Hello

I used the windows XP utility to backup the entire system onto an
external hard drive. It worked fine. Then I was prompted to insert a
diskette so as to have an emergeny boot diskette which I though would,
in an emergency, enable me to boot from the external drive. When I
tried to do so, however, I got a messge which prompted me to remove
the diskette. So how do I use my backup copy to restore the system in
an emergency?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Norman Stein

"Norman Stein" wrote:

> Hello
>
> I used the windows XP utility to backup the entire system onto an
> external hard drive. It worked fine. Then I was prompted to insert a
> diskette so as to have an emergeny boot diskette which I though would,
> in an emergency, enable me to boot from the external drive. When I
> tried to do so, however, I got a messge which prompted me to remove
> the diskette. So how do I use my backup copy to restore the system in
> an emergency?
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice.
>
> Norman Stein
>
Use Acronis True Image. Much easier to use and more reliable.

Image Backup software mentioned below
is a much more reliable a probably faster
way to backup your PC.

Norton Ghost version 14 - has a 30 day trial available
(Trial does not allow you to create a Bootable Restore CD AFAIK)
http://www.symantec.com/norton/produ...r&pvid=ghost14
User's Guide:
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/englis...user_guide.pdf

Product Review "Symantec's 14th Ghost":
http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/win...ew-78775.shtml

True Image 2009 - has a 15 day trial version available,
(Create a Restore/Rescue Media CD before you start)
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing...cts/trueimage/
User's Guide: http://us1.download.acronis.com/pdf/...ge12_ug.en.pdf

Product Review Acronis True Image Home 2009:
http://www.brighthub.com/computing/w...ews/16045.aspx

--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com


"Norman Stein" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hello
>
> I used the windows XP utility to backup the entire system onto an
> external hard drive. It worked fine. Then I was prompted to insert a
> diskette so as to have an emergeny boot diskette which I though would,
> in an emergency, enable me to boot from the external drive. When I
> tried to do so, however, I got a messge which prompted me to remove
> the diskette. So how do I use my backup copy to restore the system in
> an emergency?
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice.
>
> Norman Stein

In news:9CE36B10-CED6-4ED2-8E55-(E-Mail Removed),
Mark Adams typed on Mon, 4 May 2009 08:11:02 -0700:
> Use Acronis True Image. Much easier to use and more reliable.

Some Acronis True Image users don't think so. Read the bottom comments.
#11 and #30 are interesting too.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/driv...ng-reviews.htm

--
Bill
Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
Windows XP SP2

"Norman Stein" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hello
>
> I used the windows XP utility to backup the entire system onto an
> external hard drive. It worked fine. Then I was prompted to insert a
> diskette so as to have an emergeny boot diskette which I though would,
> in an emergency, enable me to boot from the external drive. When I
> tried to do so, however, I got a messge which prompted me to remove
> the diskette. So how do I use my backup copy to restore the system in
> an emergency?
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice.
>
> Norman Stein
What you do is first put the floppy in the drive. Then, set the CD to be
the first choice in the boot.
Next, find your XP installation disk and put it in the drive.
Then, shutdown and boot from the CD.
Eventually, you will be given the choice of restore from backup or install.
Choose restore and off you go.

And, what you might ask, happens if you do not have an installation disk?
The quick answer is that you cannot use ntbackup for this purpose.
I know that BartPE can read backup files generated by ntbackup. However,
what I don't know is whether you can use BartPE to restore an entire disk or
not.

I know that I can restore entire disks from a backup made by ATI because I
have done this.

