Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
Out of the box, Windows XP does not come with a backup software that will make upgrading easy. I suggest a stand-alone program to help with the process.
Hi, Leo. I use Windows XP, SP3, 32-bit. I have a lot of stuff on my computer, which I don't want to lose at all so I back up everything on an external drive. Now, I want to upgrade to Windows 7. How would I restore my data from backup (because the backup contains everything, including the files from the previous OS which I don't want to be restored)? Kindly help me in this regard. Please note that I don't use any backup software. I just go to Start menu, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup, and leave the computer to make a backup overnight.
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In this excerpt from Answercast #25, I look at the different ways that Windows backup programs work for XP and Windows 7 and how to get backed up properly before an upgrade of the system.
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XP System backup
So my recommendation in a case like this is actually going to be counterintuitive.
- I will strongly recommend that you now get yourself a different backup program.
Macrium Reflect is what I've been recommending recently. Take a complete system image backup using Macrium Reflect before you upgrade to Windows 7.
The problem is that the Windows XP built-in backup program is, well... less than useful. I'm sure that it backs up something and can be used for restoring at times, but its history is just not that good. I don't think it qualifies as a reliable, useful backup program.
Backup software is improving
Fortunately, in Windows 7, that changes, but you're not there yet; you're trying to get there.
So, before you go to Windows 7, try backing up with something like Macrium Reflect. What you can do is this:
- You'll have your system image that you took of your Windows XP disk.
- You'll upgrade to Windows 7.
- Now, using Macrium Reflect, you will be able to copy individual files and folders from that system image to your newly configured system.
Restore from a full system image
It doesn't matter what you copy and it's one of the reasons that I suggest you do a system image; because a system image will include absolutely everything.
By having everything on a system image that was created by Macrium Reflect, you can certainly restore the entire image if you wanted to... but that's not what you want. Fortunately, Macrium Reflect (like many other true backup programs) allows you to examine the image and pick and choose what files you want to restore or copy out of the image.
I think that's exactly what you're looking for. I think if you were to make
a backup image using a real backup program before you make the switch to
Windows 7, you'll be in a much better position to restore your data once you
get to Windows 7.
Next from Answercast #25 – How do I remove password protection from an Excel document?
Article C5447 - June 11, 2012 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
June 12, 2012 9:07 AM
You should remind people that installed software will not simply copy to a new system. Something like PcMover from Laplink is required to move them.
They should not rely on the Laplink backup.
EaseUS has a free image copy program. Be warned that due to bad behavior by Windows, you should not reboot with an exact image attached.
Note that many backup programs do not behave well when they encounter an error. When I once had normal backups fail, I was able to use xxcopy which will continue to completion in spite of errors, to produce a bootable copy.
Belarc has an inventory program which can be used to spot forgotten programs you may want.
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