Advice please

[Paddypix]

I have an HP external drive that I use to back up my laptop. What I'd like to know is this. I take my netbook on holiday with me to save space and weight in the luggage. If I also take the external drive with the laptop backup, will I be able to access it on the netbook for photos, documents etc, provided I have the relevant programmes (like Word) on the netbook, or will it only work on the laptop?

[Workingman]

I am pretty sure that the Netbook should simply see it as an external drive same as a USB pen or similar.

Have you tried plugging the two together to have a looksee?

[Paddypix]

I'll do that WM. I'm always a bit unsure of how to look at the files on the external drive as it doesn't come up the same as on the laptop. I've never had to use it to retrieve files and it looked to me as if I had to actually restore the files onto the laptop before I can see them. That's why I'm nervous of using it on the netbook. I'm almost certainly doing something silly. I'll experiment a bit more.

[Workingman]

Liz, if you have Win Explorer, not IE, on your netbook it should see the files as though they are on an external drive. However, if you used a proprietary Backup that might not work. I'll have a hunt around.

[Suff]

How do you put the files onto the external drive?

If you are using software to do this, not Windows Explorer, then you will need software to read the files. It would be interesting to know how you put the files on the drive in the first place and hat will help in explaining how to access it on the netbook.

So WM or I will use Explorer to put the files on and hen we will use explorer, or the application file open windows to read the files. I know some people use software hat comes with external drives to back the data up using backup applications. If that is the case, then we'd need to know what software you use to write to the external drive.

[Paddypix]

It's an HP SimpleSave which has it's own software already on the external drive. I just plug in its USB cable and it does the backup automatically. When I look on the external drive it is quite complicated and I find it hard to find anything as there seems to be a lot of empty folders.

When I plug in I get three buttons: Explore Restore Backup. I've never needed to use the Restore as my laptop has never broken except for one when I needed a new hard drive. That was when I got the external HD to prevent it happening again. Now that I've thought a bit more about it, I should probably be using the Explore button to view the files. Up until now I've been using the Windows dialogue box "open folder to view files" and that's where I can't find anything. Does any of this make sense to you? I find it hard to explain.

[Workingman]

Makes perfect sense Liz, HP SimpleSave has the files.... the manual, if you do not have it, is here: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01824301.pdf

It says nothing about 'Explore' but I guess that is in the menus somewhere. So, it looks as though you will need it to view any backup files unless you use 'Restore' to put them back where they were.

I'll have a look to see if there is somewhere to extract them to simple folders in Windows Explorer.

ETA I have found that HP SimpleSave uses proprietary file compression to compress the files as they are backed up, that is why Windows Explorer cannot see them. Also you can use it to backup multi computers.

[Paddypix]

Thanks guys. I've had a trial run with my netbook, and after much faffing about while the external drive installed background programmes, I managed to see the files by using the Restore button. I had never even noticed it before as I usually just plug in and let it go ahead and back up automatically. It also offered to back up my netbook but I really don't need to do that as it's only for use while I'm away from home and everything on it is already on the laptop.

Thanks again WM and Suff.

[Suff]

As WM said it made complete sense. The programmes installed by HP look at your computer and decide what to put on the external drive. Then the program stores it in a way which you need the same program to view/restore it.

It's not the way I like to do things, but if it works for you in a seamless way, why not.

Personally, what I would do at some time, is to restore all the files from the HP drive onto a second external drive. Then you have them in three places, two directly accessible. The second drive option can be a 6 monthly operation.

Granted It might seem draconian, but the way of life is that you delete files from your machine and then go back looking for them months or years later. What seemed like a good idea then might actually be a big issue later. Doing the 2nd backup option reduces your day to day storage needs but still keeps all the old files around.

Just a thought.

Anyway now you can see your files and restore them to work with if you need to. I guess that's all you want really.

[Workingman]

One of the reasons I try to avoid third-party software with its own file and achiving structure for things that can be done using the operating system is compatibility. With a co such as HP it is not so much of a problem, HP will not be disappearing any time soon so upgrades to new operating systems should be available. There is no guarantee though.

Backing up using native folder structures and file extensions is, imo, far more user friendly and backwards/forwards compatible. There are loads of Windows Explorer clones out there and some of them will do auto backup to any old USB drive.

Anyhow, at least you are sorted Liz, that's the important thing.