Jim

Norman,
Just to clarify a little. MS Backup is not really useful if
your OS (Operating System) is not functioning and you cannot boot into
Windows to use the Backup facility. Using the ASR (Automated System
Recovery) floppy disk, you were referring to, will only allow you to restore
the OS in conjunction with the ORIGINAL INSTALLATION CD
Using 'Disk Imaging' or 'Disk Cloning' software (two slightly different
things) is a lot more functional and more simple method of backup which has
become very popular recently. Disk Imaging - refers to a method of backup
which copies the drive or partition specified as the target to a single
Image File. It is from which, using bootable media with the corresponding
RESTORE half of the software, that the drive or partition is restored.
Disk Cloning - is similar, but instead of storing the data as a single
compressed volume, copies the drive / partition to another physical drive as
a partition on that drive. The advantage of this is that you can access the
files within the copied volume if the need arises to restore one or more
individual files at the same time as being able to restore the drive or
partition in it's entirety. This method also uses a system backup software
and bootable media with corresponding restore software on it.

==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.


"Norman Stein" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hello
>
> I used the windows XP utility to backup the entire system onto an
> external hard drive. It worked fine. Then I was prompted to insert a
> diskette so as to have an emergeny boot diskette which I though would,
> in an emergency, enable me to boot from the external drive. When I
> tried to do so, however, I got a messge which prompted me to remove
> the diskette. So how do I use my backup copy to restore the system in
> an emergency?
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice.
>
> Norman Stein

On Mon, 4 May 2009 11:11:24 -0500, "Jim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
>"Norman Stein" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hello
>>
>> I used the windows XP utility to backup the entire system onto an
>> external hard drive. It worked fine. Then I was prompted to insert a
>> diskette so as to have an emergeny boot diskette which I though would,
>> in an emergency, enable me to boot from the external drive. When I
>> tried to do so, however, I got a messge which prompted me to remove
>> the diskette. So how do I use my backup copy to restore the system in
>> an emergency?
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any advice.
>>
>> Norman Stein
>What you do is first put the floppy in the drive. Then, set the CD to be
>the first choice in the boot.
>Next, find your XP installation disk and put it in the drive.
>Then, shutdown and boot from the CD.
>Eventually, you will be given the choice of restore from backup or install.
>Choose restore and off you go.
>
>And, what you might ask, happens if you do not have an installation disk?
>The quick answer is that you cannot use ntbackup for this purpose.
>I know that BartPE can read backup files generated by ntbackup. However,
>what I don't know is whether you can use BartPE to restore an entire disk or
>not.
>
>I know that I can restore entire disks from a backup made by ATI because I
>have done this.
>
>Jim
>
>

Thanks Jim for your very helpful advice and thanks to the others who
responded. However I still have a question. My thought is that some
day my hard drive may fail and then I'd want to be able to use the
backup. But I won't be able to turn on the PC to change the BIOS so as
to boot first from the CD. I also don't want to change it now to do
that. So is there a way around?

Norman

Thanks Jim for the helpful info and thanks to the others who
responded. But I still have a question. In case my hard drive fails
I'd like to be able to use the backup to restore the system or be able
to boot from the Windows CD. But I don't want to set the BIOS now to
boot first from a CD. And if I haven't done that, how can I start up
once my hard drive has failed?

Thanks again for any advice you can give me.

Norman

On Mon, 4 May 2009 11:11:24 -0500, "Jim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
>"Norman Stein" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hello
>>
>> I used the windows XP utility to backup the entire system onto an
>> external hard drive. It worked fine. Then I was prompted to insert a
>> diskette so as to have an emergeny boot diskette which I though would,
>> in an emergency, enable me to boot from the external drive. When I
>> tried to do so, however, I got a messge which prompted me to remove
>> the diskette. So how do I use my backup copy to restore the system in
>> an emergency?
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any advice.
>>
>> Norman Stein
>What you do is first put the floppy in the drive. Then, set the CD to be
>the first choice in the boot.
>Next, find your XP installation disk and put it in the drive.
>Then, shutdown and boot from the CD.
>Eventually, you will be given the choice of restore from backup or install.
>Choose restore and off you go.
>
>And, what you might ask, happens if you do not have an installation disk?
>The quick answer is that you cannot use ntbackup for this purpose.
>I know that BartPE can read backup files generated by ntbackup. However,
>what I don't know is whether you can use BartPE to restore an entire disk or
>not.
>
>I know that I can restore entire disks from a backup made by ATI because I
>have done this.
>
>Jim
>
>

The lack of a bootable hard disk doesn't prevent you from accessing
the BIOS setup. Many recent computers provide for a key press that
brings up a "One Time" boot device option. This doesn't change how
the PC normally boots. Consult your owner's manual to see if your PC
provides that capability.

