Backing up and restoring files

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allblur

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#79886 23-Mar-2011 23:53

Hi guys!
I have a question about backing up files, programs from windows, i have the chinese version of windows vista installed right now and i'm thinking of upgrading to windows 7 ultimate but it will be in english, so since i can't "migrate" natively i'm thinking of backing up the files, not necessarily programs since i can always reinstall them later, will i be able to back them up on a seperate drive and after a clean install be able to restore them ? Thanks

gzt

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#451283 24-Mar-2011 00:25

I think it will be fine, no problems. But better to install your required language packs on your new system (control panel -> regional and language -> install / uninstall languages) before copying the files from storage to the new system.

In vista/7 even if you copy them before installing the language pack, everything will be ok, but you will not be able to read the file names, but the names will still be there.

Programs - depending on design, maybe you will need to change the system locale before running them.

Ragnor

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#451289 24-Mar-2011 01:53

Run windows easy transfer to backup your stuff to a usb hard drive
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/windows-easy-transfer.aspx

Then setup your new install how you like then import your user data.

hellonearthisman

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#451290 24-Mar-2011 01:58

I like http://www.todo-backup.com/support/help/ it can do file or partition backups and it has an ISO that lets you boot without an os and resort a the backup.
And it's free. I've been meaning to blog about this app as it's such a nice app.

gzt

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#451325 24-Mar-2011 09:10

If you see garbage characters in some of your Chinese programs (even after installing the language packs) then those programs are not using unicode. Changing the system locale like I mentioned above will make those programs display correctly.

If you want to install and run most of your programs in English, and only some in Chinese, then you don't want to change the system locale. You can use Microsoft's App Locale utility to change the locale just for individual programs. It works in 7 - you need to run the installer from an elevated administrator command prompt.

I would be careful about opening files for writing with non-unicode programs on a system where the system locale is not set to their liking. Sometimes you get unexpected behaviour which can result in file corruption. So, copy files from your backup to your local system before using them, and keep those original files unused on the backup.

I would also be careful about using Chinese characters in English programs - even if the program uses unicode, if it has not been designed to handle Chinese characters, you can get unexpected problems with some characters. In some cases you can have weird problems even just opening files which use Chinese characters in the name. Major brand apps should be ok tho.

gzt

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#451331 24-Mar-2011 09:21

Wikipedia has informative articles on applocale with more details: en / cn

allblur

101 posts

Master Geek
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#453341 30-Mar-2011 00:24

Thanks guys, as it turned out the best way was to clean install everything. sigh

Thanks for the great tips!!