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<div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">The backup software for older WD hard drives may no longer be maintained by WD. But they do have backup software for their newer hard drives. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">I have always relied on third-party backup software which can be used on anyone's drives. Like Macrium Reflect (no longer free) or EaseUS Backup (still free). EaseUS also has a good PC Transfer program, and there are others out there. These programs may be able to transfer your data and many of your programs <span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">to a new PC. </span></span>(You would still need to reenter the license keys.) Windows 11 can run most software which Windows 7 and Windows 10 could run, but usually nothing older. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Too bad about the DVD drive, but jams could happen with those drives, and some did not have the paperclip hole. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">I disagree about using external SSDs for long-term data backup. I think they still have greater data loss possibilities than traditional hard drives. But not by much.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Cloud backup is getting better, especially being able to get the data back faster now than years ago. OneDrive may not be ideal, but in Windows 10 and 11, it is getting better. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Good luck with your project.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">-- Bob Primak </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div><br></div>
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On Sunday, January 7, 2024 at 06:12:54 PM EST, Tracy Marks via LCTG <lctg@lists.toku.us> wrote:
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<div><div dir="ltr">Hello folks -<br></div><div dir="ltr">I'm a very inactive member on this list who is not very tech savvy apart <br></div><div dir="ltr">from spending 20 years using and teaching Photoshop, and basic Windows <br></div><div dir="ltr">navigation and customization skills. I am however, quite incompetent, <br></div><div dir="ltr">when it comes to hardware, so am not likely to open my computer (an 2016 <br></div><div dir="ltr">Lenovo desktop, using Windows 10, soon to be replaced).<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">My question following initial explanation:<br></div><div dir="ltr">I have been transferring all my files to my quite old but functional <br></div><div dir="ltr">Western Digital My Book backup drive. No problem with that. However I'm <br></div><div dir="ltr">getting a new computer next week, with Windows 11, and intend to <br></div><div dir="ltr">transfer my files from the backup drive (unless I get help setting up <br></div><div dir="ltr">wifi, and find it easier to do with wi fi) to the new HP Windows 11 <br></div><div dir="ltr">computer.<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">One way or another, I intend to connect the backup drive to the new <br></div><div dir="ltr">computer.<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">The trouble is that the software for the backup drive is on a dvd inside <br></div><div dir="ltr">my dvd drive, where it's been since I first installed it since the dvd <br></div><div dir="ltr">drive became stuck at that point.<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">I've tried every method (apart from opening the computer - which I can't <br></div><div dir="ltr">do - and taking out the dvd drive) of trying to unstick it. Almost every <br></div><div dir="ltr">how-to site online speaks of using a paperclip in the hole on the <br></div><div dir="ltr">outside of the drive but there is no such hole on my drive. And when I <br></div><div dir="ltr">open the outside cover, the dvd drive itself is about two inches inside <br></div><div dir="ltr">it with no nubs, holes etc. of any kind for nudging it.<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">But -- My main question, however, is:<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Will I need the installation software for my My Book external drive in <br></div><div dir="ltr">order to access that drive on the new computer? And if so, well, I'll <br></div><div dir="ltr">need help unsticking that drive....).<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">I'm really not likely to need that drive on the old computer though <br></div><div dir="ltr">unless I need it to get out that installation disc.<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">ADDENDUM<br></div><div dir="ltr">Come to think of it, I don't even know if a 6 year old My Book will work <br></div><div dir="ltr">with Windows 11, so all my backups would not be of any use for file <br></div><div dir="ltr">transfer anyway (500 gb, by the way, and having just gone through a <br></div><div dir="ltr">nightmare with OneDrive -- never again will I count on the Clouds for <br></div><div dir="ltr">backup).<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Damn. Should I just do a transfer via wifi?<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Tracy Marks<br></div><div dir="ltr">===============================================<br></div><div dir="ltr">::The Lexington Computer and Technology Group Mailing List::<br></div><div dir="ltr">Reply goes to sender only; Reply All to send to list.<br></div><div dir="ltr">Send to the list: <a ymailto="mailto:LCTG@lists.toku.us" href="mailto:LCTG@lists.toku.us">LCTG@lists.toku.us</a> Message archives: <a href="http://lists.toku.us/pipermail/lctg-toku.us/" target="_blank">http://lists.toku.us/pipermail/lctg-toku.us/</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">To subscribe: email <a ymailto="mailto:lctg-subscribe@toku.us" href="mailto:lctg-subscribe@toku.us">lctg-subscribe@toku.us</a> To unsubscribe: email <a ymailto="mailto:lctg-unsubscribe@toku.us" href="mailto:lctg-unsubscribe@toku.us">lctg-unsubscribe@toku.us</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">Future and Past meeting information: <a href="http://LCTG.toku.us" target="_blank">http://LCTG.toku.us</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">List information: <a href="http://lists.toku.us/listinfo.cgi/lctg-toku.us" target="_blank">http://lists.toku.us/listinfo.cgi/lctg-toku.us</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">This message was sent to <a ymailto="mailto:bobprimak@yahoo.com." href="mailto:bobprimak@yahoo.com.">bobprimak@yahoo.com.</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">Set your list options: <a href="http://lists.toku.us/options.cgi/lctg-toku.us/bobprimak@yahoo.com" target="_blank">http://lists.toku.us/options.cgi/lctg-toku.us/bobprimak@yahoo.com</a><br></div></div>
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