Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some questions we hope will help you get the most out of BackOnTrack:
What is the difference between my hard drive and a drive partition?
Your hard drive, sometimes called a hard disk, is where all the data on your computer is stored. It is typically identified by the drive letter C:. A single hard drive can be divided to make your computer think it is actually two or more separate hard drives. Each of these divisions is called a partition. Each partition is assigned its own drive letter.
In most cases, the operating system is installed on the C: partition of your hard drive.
How can I tell how much space is available on my hard drive?
Press the Windows button on your keyboard to open the Start menu/screen, and click Windows Explorer. From Windows Explorer, click Computer or My Computer. The amount of available disk space is displayed.
How do I restore a file that was accidentally deleted?
Restore the file by selecting the Restore tab and then clicking My Data. Use the assistant to select a source. When you reach the Contents page, double-click the rectangular box. Navigate to the backed-up file and select the box next to it, then click OK. Complete the on-screen instructions to restore the file.
Where should I save my backup?
It depends on the hardware you have available and the type of backup you are running. We recommend storing your backup on an external hard drive. You can also store backups on discs or an external USB optical drive.
What is an external hard drive?
External hard drives are self-contained drives that connect to the outside of your computer. They are portable and can be shared. Because of their large capacity and low price, external hard drives are an increasingly popular backup device. USB and FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 and i.Link) external drives are supported for backup and restore operations.
Before using an external hard drive for storing a system backup or an Entire Computer backup, update your computer’s BIOS. Upgrading the Basic Input/Output System will help to ensure your external drive is detected if it becomes necessary to restore your files. In most cases, BIOS upgrade instructions are available from your computer manufacturer’s Web site.
How can I tell what file system is on my computer?
Hard drives are like file cabinets. Both need a method for keeping track of the information they contain. In a cabinet, the files might be grouped by subject or placed in alphabetical order. The file systems used to keep track of information on a hard drive are a little more complicated but serve the same purpose; they allow your computer to find the information you want quickly.
Entire Computer restore supports the four most widely used file systems for Windows-based computers: FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, and exFAT.
Keep in mind that if you restore a FAT16, FAT32, or exFAT partition to a new, larger hard drive, the extra space on the hard drive will not automatically become available when the Restore project is finished. You will have to use a third-party tool to enlarge the newly restored partition or use the Windows Disk Management tool to create an additional partition from the unallocated space on your new drive.
How to determine the file system of the hard drive on your computer:
1 Open My Computer (XP)/Computer (Vista and Windows 7).
2 Find your hard drive on the list and right-click its name.
3 Select Properties from the shortcut menu.
A drive properties window opens. The file system will be displayed on the General tab.