Windows 10: How do I transfer backup data from an external hard drive back to my PC once it has been...

Using the Windows 10 backup feature, I had backed all of my data, including documents, music, photos and videos, to an external hard drive. The backup was repeated hourly so it was fully up to date. Then my PC crashed. The PC is now being repaired and I have lost everything that was on the PC. I want to restore all of my data to my PC by transferring it back from my external backup drive. Are there specific steps I need to take to put everything back where it belongs? Some things like videos, photos and music are obvious, as I assume I just drag them from my external device to their normal place on my PC hard drive. I'm not sure where the other backed up items should go. On the back up device, everything seems to be under the heading USERS. Should I just drag everything to the PC's USERS folder, or is it more complicated than that? I can't find basic instructions on how to do this anywhere, yet it would seem to be a common problem for folks who have lost everything on their PC.

:)

 

Converting an internal hard drive to an external backup

I want to remove a 3.5 inch internal hard drive from a problematic (dying) desktop and use it as an external backup for a different PC via a USB 2 connection. How do I prepare this hard drive for removal and re-use?

My (few) friends frequently tell me that I know only enough to be dangerous. You folks are apparently very knowledgeable individuals, and I would very much appreciate any assistance you can provide. Perhaps you could just point me in the right direction for reference material, tutorials, etc.

The hard drive in question is a 100GB Seagate ST3100011A (Barracuda 7200.7). According to Seagate's instructions on how to interpret their model numbers, the drive has a 2MB cache and an ATA (IDE?) interface.

I've found a fairly highly-rated external enclosure (Rosewill RX355-U) from a reputable retailer that seems to fit my needs, but I am open to any alternatives you might suggest.

I am completely ignorant as to what I need to do to the hard drive before removal from its sick host. Caches, partitions and the like are totally Greek to me.

I assume the Windows XP operating system installed on the drive will have to be removed at some point in the process, but there is data on the drive that I would like to preserve if possible. The PC for which the hard drive will serve as a backup is running Windows 7.

 

Converting an internal hard drive to an external backup

just buy external case for hdd, umm its dying?
personally i wont use that, slower drive is ok but if its dying you risking your data if you store on that drive
i have 160gb hdd that wears out now it just sitting collecting dust *Big Grin its better that you put important data than lost it coz drive failure

 

Free hard drive backup/restore program?

I am looking for a free (freeware) program that will back up and restore a hard drive. I'm looking to clone a few external hard drives. If the program will backup the used space instead of the whole drive this will be awesome! Thanks for any suggestions.