The PC I want to backup has multiple primary partitions (XP operating system). WB My Book only wants to backup the c: partition. How can I backup all the partitions on the PC? Alternatively, it would be OK with me to “backup” only the c: partition, but copy the data from at least one other partition.
Hi
Under the computer picture on WD Smartware, do you have a drop down menu? if you have it, you will be able to change the partition you would like to backup.
If not I will give 3 recomendations
1- Download the latest version for WD Smartware
2- Manually transfer the files from the partitions to the drive.
3- Use another backup software like windows backup ( for windows vista and windows 7 ) or time machine ( for mac ).
The drop down menu only shows the C: drive and there doesn’t seem to be any way to have it select a different drive. In any case, what I basically want to do is backup the C: drive, and copy (they don’t need to be backed up because they are all data files (pictures and such and installed programs) the files from my other primary partition to the same My Book drive.
I think your reponse recommends that I move everything from the partitioned drive into the C: drive and basically leave the partition blank. I can’t actually do that because there isn’t enough space in my C: drive partition. It is looking like I should have bought a cheaper/smaller backup drive because I probably will need to by a second drive to copy everything from my other partition. It is disappointing that nothing in the My Book specs or details implied this problem.
Hi
actually when I said to move the data manually from the partitions to the drive, I meant to move the files or folders directly to the external drive.
I don’t mean to be dense about this, but I usually get messed up when I encounter software that wants to make everything “easy” for me - I’m used to managing files in the traditional folders “tree” way and easy things are usually less flexible and I don’t know until it’s too late what they are really doing.
After backing up my C: drive, the external My Book says it will have about 600 GB of available space. How in the world of My Book do I actually copy (rather than backup) things to that available space (I will only need 300 GB or so)? The manual gives the impression the My Book software is all or nothing. You either use it to backup a drive, or ignore and copy to it as a simple external drive, but it doesn’t imply you can use the drive to do both.
What am I missing?