[SOLVED] Installing over windows with backups

[Bios Element]

Ok, so I'm looking at the very strong possibility of installing ubuntu over Vista. However I have over 200 some gigs of files that, while not absolutely vital I would rather not lose. Any suggestions for a program to help back em up? Because I'm sick and tired of burning disc after disc. Or could ubuntu be installed in a way to just move the windows files to another directory that i could access and move over that way?

Thanks for the help.

[Partyboi2]

Maybe one way you could do it is to use the resize tool that comes with vista and shrink down the vista partition and create a partition for storage then copy over what you want to keep. Then install ubuntu wiping over vista but leaving the storage partition alone. Then with ubuntu installed you will be able to read/write to your storage partition.

[tamoneya]

the partitioning method should work but it isnt error proof. If by mistake you format the entire disk all of your files are gone. I really recommend that you get an external harddrive. You should have one anyways for miscellaneous uses and it would be a good idea to keep backups of these files anyways and just keep the external drive in storage. Here are some that I would suggest:
I have this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136175
my friend has this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136080

both of us are error free.