ASR - XP Pro q

[Stew Corman]

After reformatting my HD after getting a "registry screwed up file"
error, I decided to look into a system backup other than "system
restore", which only works if the puter is running in the first place.

Setup is fairly simple: I have data mostly stored on 40GB Cdrive,
second 30GB HD is split into two partitions : 25GB Ddrive for some
backup data and program loads, and 5GB Edrive for operating system and
mailfolders. This way I can reformat Edrive w/o destroying everything.

So, to keep it simple, I opened a new folder on Cdrive called
ASRBACKUP, ran ASR using this directory to store backup.bkf and then
it made the floppy, which I properly labeled. BTW, it took 20 minutes
and the large file on Cdrive is 1.5GB.

Am I done? I didn't see anywhere that removeable media was required
other than the one floppy.

then I had a brainstorm ...even tho MSFT doesn't realize ( in it's
infinite wisdom !) that many puters nowadays don't even have a floppy
and many with laptops don't have an external floppy, but all have CD
readers ... I was browsing thru Nero and note that a bootable CD is
capable of being created. Can I copy the three small files from the
floppy to a "bootable" CD, and set the bios to read CD first and then
be able to run ASR?

Is there any reason why I should copy the Cdrive large file to two or
three CDs?? back it up on the Ddrive?

TIA
Stew Corman

 

[Rock]

After reformatting my HD after getting a "registry screwed up file"
error, I decided to look into a system backup other than "system
restore", which only works if the puter is running in the first place.

Setup is fairly simple: I have data mostly stored on 40GB Cdrive,
second 30GB HD is split into two partitions : 25GB Ddrive for some
backup data and program loads, and 5GB Edrive for operating system and
mailfolders. This way I can reformat Edrive w/o destroying everything.

So, to keep it simple, I opened a new folder on Cdrive called
ASRBACKUP, ran ASR using this directory to store backup.bkf and then
it made the floppy, which I properly labeled. BTW, it took 20 minutes
and the large file on Cdrive is 1.5GB.

Am I done? I didn't see anywhere that removeable media was required
other than the one floppy.

then I had a brainstorm ...even tho MSFT doesn't realize ( in it's
infinite wisdom !) that many puters nowadays don't even have a floppy
and many with laptops don't have an external floppy, but all have CD
readers ... I was browsing thru Nero and note that a bootable CD is
capable of being created. Can I copy the three small files from the
floppy to a "bootable" CD, and set the bios to read CD first and then
be able to run ASR?

Is there any reason why I should copy the Cdrive large file to two or
three CDs?? back it up on the Ddrive?

TIA
Stew Corman

ASR can only use a floppy drive. Ntbackup is an old program that was
brought over from NT 4 and is really intended to to backup to tapes.
Backups should be stored on removable media. Ntbackup can create the
backup file on CD but only if you have a 3rd party program installed
like nero but it cannot span CD's. Whatever fits on one CD is it. If
you save the backup to CD with Nero, I am not sure if ASR will be able
to read those disks when you try to recover, and it has to read the
disks directly.

IMHO Ntbackup is a poor backup solution. Use a disk imaging program
like Norton Ghost, Acronis True Image or BootIt NG and backup to an
external hard drive, or use a traditional backup program like
StompSoft's BAckup MyPC. That can backup to CD/DVD.

 

[Lee Chapelle]

IMHO Ntbackup is a poor backup solution. Use a disk imaging program
like Norton Ghost, Acronis True Image or BootIt NG and backup to an
external hard drive, or use a traditional backup program like
StompSoft's BAckup MyPC. That can backup to CD/DVD.

BootItNG can backup to CD/DVD also, automatically spanning as necessary.

Lee

 

[Stew Corman]

ASR can only use a floppy drive.

Confirmed ...bootable CD didn't work

Whatever fits on one CD is it. If

you save the backup to CD with Nero, I am not sure if ASR will be able
to read those disks when you try to recover, and it has to read the
disks directly.

you are probably correct

and backup to an external hard drive

why external? why not a second internal HD?
why wouldn't ASR read an second physical HD?

OT - is there a way to have a bootable CD or floppy that can bring up
non full Windoze , so you can access files on any drive where Windoze
won't load, ie safe mode or DOS mode?

thanks for your insight,
Stew Corman

 

[Rock]

Confirmed ...bootable CD didn't work

Whatever fits on one CD is it. If



you are probably correct



why external? why not a second internal HD?
why wouldn't ASR read an second physical HD?

OT - is there a way to have a bootable CD or floppy that can bring up
non full Windoze , so you can access files on any drive where Windoze
won't load, ie safe mode or DOS mode?

thanks for your insight,
Stew Corman

ASR will read from a second physical hard drive but I recommend the
backups be stored on external media because it's the safest. The
external media can be stored offsite if needed. That way if someone
steals your computer or it burns or some other catastrophe hits, you
have a backup. I backup to an external USB 2.0 hard drive and copy a
backup to DVD once week. I store the DVD's off site.

For a bootable CD with many features see Bart's PE Builder:
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

 

[SlowJet]

ASR will NOT use a second IDE disk for recovery because the BKF is for
"everything on the computer" and all partitions on all disks are recreated
before the recovery starts.



An external USB disk may work but if it requires a driver to operate, the
driver would need to be on a floppy and installed during the boot of the XP
CD.



However, I have not confirmed if the ARS would include the USB as
"Everything" and reformat it's partitions also.



