hard drive not doing what i want to

[SparkleDJackson]

sup dudes. im getting ready to upgrade our main system from xp to 7 in the office but there is some specialist software with databases that i need to keep safe so i am trying to partition the hard drive so i can create the backup image so i can transfer it somewhere safe before the clean install. when i go to the partion manager it wont let me shrink the volume to create unused space so i can turn it into its own partion for backup. this sucks so from there i have tried using acronis to backup to a pen drive but every time a start the backup it then crashes out and blue screens then says about new hardware software problems soft it out or i will keep crashing on you all day. have you guys got an idea of how i can backup this stuff the drive only has 25gb used so GAAAHHHHH this is annoying its not that big. so yea any ideas on how i can backup install 7 then restore programs??????????

I HATE FLIPPING THINGS NOT WORKING. i might just steal one of my absent coworkers elevenses bars to calm my nerves

 

[S_I_N]

well firstly I do not beleive you can partition the primary drive once it has windows installed ur stuck there. Best is to copy to another drive. I cant understand why it womnt allow you to backup the volume thats strange. Have you tried using a win 7 upgrade path that should allow current files to remain while it overwrites the opsys. I know its risky as data loss can occur at any time

. Also have ya tried backing up the data bases to a cd or something??? so maybe you might be able to do a clean install re-install ur apps then put the data back in???

 

[SparkleDJackson]

I went home i was sposed to fin work at 12 but didnt leave till 3 trying to get it to copy. I loaned my 500 gig external to my mate so im stuck with 16gb pen drives and the c drive has 25gb on it so acronis would compress it to 12 so i would be home in a boat but every time i click start backup it crashes and then i scream and start smashing my face into the keyboard. The mate i lent it to is a computer genius so when hes back in the country ill see if he has any advice but i tell ya when this motherboard is out its gonna be like that scene with the printer from office space