I intend upgrade to sp3 from sp2. I have Win xp pro 7. Microsoft advise
automated backup. I have read support info on creating backup. I inserted
floppy and followed instructions for system backup. Estimated time was
around 6days to complete ? It filled floppy quickly and was asked to insert
another. At this rate I would need dozens. Any advice please on above.

Regards Roger
----------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------

"Roger" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I intend upgrade to sp3 from sp2. I have Win xp pro 7. Microsoft advise
>automated backup. I have read support info on creating backup. I inserted
>floppy and followed instructions for system backup. Estimated time was
>around 6days to complete ? It filled floppy quickly and was asked to
>insert another. At this rate I would need dozens. Any advice please on
>above.
>
> Regards Roger
> ----------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------

You do realize even one cd is approx 400+ floppies? You also should realize
that Windows installed without any apps is usually even larger. Floppies is
not the way to go.

In practice a second hard disk is fastest and easiest, especially if it's an
external usb drive. They're pretty cheap now for one with capacity to keep
multiple backups. Other option is a DVD burner and backup to one or more
DVD's. If it's just personal stuff interested in (docs, pics, etc.) then
often that's small size and can even fit on a flash-thumb drive, memory card
if so equipped to write to one or a burned cd.

The big problem is creating the actual backup. If you are "religious" about
it and always keep your personal files (docs, pics, etc.) in ONE folder (and
sub-folders as required) it's easy to at least backup all that stuff.
Backing up Windows itself, the installed apps and all the other stuff is a
lot harder; can't fully be done just using Explorer and/or burning software
(if saving to DVD). I've personally used Acronis TrueImage to make an
"image" of my system that has worked when required. There's other software.

"news.microsoft.com" <pjp_is_located_@_hotmail_dot_com> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Roger" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I intend upgrade to sp3 from sp2. I have Win xp pro 7. Microsoft advise
>>automated backup. I have read support info on creating backup. I inserted
>>floppy and followed instructions for system backup. Estimated time was
>>around 6days to complete ? It filled floppy quickly and was asked to
>>insert another. At this rate I would need dozens. Any advice please on
>>above.
>>
>> Regards Roger
>> ----------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
>
> You do realize even one cd is approx 400+ floppies? You also should
> realize that Windows installed without any apps is usually even larger.
> Floppies is not the way to go.
>
> In practice a second hard disk is fastest and easiest, especially if it's
> an external usb drive. They're pretty cheap now for one with capacity to
> keep multiple backups. Other option is a DVD burner and backup to one or
> more DVD's. If it's just personal stuff interested in (docs, pics, etc.)
> then often that's small size and can even fit on a flash-thumb drive,
> memory card if so equipped to write to one or a burned cd.
>
> The big problem is creating the actual backup. If you are "religious"
> about it and always keep your personal files (docs, pics, etc.) in ONE
> folder (and sub-folders as required) it's easy to at least backup all that
> stuff. Backing up Windows itself, the installed apps and all the other
> stuff is a lot harder; can't fully be done just using Explorer and/or
> burning software (if saving to DVD). I've personally used Acronis
> TrueImage to make an "image" of my system that has worked when required.
> There's other software.
Thank you for input, The win tech site for "How to Re-create a Missing
Automated system recovery Floppy Disk" just refers to a Floppy!
I have MY Docs and files back up to a USB pencil drive normally. All I
wanted was a boot backup in case system went wrong on upgrade to SP3 as MS
recommends ! So Im a little blank on what to do.

Roger

Roger wrote:
>I intend upgrade to sp3 from sp2. I have Win xp pro 7. Microsoft advise
>automated backup. I have read support info on creating backup. I inserted
>floppy and followed instructions for system backup. Estimated time was
>around 6days to complete ? It filled floppy quickly and was asked to
>insert another. At this rate I would need dozens. Any advice please on
>above.

Purchase and use an external hard disk drive with enough space to backup
your entire system - or at least the data you wish to drag and drop copy to
it. Or get something like a Seagate Replica that literally does all the
work for you - I recommend the 500GB version.

