Creating a recovery set, XP Pro SP1, using DVD-RAM disk

[Spooky Cheese]

Hello,

After a previous catastrophic HD cylinder failure, I decided to backup
my system, using a recently purchased DVD-RAM drive, 4.7 GB disk.
However, when using the Automated System Recovery wizard, it selects
virtually all files on my bootable drive (120 GB capacity). But I only
want to back up system files, MBR, OS files, and the like, since
capacity is at a premium on the DVD-RAM disk, and I dont need to
backup programs that I have installation disks for (CATIA, for
instance, takes up 5 GB). Is there something I am missing to the Help
file's procedure?

 

[Spooky Cheese]

Personally I don't use the XP Backup facility but doing a test of it I note
that it seems to give a wide choice in what you can backup. Are you saying
you don't get these choices?

I do, but that's the backup utility, not the ASR (which is a wizard).
ASR can be run from a special boot disk, whereas backup requires
resuming an XP session, and requires specifying system file locations:
in XP there are system files all over the place, including in hidden
folders, and in some cases a folder may contain both system ad
non-system files. ASR is the only way to go for a system restoration.

 

[Dave Douglas]

Now I know why I use DriveImage for backup. LOL

I do, but that's the backup utility, not the ASR (which is a wizard).
ASR can be run from a special boot disk, whereas backup requires
resuming an XP session, and requires specifying system file locations:
in XP there are system files all over the place, including in hidden
folders, and in some cases a folder may contain both system ad
non-system files. ASR is the only way to go for a system restoration.