Backup

[AIANDAS]

Hi,
I have XP SP3 and currently using the backup utility that comes with the OS.
Since I have never recovered from a backup will it be like a ghost copy where
all the files have been cloned, including the OS, various applications, data
etc etc?
I have 2 partitions on my laptop and have checked C to be backed up and then
in D various files and apps.
I am asking since my HDD seems to be on its way to going south and need to
know that the process will be painless as it appears that it will be. Thank
you.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have XP SP3 and currently using the backup utility that comes
with the OS. Since I have never recovered from a backup will it be
like a ghost copy where all the files have been cloned, including
the OS, various applications, data etc etc?
I have 2 partitions on my laptop and have checked C to be backed up
and then in D various files and apps.
I am asking since my HDD seems to be on its way to going south and
need to know that the process will be painless as it appears that
it will be.

No.

A 'ghost' copy (actually using a particular brand name for the cloning
process) is an image of the hard disk drive and nothing but the restoration
part of the imaging application is usually needed to restore a fully
functional system as it was on the day/time the image was taken.

 

[AIANDAS]

OK then what is entailed in the backup utility that I am using?
When I install a new HDD it'll be blank right? So if I want it to recover
the data from my external HDD where I am making my backup do I need to
download thw backup utility? If so what is it called exactly? Thank you.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have XP SP3 and currently using the backup utility that comes
with the OS. Since I have never recovered from a backup will it be
like a ghost copy where all the files have been cloned, including
the OS, various applications, data etc etc?
I have 2 partitions on my laptop and have checked C to be backed up
and then in D various files and apps.
I am asking since my HDD seems to be on its way to going south and
need to know that the process will be painless as it appears that
it will be.

No.

A 'ghost' copy (actually using a particular brand name for the
cloning process) is an image of the hard disk drive and nothing but
the restoration part of the imaging application is usually needed
to restore a fully functional system as it was on the day/time the
image was taken.

OK then what is entailed in the backup utility that I am using?
When I install a new HDD it'll be blank right? So if I want it to
recover the data from my external HDD where I am making my backup
do I need to download thw backup utility? If so what is it called
exactly? Thank you.

Read the help file and/or this:

How To Use Backup to Back Up Files and Folders on Your Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422

How to use Backup to protect data and restore files and folders on your
computer in Windows XP and Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309340
( Essentially goes:
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/data/backup.mspx )
( And here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/bott_03july14.mspx
)

But you probably get what you really want from here:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_backup.htm

Essentially - you would be reinstalling the OS yourself. They you would run
the backup utility, point it to your old backups and restore.

 

[AIANDAS]

Did you say I'd have to reinstall the OS? Nah don't like this kind of grief.
I'll have to look at the Migration Assistant that's on the IBM. LEt's see
what that says..........

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Did you say I'd have to reinstall the OS? Nah don't like this kind
of grief. I'll have to look at the Migration Assistant that's on
the IBM. LEt's see what that says..........

Why not just get an imaging application?

 

[AIANDAS]

Yup that's what I am going to do. Actually the Seagate DiscWizard has that.
So thanks.

 

[Twayne]

Hi,
I have XP SP3 and currently using the backup utility that comes with
the OS. Since I have never recovered from a backup will it be like a
ghost copy where all the files have been cloned, including the OS,
various applications, data etc etc?
I have 2 partitions on my laptop and have checked C to be backed up
and then in D various files and apps.
I am asking since my HDD seems to be on its way to going south and
need to know that the process will be painless as it appears that it
will be. Thank you.

If you have made the ASR disk as recommended, then yes, you would be
able to reinstall to a new disk, any disk, as long as the related backup
files were also available.

Every time you do a full backup you need to create the ASR floppy. If
you don't, then you have to reinstall XP in order to be able to restore
the rest of the things you backed up .

I suggest if you haven't made the ASR floppy, that you do so, and read
Help about it too.

Then I would suggest testing recovery so you at least have a feeling for
how it works, as with any other software would be tested. Restore a few
files, a directory/folder, and learn the nuances. With XP's native
backup utility, the most important thing for a catastrophic crash is to
have the ASR floppy AND the backup files stored off somewhere safe so
that losing your disk won't also take the backup files with it.

With ntbackup as provided for XP, always remember the ASR floppy.
Unfortunately it has to be a floppy, but it works well.

I'll leave the other posts to tell you how stupid you are for not
having imaging software, etc., and how much better they are. Ideally
imaging-ware is the best way to go. But there is nothing at all wrong
with using XP's ntbackup.exe.

HTH,

Twayne