for less than $70 including shipping. I've got several Maxtor's and
they have been great. Still relatively cheap.


I also HIGHLY recommend that you do NOT use Windows Backup for
anything you care about. The reason is simple: When you want to
recover those backups a couple of years from now, you will find that
every new version of Windows has a new version of windows backup, and
they are NOT compatible! Use a separate backup program.



Jesus. This is overkill. It is a relatively trivial task to convert a
drive from FAT32 to the New Technology File System, aka NTFS. There's a
simple procedure to accomplish it, which I posted here. You can do it
without losing the data on the hard drive. I've done it a few times
without any problems.
I don't care if you've done it a thousand times with no problem. It's
HIS data on the drive, and he said he doesn't want to lose it. I
believe him, and took that into account.

You have firmly established your lack of computer expertise in many
previous posts. Now you are recommending that he risk data he said he
doesn't want to lose. Guess what? You could cross the freeway
blindfolded as many times as you've converted drives while they have
data on them, and you might survive every time, as well. Please try
THAT experiment and get back to us.

One more time:
"No matter what method you use to convert the disk to NTFS, the only
way to guarantee your files will be safe is to back them up somewhere
else"
Which is the same advice Microsoft gives.
It's also just plain common sense.

The difference between me and HK is that I am presently employed by a
medium sized city (one of the larger cities in Connecticut) to oversee
the entire city network, which includes all city departments, Police,
Fire, Utilities, school system and libraries. A few more than 40
servers, and 2500+ desktops.

And this is my "retirement job"!

Any you use Microsoft for anything critical?

Business runs on Microsoft.

Help needed - Computer stuff
 

HK wrote:
BAR wrote:
John H. wrote:
I have a 160 GB external hard disk to which I tried to back up my
documents
and settings using the Windows backup system.

After about a half hour, I get a message saying there's not enough
room for
the backup, and that if the hard disk is FAT 32, the backup can be no
larger than 4 GB. So I checked, and sure enough, the external HD is
FAT 32.

Now what? I already have about 50 GB of stuff on the external HD that I
don't want to lose by reformatting (if that's what's required).

Forget about windows backup utilities and get Retrospect.




And Bertie claims to be a computer expert.

I know more about computers, networks, storage and many, many other
subjects than you. And, you know it!

Help needed - Computer stuff
 

On Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:55:04 -0500, WaIIy wrote:

On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:23:30 -0500, John H.
wrote:

On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:11:25 -0500, WaIIy wrote:

On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:07:52 -0500, John H.
wrote:

I have a 160 GB external hard disk to which I tried to back up my documents
and settings using the Windows backup system.

After about a half hour, I get a message saying there's not enough room for
the backup, and that if the hard disk is FAT 32, the backup can be no
larger than 4 GB. So I checked, and sure enough, the external HD is FAT 32.

Now what? I already have about 50 GB of stuff on the external HD that I
don't want to lose by reformatting (if that's what's required).

I think your problem is file size. If I recall correctly, a Fat32 file
can be no larger than about 4 gigs.

I think the Windows utility made one giant file.

The Windows backup system sucks.

Get something like Second Copy....


http://www.centered.com/

A good freeware...



http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp

You're correct about the file size and the making of one giant file. Once
the size hit 4gigs, the backup stopped.

Thanks for the freeware site. That looks inter4esting. Have you used it
(the karenware)?

No, but the people in the Freeware group recommend it highly.

I use Second Copy and it has been very reliable. I have two drives and
backup my important stuff to it.
It's not a perfect system, but I backup documents to CD once in a while.

Thanks, Wally. I've downloaded and installed Karen's Replicator. Seems to
be exactly what I was looking for. Now I have to decide what, besides my
documents, I want to back up.

I appreciate the assistance.
--
John H

Help needed - Computer stuff
 

HK wrote:
JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:09:41 -0500, John H.
wrote:

Have you tried Norton NDD? It fixes lots of stuff CHKDSK and ScanDisk
can't.
No. I don't have anything Norton. For some reason, from many years
ago, I
got a bad taste in my mouth from Norton. Don't remember the details.
--
Probably that lousy anti-virus software or something that happened
when Symantec took over. When it was Peter Norton, they did some great
things with disk recovery software. I have taken "broken" drives out
of the trash and fixed them with NDD.

http://esteroriverheights.com/electrical/norton/


They had an excellent backup software product, too. It was an un-raped
version of the piece 'o **** that came with Windows back in the day.
It was so good, they discontinued it.



Just another example of what happens when a BIG corporation takes over
another company. Almost invariably, the smaller company's product line
is examined by the bigger company's MBAs and then turned into crap.

And, just like hiring union labor. Productivity drops and costs
increase. Why can't I plug this into the outlet? Because you are not a
union electrician. But, if I was at home I could plug it in? Your house
is not a union shop.

