Backup queries

[???]

have recently had a system crash in which windows simply
failed to boot up. I would like a suggestion for a method
of backup which can boot up my backed up files so I can
use my PC just like it was when I backed it up. I have
now reformatted the drive so it runs windows XP. I have
also installed software with registration codes which
means if I lose the registration code due to system
failure e.t.c. my pocket will be £250 lighter which is
not desirable at all. I am NOT a computer expert and my
computer is fairly slow (Pentium II 348 Mhz with 192 MB
of RAM). I have also got a removable hard disk over 50 GB
for backup. Also, I have 7GBs worth of information that I
do not need to back up on the removable hard drive and if
I want to create a system image or bootable backup,
people keep telling that by using windows full system
backup to create a disk image or bootable backup you will
have to back up even the files on removable hard disks
that don't need backing up. I cannot also switch the hard
disk off as I am backing up to the disk. Also, please can
someone tell me how to restore a backup once I manage to
create a bootable backup. I am also not networked.

Basically:
Please can someone tell me a way to create and restore a
bootable backup with some file exclusions that can boot
up on its own of my entire computer just in case my
system fails and I cannot boot up the computer.

Thanks

 

[l]

I think your situation is similar to mine. Except I
backup to CDRW. I don't have a windowx xp intallation
disk. I have a format and windows xp install along with
other software. I basically backup everything including
system state. When a error occurs, I use the manufacture
disk to install windows software, Then via a rescue disk
I have the backup and catalogs of backup to use to
restore my system the way it was. It puts all my files
and registry back to what it was, except my virus
software.

In you case, If I got you right, You would backup your
applications files, not your windows files. But one thing
you would have to do is backup the system state along
with your application files.
If your removable hard disk is recongnized by windows.
You can backup system state and application files to it.
I use stomp backup mypc. You can use ntbackup(backup from
system tools) to backup to removable hard disk.

You'll have to install windows first , then call in backup

-----Original Message-----
have recently had a system crash in which windows simply
failed to boot up. I would like a suggestion for a method
of backup which can boot up my backed up files so I can
use my PC just like it was when I backed it up. I have
now reformatted the drive so it runs windows XP. I have
also installed software with registration codes which
means if I lose the registration code due to system
failure e.t.c. my pocket will be £250 lighter which is
not desirable at all. I am NOT a computer expert and my
computer is fairly slow (Pentium II 348 Mhz with 192 MB
of RAM). I have also got a removable hard disk over 50 GB
for backup. Also, I have 7GBs worth of information that

I