Hey everyone! I got a cooling error notification on my Dell 5400 laptop last night, which caused it to shut down. Now I'm dealing with a hard drive error (Dell error code #155). I managed to get the laptop running today, but it keeps freezing. I haven't backed up my files yet, and I have around 410GB of important stuff (documents, downloads, pictures, and desktop files) that I need to save quickly. I've never set up an automatic backup before, so I'm not sure how to go about it. Could you advise me on the best methods to back up my hard drive? Should I get a specific type of external drive? What's the process—just connect it via USB and drag and drop the files, or is there a more efficient way to ensure everything is safely backed up? Once I back it all up, I can then focus on replacing the hard drive. Thanks for your help!
3 Answers
I always prefer using external hard drives for backups. They’re pretty reliable and easy to use. You might want to look for brands like Western Digital or Seagate; those usually get good reviews. Just make sure to pick one with enough space for your files!
Since you're on Windows 11 Pro, you can use the built-in Windows Backup feature. It's straightforward and doesn't require a subscription. Just set it up, choose the files you want to back up, and let it do the work! You can also consider using Veeam for more advanced options if you need them later.
I appreciate the tip! I was unsure if Windows Backup needed a subscription since I see OneDrive does.
You really don’t have to worry about dragging and dropping all your files manually. Just connect the external drive and use the backup tool. It’ll handle everything for you, and you can double-check to make sure nothing's missing later. Good luck!
Any particular model you recommend? I want something that doesn't fail easily.