Help needed - Computer stuff
 

Help needed - Computer stuff
 

BAR wrote:
HK wrote:
JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:09:41 -0500, John H.
wrote:

Have you tried Norton NDD? It fixes lots of stuff CHKDSK and ScanDisk
can't.
No. I don't have anything Norton. For some reason, from many years
ago, I
got a bad taste in my mouth from Norton. Don't remember the details.
--
Probably that lousy anti-virus software or something that happened
when Symantec took over. When it was Peter Norton, they did some great
things with disk recovery software. I have taken "broken" drives out
of the trash and fixed them with NDD.

http://esteroriverheights.com/electrical/norton/


They had an excellent backup software product, too. It was an
un-raped version of the piece 'o **** that came with Windows back in
the day. It was so good, they discontinued it.



Just another example of what happens when a BIG corporation takes over
another company. Almost invariably, the smaller company's product line
is examined by the bigger company's MBAs and then turned into crap.

And, just like hiring union labor. Productivity drops and costs
increase. Why can't I plug this into the outlet? Because you are not a
union electrician. But, if I was at home I could plug it in? Your house
is not a union shop.


Yawn. I doubt you'd be technically qualified to hold *any* skilled union
job. Your current employment of changing toner cartridges in HP
laserjets doesn't require much skill.

Help needed - Computer stuff
 

HK wrote:
BAR wrote:
HK wrote:
JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:09:41 -0500, John H.
wrote:

Have you tried Norton NDD? It fixes lots of stuff CHKDSK and
ScanDisk
can't.
No. I don't have anything Norton. For some reason, from many years
ago, I
got a bad taste in my mouth from Norton. Don't remember the details.
--
Probably that lousy anti-virus software or something that happened
when Symantec took over. When it was Peter Norton, they did some great
things with disk recovery software. I have taken "broken" drives out
of the trash and fixed them with NDD.

http://esteroriverheights.com/electrical/norton/


They had an excellent backup software product, too. It was an
un-raped version of the piece 'o **** that came with Windows back in
the day. It was so good, they discontinued it.



Just another example of what happens when a BIG corporation takes
over another company. Almost invariably, the smaller company's
product line is examined by the bigger company's MBAs and then turned
into crap.

And, just like hiring union labor. Productivity drops and costs
increase. Why can't I plug this into the outlet? Because you are not a
union electrician. But, if I was at home I could plug it in? Your
house is not a union shop.


Yawn. I doubt you'd be technically qualified to hold *any* skilled union
job. Your current employment of changing toner cartridges in HP
laserjets doesn't require much skill.

I don't need to hold a union job I am one of those highly paid white
collar workers and have been since I was 17.

Help needed - Computer stuff
 

On Jan 11, 8:11*am, HK wrote:
BAR wrote:
HK wrote:
JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:09:41 -0500, John H.
wrote:

Have you tried Norton NDD? It fixes lots of stuff CHKDSK and ScanDisk
can't.
No. I don't have anything Norton. For some reason, from many years
ago, I
got a bad taste in my mouth from Norton. Don't remember the details.
--
Probably that lousy anti-virus software or something that happened
when Symantec took over. When it was Peter Norton, they did some great
things with disk recovery software. I have taken "broken" drives out
of the trash and fixed them with NDD.

http://esteroriverheights.com/electrical/norton/

They had an excellent backup software product, too. It was an
un-raped version of the piece 'o **** that came with Windows back in
the day. It was so good, they discontinued it.

Just another example of what happens when a BIG corporation takes over
another company. Almost invariably, the smaller company's product line
is examined by the bigger company's MBAs and then turned into crap.

And, just like hiring union labor. Productivity drops and costs
increase. Why can't I plug this into the outlet? Because you are not a
union electrician. But, if I was at home I could plug it in? Your house
is not a union shop.

Yawn. I doubt you'd be technically qualified to hold *any* skilled union
job. Your current employment of changing toner cartridges in HP
laserjets doesn't require much skill.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

But parts changers for broken cameras! That is skilled union labor..
"Where is the top left screw guy"??

Help needed - Computer stuff
 

On Jan 11, 9:25*am, BAR wrote:
HK wrote:
BAR wrote:
HK wrote:
JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
wrote in message
m...
On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:09:41 -0500, John H.
wrote:

Have you tried Norton NDD? It fixes lots of stuff CHKDSK and
ScanDisk
can't.
No. I don't have anything Norton. For some reason, from many years
ago, I
got a bad taste in my mouth from Norton. Don't remember the details..
--
Probably that lousy anti-virus software or something that happened
when Symantec took over. When it was Peter Norton, they did some great
things with disk recovery software. I have taken "broken" drives out
of the trash and fixed them with NDD.

http://esteroriverheights.com/electrical/norton/

They had an excellent backup software product, too. It was an
un-raped version of the piece 'o **** that came with Windows back in
the day. It was so good, they discontinued it.

Just another example of what happens when a BIG corporation takes
over another company. Almost invariably, the smaller company's
product line is examined by the bigger company's MBAs and then turned
into crap.

And, just like hiring union labor. Productivity drops and costs
increase. Why can't I plug this into the outlet? Because you are not a
union electrician. But, if I was at home I could plug it in? Your
house is not a union shop.

Yawn. I doubt you'd be technically qualified to hold *any* skilled union
job. Your current employment of changing toner cartridges in HP
laserjets doesn't require much skill.

I don't need to hold a union job I am one of those highly paid white
collar workers and have been since I was 17.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

nerd... ;)