As for SP3 - make sure your system is cleaned up after you backup and then
install it. If you want more specific instructions on that - let us know.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

"Shenan Stanley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> Roger wrote:
>>I intend upgrade to sp3 from sp2. I have Win xp pro 7. Microsoft advise
>>automated backup. I have read support info on creating backup. I inserted
>>floppy and followed instructions for system backup. Estimated time was
>>around 6days to complete ? It filled floppy quickly and was asked to
>>insert another. At this rate I would need dozens. Any advice please on
>>above.
>
> Purchase and use an external hard disk drive with enough space to backup
> your entire system - or at least the data you wish to drag and drop copy
> to it. Or get something like a Seagate Replica that literally does all
> the work for you - I recommend the 500GB version.
>
> As for SP3 - make sure your system is cleaned up after you backup and then
> install it. If you want more specific instructions on that - let us know.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
A good program for imaging the entire disk is Acronis True Image. If you buy
a Western Digital external drive (and I think this applies to Seagate and
Maxtor as well), you can download a free copy of True Image, which normally
costs $25 to $50. To complete the download, you have to have the WD external
drive attached. The WD Acronis download is at

http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...19&wdc_lang=en

It's possible that the free version isn't as extensive as the paid-for one,
but it does what I need. (I bought two copies of Acronis True Image for my
other computers, and the free version I'm using on the third seems much the
same to me.)

Jo-Anne

"Jo-Anne" <Jo-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:hvdi8u$j3m$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Shenan Stanley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> Roger wrote:
>>>I intend upgrade to sp3 from sp2. I have Win xp pro 7. Microsoft advise
>>>automated backup. I have read support info on creating backup. I inserted
>>>floppy and followed instructions for system backup. Estimated time was
>>>around 6days to complete ? It filled floppy quickly and was asked to
>>>insert another. At this rate I would need dozens. Any advice please on
>>>above.
>>
>> Purchase and use an external hard disk drive with enough space to backup
>> your entire system - or at least the data you wish to drag and drop copy
>> to it. Or get something like a Seagate Replica that literally does all
>> the work for you - I recommend the 500GB version.
>>
>> As for SP3 - make sure your system is cleaned up after you backup and
>> then install it. If you want more specific instructions on that - let us
>> know.
>>
>> --
>> Shenan Stanley
>> MS-MVP
>> --
>> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>>
> A good program for imaging the entire disk is Acronis True Image. If you
> buy a Western Digital external drive (and I think this applies to Seagate
> and Maxtor as well), you can download a free copy of True Image, which
> normally costs $25 to $50. To complete the download, you have to have the
> WD external drive attached. The WD Acronis download is at
>
> http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...19&wdc_lang=en
>
> It's possible that the free version isn't as extensive as the paid-for
> one, but it does what I need. (I bought two copies of Acronis True Image
> for my other computers, and the free version I'm using on the third seems
> much the same to me.)
>
> Jo-Anne
Thank you all for your useful input. Also I have on second attempt
upgraded to SP3 I think I had a dropped connection during the 1st one.
I disabled my AVG anti virus and Ad-aware and defragged etc to make sure
nothing got in the way of download, it took just under an hour to complete.
I did not do any work at that time to interrupt.

Regards Roger
----------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------

Roger wrote:
> I intend upgrade to sp3 from sp2. I have Win xp pro 7.

What is Win xp pro 7?

In news:(E-Mail Removed),
Roger <(E-Mail Removed)> typed:
> I intend upgrade to sp3 from sp2. I have Win xp pro 7.
> Microsoft advise automated backup. I have read support info on creating
> backup. I inserted floppy and followed instructions for system backup.
> Estimated time was around 6days to complete ? It filled floppy quickly
> and
> was asked to insert another. At this rate I would need dozens. Any advice
> please on above.
> Regards Roger
> ----------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------

Reread the instructions: Chances are excellent it's going to be a total of 5
or 6 floppies. They go with the ASR disk usually.

"Daave" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Roger wrote:
>> I intend upgrade to sp3 from sp2. I have Win xp pro 7.
>
> What is Win xp pro 7?
Oh dear, I missed the IE before 7

Roger wrote:
> "Daave" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Roger wrote:
>>> I intend upgrade to sp3 from sp2. I have Win xp pro 7.
>>
>> What is Win xp pro 7?

> Oh dear, I missed the IE before 7

Now it makes sense. :-)