"Norman Stein" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
> On Mon, 4 May 2009 11:11:24 -0500, "Jim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Norman Stein" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Hello
>>>
>>> I used the windows XP utility to backup the entire system onto an
>>> external hard drive. It worked fine. Then I was prompted to insert a
>>> diskette so as to have an emergeny boot diskette which I though would,
>>> in an emergency, enable me to boot from the external drive. When I
>>> tried to do so, however, I got a messge which prompted me to remove
>>> the diskette. So how do I use my backup copy to restore the system in
>>> an emergency?
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance for any advice.
>>>
>>> Norman Stein
>>What you do is first put the floppy in the drive. Then, set the CD to be
>>the first choice in the boot.
>>Next, find your XP installation disk and put it in the drive.
>>Then, shutdown and boot from the CD.
>>Eventually, you will be given the choice of restore from backup or
>>install.
>>Choose restore and off you go.
>>
>>And, what you might ask, happens if you do not have an installation disk?
>>The quick answer is that you cannot use ntbackup for this purpose.
>>I know that BartPE can read backup files generated by ntbackup. However,
>>what I don't know is whether you can use BartPE to restore an entire disk
>>or
>>not.
>>
>>I know that I can restore entire disks from a backup made by ATI because I
>>have done this.
>>
>>Jim
>>
>>
>
> Thanks Jim for your very helpful advice and thanks to the others who
> responded. However I still have a question. My thought is that some
> day my hard drive may fail and then I'd want to be able to use the
> backup. But I won't be able to turn on the PC to change the BIOS so as
> to boot first from the CD. I also don't want to change it now to do
> that. So is there a way around?
>
> Norman
>

Thank you Tim for a very clear and helpful explanation.

Norman

On Mon, 4 May 2009 17:31:27 +0100, "Tim Meddick"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Norman,
> Just to clarify a little. MS Backup is not really useful if
>your OS (Operating System) is not functioning and you cannot boot into
>Windows to use the Backup facility. Using the ASR (Automated System
>Recovery) floppy disk, you were referring to, will only allow you to restore
>the OS in conjunction with the ORIGINAL INSTALLATION CD
> Using 'Disk Imaging' or 'Disk Cloning' software (two slightly different
>things) is a lot more functional and more simple method of backup which has
>become very popular recently. Disk Imaging - refers to a method of backup
>which copies the drive or partition specified as the target to a single
>Image File. It is from which, using bootable media with the corresponding
>RESTORE half of the software, that the drive or partition is restored.
>Disk Cloning - is similar, but instead of storing the data as a single
>compressed volume, copies the drive / partition to another physical drive as
>a partition on that drive. The advantage of this is that you can access the
>files within the copied volume if the need arises to restore one or more
>individual files at the same time as being able to restore the drive or
>partition in it's entirety. This method also uses a system backup software
>and bootable media with corresponding restore software on it.
>
>==
>
>
>Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.
>
>
>"Norman Stein" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hello
>>
>> I used the windows XP utility to backup the entire system onto an
>> external hard drive. It worked fine. Then I was prompted to insert a
>> diskette so as to have an emergeny boot diskette which I though would,
>> in an emergency, enable me to boot from the external drive. When I
>> tried to do so, however, I got a messge which prompted me to remove
>> the diskette. So how do I use my backup copy to restore the system in
>> an emergency?
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any advice.
>>
>> Norman Stein
>