Computing desk
< August 3	<< Jul \| August \| Sep >>	August 5 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Computing Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

August 4

Full HD backup and recover for a Windows 7 PC

I have a Windows 7 computer that's OEM so no Windows 7 basic installation CD. I am looking for a full backup system that say my hard drive fails and is unusable I could buy a new hard drive and from the backup system reinstall everything all over again. I know that Windows 7 has copy protection that if I try hard drive cloning, it may refuse to work or even boot (even though I paid for the software as part of the purchase of the computer and have a CD key from HP). So I don't know what to do for backups? Are you ready for IPv6? (talk) 03:44, 4 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

You can make an image. Go to the Backup thingymabob and make sure you create a system image. So if Windows stuffs up one ay, you can press F8 and restore from the image. General Rommel (talk) 06:53, 4 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

The copy protection is not a big deal. If you change several (I think three) different pieces of hardware, you will have to reactivate Windows, which amounts to clicking a button that says "reactivate now" and waiting a few seconds. Reactivation won't fail unless the product key is invalid. -- BenRG (talk) 11:38, 4 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

That's correct, but only for "retail" editions. OEM editions will deactivate as soon as the motherboard changes (because they're only licenced for the original computer that the OEM Windows licence came with). This shouldn't be a problem though because the original post suggests (to me) that they just want to use the backup copy of the operating system/data in the same computer so imaging the disk should work fine. Although it MAY require Windows to reactivate, because the motherboard is still the same it shouldn't be a problem. If they want to use it in a different computer though it should fail. ZX81 ^talk 15:58, 4 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Migrate_Windows#HardDiskSupport http://mark.koli.ch/2009/05/howto-whole-disk-backups-with-dd-gzip-and-p7zip.html ¦ Reisio (talk) 15:27, 4 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

So what is the best choice? First for a storage device to put it and then for software? Are you ready for IPv6? (talk) 22:36, 4 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Here is my personal recommendation. Storage device: a USB 3.0 external hard drive larger than all the drives you are going to back up, combined. Backup software: Windows 7's own Backup and Restore (also see the backup and restore tutorial from Microsoft). Ignore the "copy protection" thing you've heard. It's not true that Windows 7 will refuse to boot if its "copy protection" mechanism has been breached. 118.96.161.106 (talk) 02:10, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Please help in finding a jigsaw creating program...

I am looking for a pretty specific program, and googling only gives me fake lists or lists that are unrelated to what i am looking for.

I am looking for a jigsaw creator program with the following properties, if possible:

-Program makes jigsaw puzzles from standard format pictures on the hard drive

-The created puzzles are in swf format

-The program is a simple exe file with maybe a few other files, and doesnt need to be "installed", just placed in its own folder and executed

Thanks alot for any help that can be offered, searching this has frustrated me >.>

172.162.152.55 (talk) 13:35, 4 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Down around the 5th and on results: http://www.google.com/search?q=flash%20jigsaw if you spend a little time you can probably find a free SWF, FLA source, or AS source you can use, this is the sort of thing enthusiasts would release for free on an obscure forum, blog, etc.. :) ¦ Reisio (talk) 15:26, 4 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Im down for learning new tricks and all, but it seems i need Flash CS4 to even access this. I like the sample they provided and its sort of what i want, but isnt Flash CS4 something that costs money? plus id have to learn how to use the component. If possible, the best solution would be an SWF that actually asks what file to do that with, that way it doesnt cost money or research in making flash things...

172.162.152.55 (talk) 15:53, 4 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Mmmm, well you might like more what you find via http://www.google.com/search?q=javascript%20jigsaw ¦ Reisio (talk) 22:39, 4 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Nexus S vs LG Optimus 2X

Hello RefDeskers, I need to decide whether to purchase a Nexus S or an Optimus 2X. These are the only choices that will run on my wireless carrier. I will not be upgrading my phone for a few years, so would the dual-core 2X be a better choice? I am concerned about the Optimus' access to future Android updates: what does the community around the Optimus look like?

Thanks! 99.224.77.30 (talk) 22:03, 4 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]