It seems like a lot of effort to create ARS that only works on a local tape
drive. That would cover less than 1% of all new computers.

The 3rd party MFG use as an excuse for their images and garbage OEM CD's
that the law requires the consumer be able to restore the computer back to
it's operational condition.



I think Microsoft is obligated to do the same. A complete reinstallation is
not a restore of hours of driver updates, program installs, and lost data or
data recovery steps.

The consumer should NOT have to purchase a restore tool, a tape backup unit,
or make images of partitions on DVD's.

The consumer should be able to identify a partitions(s) as excluded front he
restore process and use those as backup / restore sources.

A large hard disk is the most affordable unit for a consumer.



It would not take much effort to make the NTBACKUP program and ARS very
useful for millions of users of PRO as well as HOME users. A new install,
repair, ARS, SP slipstream program units could be make available to download
just like Media play 10 and the units could be combined on a new CD to make
the current NEW XP SP2 work the way it should have worked out of the BOX.



It is a much higher priority than changing Windows Longhorn into a game
console that looks like a toddlers play toy and learning center. We can go
to Toy-R-US and get a Playschool string pulling gizmo anytime, for less
money, that is pre-installed and it doesn't need restoring every quarter.



I'm writing my congressman, governor and Ralf. This backup and long CD
install process is absolutely ridiculous. It can be fixed and ir should be
fixed.





SJ

 

[Rock]

ASR will NOT use a second IDE disk for recovery because the BKF is for
"everything on the computer" and all partitions on all disks are recreated
before the recovery starts.

Sorry but I don't think this is correct. I have used ASR to restore
from a second IDE drive. It only backs up the C: drive.

 

[Rock]

SlowJet wrote:

I'm writing my congressman, governor and Ralf. This backup and long CD
install process is absolutely ridiculous. It can be fixed and ir should be
fixed.

SJ

omg...lol...you go right on writing. Post back with the results.

 

[Guest]

http://www.firestreamer.com/fsdvd/ allows ntbackup to write directly
to DVD and supports ASR

 

[SlowJet]

BOLONGA

Sorry but I don't think this is correct. I have used ASR to restore from
a second IDE drive. It only backs up the C: drive.

 

[Rock]

BOLONGA

Ok, before dismissing your claim out right I decided I would give it
another check since it's been awhile since I created an ASR backup. The
test system has two IDE drives with three volumes on the first drive and
three on the second. The ASR backup file was saved to the second IDE
drive. The backup file created by the ASR wizard consisted only of the
system state, info on the partitions, and all the data on the C:
partition of the first drive. It did not backup the other two
partitions on the first drive or any on the second drive. The restore
was done from the .bkf on the second IDE drive. The process is very
cumbersome as windows must load first then the ASR .bkf file is restored
which is why I got away from using it in the first place.

You might want to take a look at this article. It's not completely
clear, but clear enough. The bottom line -- ASR does work with the .bkf
file stored on a second internal IDE drive, whether you choose to
believe it or not.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/asr.mspx

 

[SlowJet]

Well I would like very much to believe you BUT ..

You did not create an ASR floppy (which is required and onlt created by the
backup if you say backup ecerything on this computer) and did not use it in
the restore.
Your link says nothing about conditions but reinfores the need for the ASR
floppy. It supplied no other details.
Also, your recovery case may be an exception, as to what actually happened
was your O/S was repaired (via the long way around). See NOTE in your link
acrticle.

Sorry but You will need to do it again but backup 2 partitions and before
you startt ARS, format your C: drive and delete the data on the other. Then
I will believe YOU, a guy on the net, vs the facts in the documentation. On
the other hand, maybe not.

SJ

 

[SlowJet]

That Firestreamer looks like an answer except it costs $30 and will it be
around later when a restore is needed?

Also, the purchase screens are out of order. What good is a 30 day backup
without a 90 restore offer?

SJ

 

[Rock]

Well I would like very much to believe you BUT ..

You did not create an ASR floppy (which is required and onlt created by the
backup if you say backup ecerything on this computer) and did not use it in
the restore.
Your link says nothing about conditions but reinfores the need for the ASR
floppy. It supplied no other details.
Also, your recovery case may be an exception, as to what actually happened
was your O/S was repaired (via the long way around). See NOTE in your link
acrticle.

Sorry but You will need to do it again but backup 2 partitions and before
you startt ARS, format your C: drive and delete the data on the other. Then
I will believe YOU, a guy on the net, vs the facts in the documentation. On
the other hand, maybe not.

SJ

It used the ASR floppy. Boot with the XP CD and choose the ASR option,
eventually it asks for the floppy then for the location of the ASR .bkf
file. It only backs up the C drive. If you don't believe it, it's your
problem.

 

[Guest]

That Firestreamer looks like an answer except it costs $30

Is there a cheaper solution that offers DVD backup with all the features
that NTBACKUP has?

and will it be around later when a restore is needed?

Normally, you should back up everything that is needed to restore your
system later, including the backup software or say the floppies that come
with your tape drive.

When you create an ASR set with Firestreamer, everything is saved either in
the backup set on DVD or on the ASR floppy diskettes. All you need to
restore with ASR is a Windows Setup CDROM, ASR backup set, and ASR floppy
disks.

Also, the purchase screens are out of order. What good is a 30 day backup
without a 90 restore offer?

I'm not quite sure what you mean here. The ordering pages were temporarily
unavailable, and that was clearly indicated. What's the problem with this?