1. You are viewing our forum as a guest. For full access please Register. WindowsBBS.com is completely free, paid for by advertisers and donations.

Resolved How to open backed up files

Discussion in 'Other PC Software' started by deester, 2010/02/21.

Page 1 of 2
  1. 2010/02/21
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/07/08
    Messages:
    633
    Likes Received:
    0
    I transferred my backed up files to my new computer. Now I don't a clue on how to open them so I can use them. I have spent a lot of time on Google with no luck. I have a Dell Studio with Windows 7 (64) with DSL wireless. Any help is appreciated.
    Dee
     
    deester,
    #1
  2. 2010/02/21
    SVEN

    SVEN Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    2004/01/02
    Messages:
    862
    Likes Received:
    7
    How did you back them up?
    use the same software to restore them

    Sven
     
    SVEN,
    #2


  3. to hide this advert.

  4. 2010/02/21
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/07/08
    Messages:
    633
    Likes Received:
    0
    I used a USB port to an extenal hard drive to back up. I then used a USB port and transferred them from hard drive to new computer.
     
    deester,
    #3
  5. 2010/02/21
    SVEN

    SVEN Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    2004/01/02
    Messages:
    862
    Likes Received:
    7
    So, no backup software, just drag and drop?
    In that case, just open the software that generated the file and click on file/ open and look for the file you want to use.
    If you used any backup software, you need to use the same software to restore the file.
    Hope this helps
    Sven
     
    SVEN,
    #4
  6. 2010/02/21
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old

    Joined:
    2008/04/21
    Messages:
    4,649
    Likes Received:
    124
    I'm not a windows 7 user but you may have to take ownership of the files.
     
    wildfire,
    #5
  7. 2010/02/21
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/07/08
    Messages:
    633
    Likes Received:
    0
    Sven, I don't understand what you mean by software. I transferred the backup files and that's all I know. I have never done this before and I am really a novice.
    Wildfire, I don't know how how to take ownership of the files.
    I'm really confused or just illerate.
    Thanks for your help and I hope your patience.
    Dee
     
    deester,
    #6
  8. 2010/02/21
    Dennis L Lifetime Subscription

    Dennis L Inactive Alumni

    Joined:
    2002/06/07
    Messages:
    2,557
    Likes Received:
    2
    deester

    Their may be some confusion, intertwined with the "How and Why ".
    The "How" in respect to how the backup files were created. It would appear you did not use a "Image or Cloning" backup program on the system drive. This leads us to the "Why ". You do not have the ability to restore any programs, so this means the only usable files are "data type" files.
    The good news - everything should/could be just dandy. All you need is your data type files. This would include all of your media files ... music, video's, and pictures. Just copy them into the appropriate / preferred folders on new computer. If you use programs such as Firefox or Thunderbird, you would first install, open once / close program on new computer. Then contents of old (**) Profile folder can be copied to the new / empty profiles folders (first delete contents of new profile folder). This is the general activity all of us do when moving from old-to- new computers. We will worry about "Take Ownership" if it comes up. When I did the above actions from a XP/sp3/32bit to W7/64bit, W7 never asked, just accepted the files.

    (**) This should ONLY be done if both old-and-new computers were using the same program/version release.
     
    Last edited: 2010/02/21
    Dennis L,
    #7
  9. 2010/02/21
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/07/08
    Messages:
    633
    Likes Received:
    0
    Dennis, thank you for your thorough directions but I am completely lost. I don't know what a profile is or where I find these folders. I am not a complete idiot but right now I feel like one. I think I need pre school diretions.
    Dee
     
    deester,
    #8
  10. 2010/02/22
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

    Joined:
    2002/08/01
    Messages:
    21,701
    Likes Received:
    116
    Where are those files located on your new computer?
    What type of files are those?
    What kind of problems are you having while trying to open them?
     
