# Backing up 2 PCs to My Passport **URL:** \ **Category:** Portable SSD\ **Created:** [August 1, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/backing-up-2-pcs-to-my-passport/406901 "2011-08-01T20:57:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Judith\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Judith\_1](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/Judith_1)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/backing-up-2-pcs-to-my-passport/406901/1 "2011-08-01T20:57:28Z")
Can I backu 2 PCs - 1 running XP and one is Windows 7?  Do I have to partition  first?  My old PC (XP) has a lot of files on it that I would like to backup and restore on the new laptop (Windows 7) as needed. Also, can I backup programs that I downloaded and don’t have CDs for? ---
**Author:** ![MR\_MKS\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@MR\_MKS\_Montana](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/MR_MKS_Montana)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/backing-up-2-pcs-to-my-passport/406901/2 "2011-08-02T20:24:48Z")
With the drive you can store info from all your computers, you even have different options to backup your files, either with the software that was included and that is called WD Smartware, with any other third party backup software or simply discard all software and use the drive as a memory stick. I found information in WD web site that could be helpful. [http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a\_id/1717/session/L3RpbWUvMTMxMjMxNTU3NC9zaWQvZU95S3B5QWs%3D](http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1717/session/L3RpbWUvMTMxMjMxNTU3NC9zaWQvZU95S3B5QWs%3D) [http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a\_id/3828/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xMzEyMzE1NTc3L3NpZC9lT3lLcHlBaw%3D%3D](http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3828/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xMzEyMzE1NTc3L3NpZC9lT3lLcHlBaw%3D%3D) ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Judith\_1](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/Judith_1)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/backing-up-2-pcs-to-my-passport/406901/3 "2011-08-03T17:33:29Z")
Thanks for the reply! I’m still not sure whether I should “partition” to keep the older files separate from the new files.  Some have the same file names. Judy ---
**Author:** ![edd111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a87d85/32.png) [@edd111](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/edd111)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 1:16pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/backing-up-2-pcs-to-my-passport/406901/4 "2011-08-04T13:16:25Z")
can I back up my files on my laptop (vista) and retreive them on my desktop windows 7 ---
**Author:** ![MR\_MKS\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@MR\_MKS\_Montana](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/MR_MKS_Montana)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/backing-up-2-pcs-to-my-passport/406901/5 "2011-08-04T19:32:36Z")
Sure thing, you can do it as if it was a memory stick by [copy-paste / drag-drop the files](http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1717/session/L3RpbWUvMTMxMjQ4NTk5Ny9zaWQvT3Bqc1BJQWs%3D "how to use the drive") or with any Backup software of your choice. The one provided by WD is called Smartware.  ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Judith\_1](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/Judith_1)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/backing-up-2-pcs-to-my-passport/406901/6 "2011-08-04T20:05:30Z")
Thanks ---
**Author:** ![MR\_MKS\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@MR\_MKS\_Montana](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/MR_MKS_Montana)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/backing-up-2-pcs-to-my-passport/406901/7 "2011-08-04T21:44:30Z")
Anytime, you are very welcome. I personally rather using the drive as I was instructed by the link below. [http://community.wdc.com/t5/forums/replypage/board-id/BoardExample/message-id/7710](http://community.wdc.com/t5/forums/replypage/board-id/BoardExample/message-id/7710)