Hard Drive Partitioning – Free

If you’ve recently bought a new Windows 7 computer, you’ve probably got a 300+ GB drive with your operating system, programs and all the pictures, text and video you transferred over to the new computer. What I like to do is to divide the  hard drive into two partitions – one for the operating system and one for the data (pictures, video, graphics test)

The advantage to this system is that you can frequently and easily backup your C: Operating System to an external drive so that if your computer ever gets a virus/malware/ it’s easy to restore that partition without affecting your data. I also backup before I install a new program so that if I have a problem or the program doesn’t uninstall properly I can easily restore my latest backup.

While I’ve used Partition Magic in the past, there’s a new free program which has some great reviews.
Partition Wizard Free Home Edition

Here’s a good review of the program.

FREE – Acronis True Image WD Edition

One of the few programs I use on a regular basis is Acronis True Image. While I paid for mine, they now have a FREE version available through Western Digital. (click here)

The program is somewhat limited in that it appears you can’t make Incremental backups, but only Full Backups and you need to be cloning to a new Western Digital Drive. Still it can save your computer the next time you have problems.

GFI Free Backup

Backup – Backup – Backup – just do it!

Here’s an other FREE program

GFI Backup – Home Edition.

It does file backups – not image backups.

Backup with Windows 7

I’ve always paid in the past for good backup software. I use Second Copy for my data and Acronis True Image for image backups of my system drive. It seems that might all come to a screeching halt when Windows 7 comes out with what looks like good backup software. According to Paul Thurrott’s product comparison, all versions of Win 7 will do image and data backups which is just what most people need. The only question I have is whether or not it will do Incremental backups which can be a big time and space saver. Neowin.net has a nice overview of the process.

Backup Your Data

Here’s a highly recommended program for backing up your data.
Cobian Backup.  It’s FREE !

I do a data backup once a week and about once a month I help people who don’t backup their data and are trying to recover a file. Don’t be one of those.

I also recommend that after backing up to an external hard drive, that you disconnect it from your computer and unplug it from any electrical sources. While it’s tempting to just keep it plugged in at all times, if you have an electrical surge, it might fry both your computer’s hard drive and your backup.

FREE Disk Imaging Software

Macrium has made available a FREE version of their disk imaging software. While I haven’t tried it, it does seem to have some pretty good reviews. Here’s the link.(click here) Backing up your hard drive is imperative these days and now cost is not an issue.

Free Disk Copy

I found a free disk copy utility that SYSTM recommended. Thanks Roger.

http://easeus.com/disk-copy/

I’d recommend that everyone do a disk copy at least every 6 months.

You’ll thank me the next time you get some malware on your computer.

Backup Your Hard Drive

I found a free program which will clone your hard drive. This is always nice to have in case you get a virus/malware and you can return to a previous good installation. You can find it at http://miray.de/products/sat.hdclone.html

Backup Your iPod files to Your Computer

iPod Access allows you to backup your iPod files to a computer. They have both MAC and Windows versions. The cost is $20.

FREE – Drive Image Backup

It’s VERY important to backup not only your data, but also you main C: while it’s running well. You never know when disaster will strike – a virus or malware will take over, a new program will mess things up etc.

If you have a backup of your main drive, you just restore from a known good installation and you’re back up running again. I use and recommend Acronis True Image, but another FREE program I’ve found is “Runtime Software – Drive Image Backup.” It’s not quite as friendly and easy to use as Acronis, but it is free.

Note – I make it a practice that BEFORE I install any new program I do a backup.