    broni,
    #9
  11. 2010/02/22
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/07/08
    Messages:
    633
    Likes Received:
    0
    broni, you ask so many questions that I don't know the technical terms to. They are in my document library and they are just files. I click on then to try to open them. This is my brand new computer and I think it's been hijacked, I'll tell you about in another thread. Ihave been up all night with this computer, think I'll send this one back in exchangr. Thanks for your help.
    Dee
     
    deester,
    #10
  12. 2010/02/22
    SVEN

    SVEN Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    2004/01/02
    Messages:
    862
    Likes Received:
    7
    DEESTER,
    when you click on the file with your Right mouse button, a menu opens and you should click on OPEN. What happens when you do?
    Sven
     
    SVEN,
    #11
  13. 2010/02/22
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/01/18
    Messages:
    9,068
    Likes Received:
    396
    Let's just keep this as simple as possible.
    It appears that deester just copied the files he wanted to backup onto an external usb hard drive and then copied those files onto the other computer.

    To open any file all one need do is double click the file icon and the associated program will open the file. For example, if double click a Microsoft Word file called my-resume.doc, it will open in Microsoft Word.

    But the computer MUST have Microsoft Word installed on it!

    deester, to open your copied files you need to install the same software on this new computer that was on the old computer.

    Some files will open only in the program that was used to create the file. For example, a .tax file is the file used by Turbo Tax. To open a .tax file you need to have Turbo Tax software installed.
     
    TonyT,
    #12
  14. 2010/02/22
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/07/08
    Messages:
    633
    Likes Received:
    0
    My old computer had Vista, my new one has Windows 7. Will this effect what I'm tying to do?
     
    deester,
    #13
  15. 2010/02/22
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/01/18
    Messages:
    9,068
    Likes Received:
    396
    see my post above
     
    TonyT,
    #14
  16. 2010/02/22
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

    Joined:
    2001/12/27
    Messages:
    15,174
    Likes Received:
    412
    I suspect that Tony may be on the right track here. Problem is that deester phrased the question regarding "backed up files ", while I doubt anything other then copying has occurred.

    Deester: Please confirm for us what you did. Did you use a program to 'backup' your files, or did you just copy your files from one machine to the other?

    In the last case, Tony's answer above has all the information for you.
     
    Arie,
    #15
  17. 2010/02/23
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/07/08
    Messages:
    633
    Likes Received:
    0
    Idon't really know the right termalogy so I will tell you what I did. I connected the external drive thru a USB port.
    I then took the files from C to external drive. I then connected the external drive thru USB port and ran the files to the new machine. I want to learn to image for my backups, have a program for that, can't seem to get help for that. Now did I copy, Dell tech told me I had damaged files by going from 1 OS to another. By the he was installing my blue tooth, I didn't consult him about this issur.
     
    deester,
    #16
  18. 2010/02/23
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/01/18
    Messages:
    9,068
    Likes Received:
    396
    Thanks for clatifying.

    What you dis was copy the files from one computer to another.

    Now, tell us a specific file you want to open. Tell us the exact name of the file. For example, pictute-of-dog.jpg or report.doc or user-manual.pdf, etc.
     
    TonyT,
    #17
  19. 2010/02/23
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/07/08
    Messages:
    633
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ankh - The Lost Treasures
    :\Users\Dee Stone\Documents

    Is this what you wanted?
     
    deester,
    #18
  20. 2010/02/24
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/01/18
    Messages:
    9,068
    Likes Received:
    396
    Yes, but your answer is incomplete.
    Go to Control Panel > Folder Options > View Tab > uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types ".

    Then post back here with the exact file name and extension.

    Example: The Lost Treasures.XYZ
     
    TonyT,
    #19
  21. 2010/02/24
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/07/08
    Messages:
    633
    Likes Received:
    0
    It is not listed that way, I did get a file up but it was empty. This is all a mute point right now, I have to return the computer to Dell. While it is gone, I am going to upgrade to 7 and find a progam to backup and transfer again. Do you have any suggestions. I really would like to image and have Norton Ghost but can't undestand how to use it. Used one time and lost every thing.
     
    deester,
    #20
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Accept Learn More...