PC help: Hard disk backups

How to back up everything on your hard disk

Q I have been using an external 80GB hard disk to back up all the data from my PC.

If I purchase a new PC, is it just a case of copying from the backup drive to the new computer? Will this copy all the data as it was previously?
Rod Beck

A This depends on how you back up your data. If you simply copy files from the PC to the external hard disk, then plug the disk into the new PC and all the files will appear as they were on the old one. You can then copy them straight back.

If you use a program to back up your entire hard disk, you are probably best off not restoring the whole thing to the new PC, as some of the settings will differ and it may not work properly.

The new computer will come with Windows pre-installed, so you will need to install the backup program on the new computer, and then plug in the external hard disk.

When it comes to restoring files, just select the files in My Documents, which will copy only your personal data, rather than the files the computer uses for its own purposes.