I need to create a recovery diskette for XP, to avoid reinstall the
system from
scratch in case of corrupted disk partitions; last time, all
partitions became
inaccessible and file system unknown, xp recovery console didn't work,
so I had to
connect the disk to another pc, recover all my data with Ontrack
Easyrecovery and
then reinstall XP. So my questions are:

-in these cases, is it correct to use a recovery diskette instead of a
XP bootable
CD? which is the difference?

-when a recovery diskette is created, does it contain the specific
data for the
partition recovery of THAT specific machine, so it is possible to
reestablish its
specific initial conditions?

-what is the best procedure to create a recovery diskette? should I
use an XP utility or external programs?

-if my computers lacks a floppy drive, can I create a bootable
"recovery USB pen drive"? for example, Easyrecovery has an emergence
recovery utility, but only for floppy drives.

thanks

"orsobubu" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I need to create a recovery diskette for XP, to avoid reinstall the
> system from
> scratch in case of corrupted disk partitions; last time, all
> partitions became
> inaccessible and file system unknown, xp recovery console didn't work,
> so I had to
> connect the disk to another pc, recover all my data with Ontrack
> Easyrecovery and
> then reinstall XP. So my questions are:
>
> -in these cases, is it correct to use a recovery diskette instead of a
> XP bootable
> CD? which is the difference?
>
> -when a recovery diskette is created, does it contain the specific
> data for the
> partition recovery of THAT specific machine, so it is possible to
> reestablish its
> specific initial conditions?
>
> -what is the best procedure to create a recovery diskette? should I
> use an XP utility or external programs?
>
> -if my computers lacks a floppy drive, can I create a bootable
> "recovery USB pen drive"? for example, Easyrecovery has an emergence
> recovery utility, but only for floppy drives.
>
> thanks
>

Have a look at Acronis TrueImage (www.acronis.com).

My strong preference is to have two partitions:
- Drive C: for Windows and for my applications
- Drive D: for my data

I use TrueImage to create an image of drive C: and
other tools to back up my data residing on drive D:.

BTW, asking for a WinXP recovery "diskette" is
unrealistic. You need at least a recovery CD.

> Have a look at Acronis TrueImage (www.acronis.com).
>
> My strong preference is to have two partitions:
> - Drive C: for Windows and for my applications
> - Drive D: for my data
>
> I use TrueImage to create an image of drive C: and
> other tools to back up my data residing on drive D:.
> BTW, asking for a WinXP recovery "diskette" is
> unrealistic. You need at least a recovery CD.- Nascondi testo tra virgolette -

ok pegasus, I used an image program too, but it seems to me it will
restore the system at the time you did the image; I don't know if it
is true, but someone told me that if - for example - my partition
table went corrupted, a recovery floppy can restore only that little
quantity of data that will permit you to regain access to the system
in its last configuration, because all the XP partition and all the
data partition weren't corrupted at all; when the system asks for the
recovery floppy (automated recovery disk) I think that the floppy - if
previously prepared specifically for that pc - permits to access to
the XP installation and to the entire set of data at the moment of
system failure, because the floppy obviously doesn't rewrite the old
image data but - I suppose - substitutes that "little missing bits".
Perhaps it is a procedure similar to the use of recovery console, in
case you lack the recovery floppy.
y. In my last disaster I couldn't use the recovery console too! All
this is my supposition, of course, I know you are an expert and I may
be totally wrong.

"orsobubu" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Have a look at Acronis TrueImage (www.acronis.com).
>>
>> My strong preference is to have two partitions:
>> - Drive C: for Windows and for my applications
>> - Drive D: for my data
>>
>> I use TrueImage to create an image of drive C: and
>> other tools to back up my data residing on drive D:.
>> BTW, asking for a WinXP recovery "diskette" is
>> unrealistic. You need at least a recovery CD.- Nascondi testo tra
>> virgolette -
>
> ok pegasus, I used an image program too, but it seems to me it will
> restore the system at the time you did the image; I don't know if it
> is true, but someone told me that if - for example - my partition
> table went corrupted, a recovery floppy can restore only that little
> quantity of data that will permit you to regain access to the system
> in its last configuration, because all the XP partition and all the
> data partition weren't corrupted at all; when the system asks for the
> recovery floppy (automated recovery disk) I think that the floppy - if
> previously prepared specifically for that pc - permits to access to
> the XP installation and to the entire set of data at the moment of
> system failure, because the floppy obviously doesn't rewrite the old
> image data but - I suppose - substitutes that "little missing bits".
> Perhaps it is a procedure similar to the use of recovery console, in
> case you lack the recovery floppy.
> y. In my last disaster I couldn't use the recovery console too! All
> this is my supposition, of course, I know you are an expert and I may
> be totally wrong.
>

You need to keep these two concepts separate: "System Files"
and "Data Files". Imaging programs are good for System Files.
Backup programs are good for Data files.

System Files change only occasionally, hence it is sufficient to
back them up once every few months. Imaging programs are
good for this.

Data Files change frequently, hence they must be backed up
once every few days.

If you already have an imaging program then you should use
it to update your image file once every six months or so. Don't
forget to test your image file. An untested image file is useless.

If you have the skills to write a batch file to back up your data
then use them. If you don't then you should have a good look
at a site such as Acronis.

"Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> If you already have an imaging program then you should use
> it to update your image file once every six months or so. Don't
> forget to test your image file. An untested image file is useless.
>

Assuming you have only one PC with one hard drive, how do you test the image
file?

"Stephen" <none> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> If you already have an imaging program then you should use
>> it to update your image file once every six months or so. Don't
>> forget to test your image file. An untested image file is useless.
>>
>
> Assuming you have only one PC with one hard drive, how do you test the
> image file?
Programs like Acronis TrueImage or Symantec's Ghost have an option for
checking/testing the integrity of the image file that they create.


--

Xandros

"Stephen" <none> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> If you already have an imaging program then you should use
>> it to update your image file once every six months or so. Don't
>> forget to test your image file. An untested image file is useless.
>>
>
> Assuming you have only one PC with one hard drive, how do you test the
> image file?
>

Ask your friendly computer dealer for an old disk, then do
your test with this disk. If drive C: is reserved for Windows
and for your applications then a 20 GByte disk will do very
nicely. Note that while many imaging programs have a facility
to check the intergrity of an image, this falls well short of a
full test. There are many reasons why a recovery might still
fail, hence a full trial recovery is the only reliable method to
give you a good sense of security and let you sleep well.