Backing up Files in my computer

BrilliantGenius
BrilliantGenius Member Posts: 9

Tinkerer

edited November 2023 in 2020 Archives
I have an Acer 15 Chromebook.  I would like to back up the files in my computer.  I have scandisks for a Dell laptop I had many years ago. The scan disks do not work on this new acer computer.  Do you know of any thing I can use to back up the files in my new computer?

Answers

  • philetus
    philetus ACE Posts: 4,759 Pathfinder
    I don't actually do a usual backup anymore, I use Macrium Reflect Free and make a clone of my HDD. If anything happens to my Windows drive, I can install the clone and boot right up. You might take a look.
    https://duckduckgo.com/?q=macrium+reflect+free&ia=web
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,105 Trailblazer
    So the normal process for backing up a Chromebook is to back it up to Google Drive. Typically very little data is actually save on a Chromebook except temporary files, like video streams or pictures. If you actually need to back up files locally, you use a USB flash drive connected to the Chromebook.
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • BrilliantGenius
    BrilliantGenius Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

    I already have a scan disk and the files do not save to the scan disk.  I do not see how a usb flash drive would be any different.  
    Does anyone  know of any way to back up the files on the computer in a way that is simple.  I do not want to have to think about this very much.  
    I would rather use something like a flash drive.  The scan disk is not working.  
  • BrilliantGenius
    BrilliantGenius Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

    @ Philetus can you tell me how this Reflect free program works?  I have always used scan disks and don't know how this works.  
  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 12,068 Trailblazer
    edited June 2020
    @ Philetus can you tell me how this Reflect free program works?  I have always used scan disks and don't know how this works.  
    I have used Macrium Reflect for many years and its one of the best and siplest, what Macrium Reflect does is in its "Free" vesrion you can do a clone of your boot drive and with the paid veriosn you can either do a systematic and timed backup or a designated folder file backup(s).

    If you don't want to pay and only want the Free verison then, download Macrium Reflect v7 from here: https://www.macrium.com/?src=sidebar and install it first. After, you have to make either a WIN-PE boot USB (so you can boot a dead PC into Macrium Reflect v7 and restore it) or use the Macrium Reflect v7 option to have a preboot "System Recovery", to do this task(s) go to the Macrium Reflect v7 software and go to > 'Other Tasks' > 'Create Rescue Media > Select 'Windows Boot Menu' in the device list and click 'Build' then you will get this menu option in the preboot, everytime you rreboot (whcih I would strongly recommend as its only a feature with Macrium Reflect v7, see below) 


    To do a backup, see all the backup options here: https://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW72/Creating+a+backup+image+of+your+computer%2C+drive+or+partitions its very simple.
  • philetus
    philetus ACE Posts: 4,759 Pathfinder
    It's a great program, but I got ahead of myself. I don't believe it works in a Chromebook.
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,105 Trailblazer
    So I'm not positive I know what you are referring to when you say Scan Disk... Are you referring to a SanDisk SD card? ScanDisk is a software product that comes with Windows. SanDisk is a product name for a line of storage devices. A SD card is different than a USB flash drive.
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • BrilliantGenius
    BrilliantGenius Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

    the USB flash drive does not work for files on this computer- that is the problem.  
  • BrilliantGenius
    BrilliantGenius Member Posts: 9

    Tinkerer

    This macrium reflect did not work for google chromebook.  I simply need to back up the files on my computer.  Ideally I would like to back them up on a removable disk.  The USB drives I have do not seem to work on the chromebook.  
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,105 Trailblazer
    A USB flash drive should work. What filesystem is it formatted in? ChromeOS supports NTFS, FAT32, exFAT...
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.