When using the window xp home - backup utility, under system tools, using
wizard mode, I select backup all information on this computer. It is suppose
to create a systems recovery disk, but the operation always fails. Message
is - "The recovery diskett could not be created. Operation aborted"

I can use any of the other functions and they work fine, meaning backup;
-my documents and setting
-everyone's documents and setting, etc.

I am backing everything up to an external USB drive.

Any help would be appreciated. Also do I need a "recovery disk"? Could I
make it another way?
Thanks, John

"Johnd0809" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:988895AE-537E-49D0-B147-(E-Mail Removed)...
> When using the window xp home - backup utility, under system tools, using
> wizard mode, I select backup all information on this computer. It is
> suppose
> to create a systems recovery disk, but the operation always fails.

Of course it fails; this feature isn't supported in XP Home.

The real flaw is that ntbackup lets you think it will do it.

You aren't doing anything incorrectly. The feature just does not work on
XP Home, and shouldn't be visible.


> Message
> is - "The recovery diskett could not be created. Operation aborted"

This is unfortunately normal. But it shouldn't let you get anywhere near
this point, or let you think you can do it.

Really, the option should not be selectable since it can't work on XP Home.

The Knowledgebase article on this is both clear and misleading. It tells
you directly that the message appears on XP Home because ASR isn't supported
and won't work, but then offers "workaround" of installing ntbackup, which
is then specified as not providing the function on XP Home.

The "workaround" does not in fact enable or allow or provide the function.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302700/EN-US/

"When you attempt to use the ASR Wizard on Windows XP Home Edition, you may
receive the following error message:
Backup Utility

The files for recovery diskette could not be created. The operation was
cancelled.
If you receive this message, you may be unable to create a backup set with
ASR.
Back to the top

CAUSE
This behavior can occur because ASR is not supported in Windows XP Home
Edition. However, Windows XP Home Edition users can access the ASR Wizard if
they install the Ntbackup program from the Valueadd folder on the Windows XP
Home Edition CD-ROM.


RESOLUTION
To work around this behavior, access the Automated System Restore Wizard: 1.
Install Backup Utility for Windows on the Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
CD-ROM. Follow these steps to install Backup Utility for Windows:a.
Double-click the Ntbackup.msi file in the following location on the Windows
XP Home Edition CD:
CD-ROM Drive:\Valueadd\MSFT\Ntbackup
b. When the installation wizard is complete, click Finish.

2. Click Start and, then click All Programs.
3. Point to Accessories, point to System Tools and then click Backup on the
All Programs menu.
4. Click the Advanced Mode link on the first screen of the Backup and
Restore Wizard.
5. On the Backup Utility dialog box, click the Automated System Recovery
Wizard button. "

But then, after this, you have exactly the same problem you started with:

" NOTE: ASR does not function and is not supported on Windows XP Home
edition."


> I can use any of the other functions and they work fine, meaning backup;
> -my documents and setting
> -everyone's documents and setting, etc.

Yes, those functions *are* supported in XP Home. ASR is not.

>
> I am backing everything up to an external USB drive.

You might want to clear browser caches and temp file folders first. These
can add hundreds of megabytes of useless backup.

>
> Any help would be appreciated. Also do I need a "recovery disk"? Could I
> make it another way?
> Thanks, John

What you're trying to do is use ASR, Automated System Recovery. This is
just not supported and does not work with XP Home, and the ntbackup UI
should reflect this but doesn't.

ASR requires a floppy drive and diskette, and recovery boots to Windows
Setup and then formats the hard disk and recovers from the backup drive.

If you want a full restorable backup that can produce bootable media, you
might investigate other backup and cloning programs like Acronis TrueImage,
Ghost, etc. You'll pay around $50 for an excellent solution that does not
require floppy disks.

HTH
-pk

windows backup or
"backups" in general
are not reliable and
inefficient for many
regular computer users.

instead i would suggest
to use disk imaging
technology. the one
i use is called drive image
xml.

unlike a backup file
where all files and
folders are compressed
into 1 giant file, disk
imaging creates sections
that fit onto individual
cd's. however i also keep
them in a separate partition
for convenience.

------------------

in regards to a recovery
disk, unless you have an
utter disk failure, you can
usually repair a crashed
operating system with
your windows cd. but you
can image the o.s. as well.

------------------

that being said, i think that disk
images of your personal files, docs,
pics, mailboxes, favorites, etc would
be better than imaging the entire
disk and the system files - keeping
in mind that you already have a set
of system files on the windows cd.

----------------------

another consideration is that
you may simply have sufficient
protection against data loss by
performing a straight copy
of your personal files onto another
drive.

for all practical purposes the copies
are still backups of the originals -
"no point in making things more
difficult than needed."

i find it much more of a convenience
to use the microsoft synctoy and
simply transfer my personal files from
the laptop to my desktop whenever
they are connected together.

i diskimaging as well approximately
every 7 or 8 months but again i find
syncing straight copies of my personal
files easier.
--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

"Johnd0809" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:988895AE-537E-49D0-B147-(E-Mail Removed)...
> When using the window xp home - backup utility, under system tools, using
> wizard mode, I select backup all information on this computer. It is suppose
> to create a systems recovery disk, but the operation always fails. Message
> is - "The recovery diskett could not be created. Operation aborted"
>
> I can use any of the other functions and they work fine, meaning backup;
> -my documents and setting
> -everyone's documents and setting, etc.
>
> I am backing everything up to an external USB drive.
>
> Any help would be appreciated. Also do I need a "recovery disk"? Could I
> make it another way?
> Thanks, John
>
>

db ´¯`·.. ><)))º>` .. . <databaseben.public.newsgroup.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>windows backup or
>"backups" in general
>are not reliable and
>inefficient for many
>regular computer users.
[snip]

DO SOMETHING about your word wrap.

Your current mode is obnoxious.

U'Grumpy,
it is you that is
obnoxious.


--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

"PD43" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> db ´¯`·.. ><)))º>` .. . <databaseben.public.newsgroup.microsoft.com>
> wrote:
>
>>windows backup or
>>"backups" in general
>>are not reliable and
>>inefficient for many
>>regular computer users.
> [snip]
>
> DO SOMETHING about your word wrap.
>
> Your current mode is obnoxious.