Just changed my operating system aaargh!

[StewL]

The other day I decided to change my operating system from Vista to Windows 7.
What a big mistake that was!!!!
I thought I had done all the right things by sending my important stuff to an external hard drive.
After mucking around and loading it into the hard drive that had the space for it. I then decided to have a look at my transferred data.
Well! the folder names were there, but they were empty, yes empty! not a bit of the data was in them. Now looks like I will need to do a system restor and start all over again! Just goes to show that looks are deceiving, you think you have transferred everything but you haven't

[AndrewP]

Hi Stew,

I made the Vista to Windows 7 change a couple of weeks back.

The back ups must include:

• My Documents
  My Pictures
  My Videos
  My Music
  App Data folder (include the many sub folders)
  your e-mail folder(s) - mail and contacts if they are separate
  Favourites
  Desktop
  folder(s) with templates

Are you sure that the folders are empty - not just the Libraries shortcuts pointing to the wrong place (not finding the folders with your info).

One thing that I did at the same time was to instal a second hard disk. The new disk was one of these Solid State ones that I have installed as the primary drive. It has the operating system and all of the programs. The old disk is now the secondary drive and holds only the data - all of my files (documents, photos, music, e-mails etc.). In theory I can at some later date replace the operating system with some other future system and my data stays where it is undisturbed by an operating system change.

I sincerely hope that you manage to revive your files. The change to Windows 7 is worth it after that. Some people desribe Windows 7 as Vista with the mistakes ironed out.

All the best,

AndrewP

[StewL]

Hi Andrew
I went back to start up and logged into Vista instead of 7. As you said that was the mistake I made before, I had not backed up everything properly, only the shells were backed up. It has taken a good part of this morning to back stuff up, and later I will finish it off the same way, logging into vista.
OH yes, 7 is a much better system than vista, and as you said without the mistakes in it.
I am a happy little camper , but still have to sort out my 7 log in to TS.

[Currie]

Helo Stewie,

Hope you got that sorted out ok. I also have my Data separate from my Operating System. Whenever I set up a new Hard Drive I divide it into three partitions with Windows and a variety of Linux on the first two and my Data on the third. That way I can do what I like with the OS without affecting the Data and if windows breaks I can access the Data using Linux.

If I'm doing anything drastic such as transferring Data to a new Hard Drive, I usually make sure I have two back up copies as well as the original, just in case something goes wrong in the process.

Speaking of problems, I've been having OS crashes the last couple of days, it's memory related. Tomorrow I'll have to delve into the innards and do some reseating or if necessary remove the problematical stick.

All the best,
Alan

[StewL]

Hi Alan
I was indeed very fortunate when I installed the new operating system. Not by deliberate choice mind you
When I first tried to load it, the hard drive I was using didn't have enough space, so I put it in the other unused HD (well it was unused then )
I also moved a lot of data into an external HD, and as such now have a lovely back up of everything. The only problem of course was the time and effort to get things working again, but now all is fine. If I need to use my office programme for instance, I just log into the vista operating system as it would not transfer over. Same with my anti-virus programme, but I got another for the "new" hd.
Just a pity that when you try to install a new or updated operating system the thing won't let you move other programmes there. Typical of that company though.