Backing up a Windows Installation

Can I back up my whole harddrive to a USB harddrive E: with Windows XP
Home Edition ? I could use Nero 6.6 , and then if I want a fresh copy of my
whole new installation could I copy the backup on the drive E: ?


--
my signature

....er , and I am a bit worried about what to do about backing up because of
the end of the Windows XP Home Edition support .
--
scribble...scribble...scribble...aaaah


"umwhat" wrote:

> Can I back up my whole harddrive to a USB harddrive E: with Windows XP
> Home Edition ? I could use Nero 6.6 , and then if I want a fresh copy of my
> whole new installation could I copy the backup on the drive E: ?
>
>
> --
> my signature

"umwhat" <me somewhere@somewhere else.com> wrote in message
news:934B3484-A9E5-454D-9084-126DA44B6075@microsoft.com...
> Can I back up my whole harddrive to a USB harddrive E: with Windows XP
> Home Edition ? I could use Nero 6.6 , and then if I want a fresh copy of
> my
> whole new installation could I copy the backup on the drive E: ?
>
>
> --
> my signature

Windows won't allow copying over system files in use. That's always been an
obstacle in all versions of windows.

Then there's the access requirement to USB and the USB hard drive using
another OS environment in order to access the backup.

Many solutions out there, but that ain't one em.
--
Jonny

I'm not really worried but I don't want to throw Windows XP just yet .
--
scribble...scribble...scribble...aaaah


"Ah...umwhat" wrote:

> ...er , and I am a bit worried about what to do about backing up because of
> the end of the Windows XP Home Edition support .
> --
> scribble...scribble...scribble...aaaah
>
>
> "umwhat" wrote:
>
> > Can I back up my whole harddrive to a USB harddrive E: with Windows XP
> > Home Edition ? I could use Nero 6.6 , and then if I want a fresh copy of my
> > whole new installation could I copy the backup on the drive E: ?
> >
> >
> > --
> > my signature

I read I would have to clone a harddrive with software .
--
scribble...scribble...scribble...aaaah


"Jonny" wrote:

> "umwhat" <me somewhere@somewhere else.com> wrote in message
> news:934B3484-A9E5-454D-9084-126DA44B6075@microsoft.com...
> > Can I back up my whole harddrive to a USB harddrive E: with Windows XP
> > Home Edition ? I could use Nero 6.6 , and then if I want a fresh copy of
> > my
> > whole new installation could I copy the backup on the drive E: ?
> >
> >
> > --
> > my signature
>
> Windows won't allow copying over system files in use. That's always been an
> obstacle in all versions of windows.
>
> Then there's the access requirement to USB and the USB hard drive using
> another OS environment in order to access the backup.
>
> Many solutions out there, but that ain't one em.
> --
> Jonny
>
>
>

You would have to image the hard drive using third party software such as
Acronis or Paragon or even Ghost. Depending upon the amount of disk space
your current XP installation takes the imaging software - acronis and ghost
in particular - can compress the data to fit onto a DVD. If the software
cannot shrink the image to fit on a DVD it will usually offer to 'span' the
image file over a number of CD's or DVD. This is by far the simlest method
of backing up the whole drive.

In my case i have a triple boot system, XP Home, XP Pro and Vista. Each
system is imaged and stored on DVD. However, XP Pro (because this is the
operating system i use from day to day) is also backed up to a seperate
partition on my hard drive. If i need to re-install XP Pro (via an Image)
then i usually boot up to Windows XP Home, run Acronis or Ghost and then
re-image the XP Pro drive back. You would be able to do a similar thing with
your USB drive 'if' you had a dual boot system. As you don't have a dual
boot system you would have to rely upon the imaging software's DOS based
recovery CD. In this instance i'm not sure if the USB drive would be
accessible. If this is the case you would not be able to access the image
file. You would, however, be able to access an image from a DVD or CD.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail. The Author shall not be liable for any
direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use
of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this mail..

"umwhat" <me somewhere@somewhere else.com> wrote in message
news:934B3484-A9E5-454D-9084-126DA44B6075@microsoft.com...
> Can I back up my whole harddrive to a USB harddrive E: with Windows XP
> Home Edition ? I could use Nero 6.6 , and then if I want a fresh copy of
> my
> whole new installation could I copy the backup on the drive E: ?
>
>
> --
> my signature

On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 15:17:17 +0100, "John Barnett MVP"
<freelanceit@mvps.org.NOSPAM> wrote:

>You would have to image the hard drive using third party software such as
>Acronis or Paragon or even Ghost. Depending upon the amount of disk space
>your current XP installation takes the imaging software - acronis and ghost
>in particular - can compress the data to fit onto a DVD. If the software
>cannot shrink the image to fit on a DVD it will usually offer to 'span' the
>image file over a number of CD's or DVD. This is by far the simlest method
>of backing up the whole drive.
>
>In my case i have a triple boot system, XP Home, XP Pro and Vista. Each
>system is imaged and stored on DVD. However, XP Pro (because this is the
>operating system i use from day to day) is also backed up to a seperate
>partition on my hard drive. If i need to re-install XP Pro (via an Image)
>then i usually boot up to Windows XP Home, run Acronis or Ghost and then
>re-image the XP Pro drive back. You would be able to do a similar thing with
>your USB drive 'if' you had a dual boot system. As you don't have a dual
>boot system you would have to rely upon the imaging software's DOS based
>recovery CD. In this instance i'm not sure if the USB drive would be
>accessible. If this is the case you would not be able to access the image
>file. You would, however, be able to access an image from a DVD or CD.

What if my hard drive has nearly 160 gigs filled up? That's too many
DVDs! Are you saying it's not possible to back up my hard drive via
Ghost to an external USB hard drive and then copy it back to a new
internal hard drive? Thanks.

Gail

thankyou jonny
--
scribble...scribble...scribble...aaaah


"Jonny" wrote:

> "umwhat" <me somewhere@somewhere else.com> wrote in message
> news:934B3484-A9E5-454D-9084-126DA44B6075@microsoft.com...
> > Can I back up my whole harddrive to a USB harddrive E: with Windows XP
> > Home Edition ? I could use Nero 6.6 , and then if I want a fresh copy of
> > my
> > whole new installation could I copy the backup on the drive E: ?
> >
> >
> > --
> > my signature
>
> Windows won't allow copying over system files in use. That's always been an
> obstacle in all versions of windows.
>
> Then there's the access requirement to USB and the USB hard drive using
> another OS environment in order to access the backup.
>
> Many solutions out there, but that ain't one em.
> --
> Jonny
>
>
>

thankyou John Barnett , you have described exactly what I shall try .
--
scribble...scribble...scribble...aaaah


"John Barnett MVP" wrote:

> You would have to image the hard drive using third party software such as
> Acronis or Paragon or even Ghost. Depending upon the amount of disk space
> your current XP installation takes the imaging software - acronis and ghost
> in particular - can compress the data to fit onto a DVD. If the software
> cannot shrink the image to fit on a DVD it will usually offer to 'span' the
> image file over a number of CD's or DVD. This is by far the simlest method
> of backing up the whole drive.
>
> In my case i have a triple boot system, XP Home, XP Pro and Vista. Each
> system is imaged and stored on DVD. However, XP Pro (because this is the
> operating system i use from day to day) is also backed up to a seperate
> partition on my hard drive. If i need to re-install XP Pro (via an Image)
> then i usually boot up to Windows XP Home, run Acronis or Ghost and then
> re-image the XP Pro drive back. You would be able to do a similar thing with
> your USB drive 'if' you had a dual boot system. As you don't have a dual
> boot system you would have to rely upon the imaging software's DOS based
> recovery CD. In this instance i'm not sure if the USB drive would be
> accessible. If this is the case you would not be able to access the image
> file. You would, however, be able to access an image from a DVD or CD.
>
> --
> John Barnett MVP
> Associate Expert
> http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>
> The information in this mail is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
> either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
> reliability or content of this mail. The Author shall not be liable for any
> direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use
> of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this mail..
>
> "umwhat" <me somewhere@somewhere else.com> wrote in message
> news:934B3484-A9E5-454D-9084-126DA44B6075@microsoft.com...
> > Can I back up my whole harddrive to a USB harddrive E: with Windows XP
> > Home Edition ? I could use Nero 6.6 , and then if I want a fresh copy of
> > my
> > whole new installation could I copy the backup on the drive E: ?
> >
> >
> > --
> > my signature
>
>
>

"Jyeshta" <whatever@twixtntween.com> wrote in message
news:hfa1e2d4ne15h9jdol9kba2knv62b8i6st@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 15:17:17 +0100, "John Barnett MVP"
> <freelanceit@mvps.org.NOSPAM> wrote:
>
>>You would have to image the hard drive using third party software such as
>>Acronis or Paragon or even Ghost. Depending upon the amount of disk space
>>your current XP installation takes the imaging software - acronis and
>>ghost
>>in particular - can compress the data to fit onto a DVD. If the software
>>cannot shrink the image to fit on a DVD it will usually offer to 'span'
>>the
>>image file over a number of CD's or DVD. This is by far the simlest method
>>of backing up the whole drive.
>>
>>In my case i have a triple boot system, XP Home, XP Pro and Vista. Each
>>system is imaged and stored on DVD. However, XP Pro (because this is the
>>operating system i use from day to day) is also backed up to a seperate
>>partition on my hard drive. If i need to re-install XP Pro (via an Image)
>>then i usually boot up to Windows XP Home, run Acronis or Ghost and then
>>re-image the XP Pro drive back. You would be able to do a similar thing
>>with
>>your USB drive 'if' you had a dual boot system. As you don't have a dual
>>boot system you would have to rely upon the imaging software's DOS based
>>recovery CD. In this instance i'm not sure if the USB drive would be
>>accessible. If this is the case you would not be able to access the image
>>file. You would, however, be able to access an image from a DVD or CD.
>
> What if my hard drive has nearly 160 gigs filled up? That's too many
> DVDs! Are you saying it's not possible to back up my hard drive via
> Ghost to an external USB hard drive and then copy it back to a new
> internal hard drive? Thanks.
>
> Gail

In a case of an entire hard drive, I would clone (not image). CDs or DVDs
beyond 2 or 3 enter a higher risk of restoration problems with imaging.

If you have all your data in the XP partition, you're putting all in one
basket. There's a higher risk of data loss during an image restore. That
said, yes, one can image a partition that takes up an entire hard drive even
if that partition is almost full to capacity with data. And, it can be
backed up to an external hard drive. If forced in this position, I would
use the NTFS filesystem on the external hard drive to avoid many, many image
files. FAT32 would limit the image file sizes to 4GB.

I avoid like the plague, placing my personal data and similar on the same
partition as the XP operating system. So, this would only happen on someone
elses' PC.
--
Jonny