Clone versus backup
Try to be short...hard for me!
HP is replacing my computer - it's had lots of issues - lemon deal. Anyway, I have the new computer and the old computer right here right now - but I have to SOON send them back the old computer.
I have lots of high end software that are getting po'd at me because I keep reinstalling my software and they are getting suspicious! No, not illegal stuff....just that HP reformats hard drive every time they work on your computer! So, my solution seems to be both so I don't have to keep begging Adobe, MS, and Corel to let me install AGAIN, AND take days for me to reinstall all my software....is to clone. But I have been reading here that that may not be what I want or need to do.
HERE'S WHAT I WANT: I want to have everything on my current computer go on to my new computer INCLUDING (very important) ALL MY SOFTWARE PROGRAMS - not just data, pics and stuff. I can do that easily. I want my PROGRAMS installed. The new computer is so new I haven't even logged in yet.
Should I go ahead and go through the installation processes for the new computer? Should I use clone or backup to a hard drive (which I have a couple)? How do I know if it was successful? I always thought a backup just did files but did not put installation files back on?
Lots of questions, but I don't want to screw this up. Tried to contact Acronis before my 'free' support went out, but didn't get a response.
Thanks. Please help. I don't have much time before I have to send this one back.
Thanks. Tryint to keep it all straight. So I need to make an ACronis recovery disk on both my old and my new computer? My new one came with a 'system restore' disk, my old one did not. ACtually, my old one is less than a year old. It is an HP Pavilion dv7t with 1T hard drive, 8 memory, etc. etc.
this is scaring me to death! Of course, I guess the worst case scenario is that I have to reinstall all my software anyway and in that case wasted the money on Acronis, lol! I'll have to read the instructions over and over again. Even then I sometimes MISS something. One time my independent nature had me putting together a Wally World cheap desk. I was so proud of myself! Until I realized that I put 2 of the parts on backwards! I did not take it apart! It just meant that the nice looking cheap wood was on the bottom of 2 parts rather than on top, lol!
Gotta go clip horses for a show, but when I come back in, I'm taking a deep breath and trying to do this!
Goldie, the instructions you have received from Pat are great. You only need to create one Acronis recovery disk. It can be used on both systems. As far as wasting money on Acronis, it is an excellent backup and imaging software application that can be used to maintain backups of your systems after doing all the work your have ahead of you. I find that a $50 program that can save my rear end is always a good investment.