Backup in XP with no floppy for a restore disk.

[Guest]

I am trying to backup my laptop using the XP backup utility. It want to use
a floppy drive to create a restore disk, but I have no floppy, only an
external hard drive and a CD/DVD/RW. Can I use the CD drive to create a
restore DCD? This is in preparation for SP2.

 

[cristalink]

If you are preparing for Automated System Recovery (ASR) with Windows Backup
Utility, then you need a floppy drive. Get an external USB floppy drive -
they are cheap and quite handy.

 

[cristalink]

Actually, you may be able to fool NTBackup with say "SUBST A:" command, but
when it comes to the bare metal ASR restore, Windows will ask you for a
floppy.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

You would do well to invest in a decent third party backup tool. I use
Acronis TrueImage but there are others that work as well.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, but I just bought a new external hard drive and don't want to buy
more hardware. Isn't there a way to make a recovery disk on the CD or
something? I't hard to believe that Dell and Windows require floppies but
don't build them in anymore.

 

[Rock]

Thanks, but I just bought a new external hard drive and don't want to buy
more hardware. Isn't there a way to make a recovery disk on the CD or
something? I't hard to believe that Dell and Windows require floppies but
don't build them in anymore.

:

Not with the ASR function of ntbackup. Ntbackup is a legacy app porter
from NT with an emphasis on tape drives, and the ASR function requires a
floppy drive. I would recommend a disk imaging system such as Norton
Ghost 9, Acronis True Image or BootitNG.