Vista - Backing up files

I'm new to IT and wonder if anyone can help me?I have vista home premium and
want to back up my files.A caution sgn appears "disk needs to be
formatted,formatting will completely erase all data on the disk"The disk I
insert is a new BLANK dvd+r 4.7gb single use single sided 16xspeed.Does this
mean that it will erase all the data on my PC's internal hard disk?I would be
really grateful for some help as I want to continue but am scared to lose the
data.Thanks

No, it is referring to any data on the dvd. It is not saying that it found
any data but just advising you that the operation will ensure it is blank
before copying files to it.

"danegee" <danegee@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:8DE813AD-90D0-4150-B766-1F45969C2669@xxxxxx

That DVD should be fine for backups, and no it won't delete anything from
your hard drive, the back up process merely copies the data from the hard
drive to the DVD. The message about formatting the disk is referring to the
DVD, not to your system's hard drive. You have to format the DVD to prepare
it for writing (burning) files to it.

However to answer the question generally about disk formatting, it is an
action that will erase all data from the disk ; but you can't format your
hard drive (or any disk for that matter) without knowing that you're
actually doing it - it gives plenty of warnings about the action erasing all
data from the particular disk and gives you opportunity to cancel the
procedure.


"danegee" <danegee@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:8DE813AD-90D0-4150-B766-1F45969C2669@xxxxxx

It is impossible for the OS to formatt the Hard drive that the OS is
installed on(even if you wanted to!).
The only way you can do it is by booting from Installation Media(XP or
Vista), or booting from 3rd party software, designed for the job!.

--
Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia


"Andrew Murray" wrote: