Backing up W.XP for loading into W7 info.

[robin8495]

I see in the not so far off future I will need to upgrade to W7. Should I purchase a separate hard drive to copy all my XP programs onto DVD's, in preparation for this eventual action, if so which is the better hard drive to buy ?

[rojash]

"I see in the not so far off future I will need to upgrade to W7"
Why?
"Should I purchase a separate hard drive to copy all my XP programs onto DVD's"
You can't simply copy your existing programs on to CD or DVD. In order to install a program you need the installation package (either the file that you downloaded from the net, or the original CD or DVD that was supplied when you purchased the program).

[ll_billym]

In addition to rojash's correct answer:

If or when you upgrade it is not your programs that will need backing up but your photos, documents, music etc., basically everything that is important data that is unique to you. To be copied onto your new system.

You should keep regular backups of these files anyway on DVD or external hard disk as your current hard disk could stop working at any time and, depending on the fault, you could lose everything on it.

Any external 1 Terabyte disk drive from PC world or the like will be good enough for what you need.

[TTG]

Use xp for as long as you can. I will only use Windows 7 when I purchase a new machine.

[robin8495]

Many thanks for the Info, rojash / II_billym / I think the good advice from TTG is very good. From my sources I gather that a lot of programs used in general by XP users can have problems updating to W7. I am not in a hurry, just preparing for the inevitable, 2011/12 seems a good idea, again many thanks all.