Backing up everything on my PC

-Hey thanks for the reassuring information, I really appreciate it. Apologies for my list of information/questions below. I want to fully understand things before I mess with HD/SSD / Files etc.

-So I should clone my harddrive you say. Shall I backup (copy and paste some files just incase ? Does everyone do this as I have never heard of cloning, only backing to SSD.
Or with cloning my Seagate HDD, this wont cut and paste the files will it (thus removing it from old to new storage file? It will just make an exact duplicate of the files from my current Seagate internal HDD onto my new HDD (so there is a backup of my PC right there)? or would that be onto a new SSD or external HD?
Although I presume as you say to disconnect my old Seagate and your new one will be used by my PC, that will be a new HDD or SSD.

-I do hear many people saying to use an SSD and place big files on there such as games, editing programmes such as Photoshop etc. And then having my OS on my internal HDD?? (Although it would have to be a new HDD).

You say to buy an SSD instead of a new HDD and put things on there. But you dont mean my whole Computer system on there do you? Beucase 1) I would probably spend £50 on a "SanDisk SSD PLUS 120 GB up to 530 MB/s Sata III 2.5 inch Internal SSD" but that would onyl fit some files, and then a new HDD for my OS. OR I would have to spend £459 on a 2TB on a Crucial MX300.

Hopefully I have made sense, apologies for the confusing questions . Hopefully they can be answered so I can understand and choose the best option for me

Hi, and thanks again so much. Again triple apologies for this lengthy message

Yeah, SSD's are very expensive compared to harddrives. It's a matter of choice and whether you can afford it

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I mean I can always purchase the "Samsung 850 EVO 250 GB" which is only £80 and transfer my OS to that and some other files that I want running fast. Although, I would also need to buy a "Seagate Desktop 3.5 inch 2TB 7200 RPM" which has 2TB for £64 so I understand the £80 is actually not so cheap after all. However, it will help with speed (will decide about SSD but definitely need a new HDD.

Most people have Windows OS on an SSD (Therefore improving load times with software, files etc...). And then they have a big harddrive for games, software, files they don't need lying around. It's up to you on this one. If you don't have the money then a new 2TB for the cloning is fine.

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When you say people have Windows OS on the SSD to improve load times with softwares, files etc what software and files are they? Because you also say they have HDD for games software's files etc that they dont need. I know these arent the same files but I read it as being the same, is it big files SSD small files HDD?.

Would it be e.g SSD having: Windows OS, Photoshop, Unity Engine, some games you play. And on the HDD, you have browsers, word documents, images, photos etc? The small files on HDD and large on SSD?

What will happen is that your Seagate will be cloned onto the new drive (exact copy). It will be as if the new drive is the Seagate.

Upon turning on your system (After a few steps) it will load as normal. With everything on it. You can discard your "dying" harddrive if you want to.

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So for this part with the cloning files from old to new storage, loading PC and then discarding/delete old harddrive partition, I would need have to have the HHD or/and an SSD connected already?
By loading the new storage, wont turning on my PC be a problem or will the Bios come on and detect some new storage? Or will it, like you said, load normally to the desktop, then you transfer data, delete form old. Once cloning is done you restart, then open bios and do that part? (the information below this that you have in italics)

Quick steps after cloning if you decide to do this:
Once this is finished you will turn off your system, disconnect your old drive (Seagate). Leave the new cloned one connected up.

Turn on your system and look out for a screen that will appear for only a second or two. It will have keys (F1/Del/F11/F12... depends on manufacturer of the motherboard) displayed at the bottom telling you what to press. You will press one of these keys in order to access the BIOS. This is where you will select your new drive to be the priority when your PC is turning on. (This is to show your PC that you want this drive to load first)

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Like you mentioned before about copy/pasting your files onto that University drive. It's probably a good idea to do so just in case something happens with the cloning.

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I have backed up files such as photos, music, videos, and University work projects. Do I need to backup my whole PC to my external harddrive then? I should probably look at backup computer to external hard drive.


So to conclude my understanding (hopefully) I follow these steps:

1)Open PC (all wires disconnected)
2) Insert new HDD (for now its that I will buy).
3)Turn on PC and it will load normally to my Desktop screen
4)Clone all info/files etc from old HDD to the new one. Is it cloning I do or is it backup? I see cloning is used for when you have a new HDD and backup method is..just backing up (I will do that when I have a new working HDD).
5) Once cloning is complete, shut down my PC
6)Turn on again and it will load normally? I think this is when I discard my old HDD
7)Turn PC off again
8)Turn on and thats when the BIOS setup is implemented for me to complete

Xniosy I think what I will do is try what Seagate told me first. Burn SeaTools iso into CD, then perform the short tests (they want a screenshot of it to see what to do next).

They also say" we would like to inform you that the error message may be due to change in Boot order or BIOS preference" so will see what they say about that.

Otherwise, I will buy a new internal HDD and:

-Clone the hard drive
-Remove the old one
-Check if the new one boots windows and has all your stuff
put the old one back in
-Enter bios and make sure it auto boots with new hard drive (I think I need to check the name)
-Then I just clear the data in the old one

Hopefully all goes well!