Auto... System Recovery (ASR) Floppy Disk

[Guest]

I am trying to follow the MS KB 950717; Steps to take before you install
Windows XP Service Pack 3. One of those steps is to create an Automated
System Recovery (ASR) set. I follow the steps to initiate the ASR Wizard.

I must have missed a step somewhere, because it apparently the Wizard was
copying ordinary data files to my 1.44 mg floppy. I do have a large
external drive for holding the large amount of data that a full backup
requires.

I have perused a couple of MS KB files, but have not seen where I went
astray. My so-far very incomplete understanding is that the 1.44 mg floppy
is to become some sort of boot floppy, which will mount and use the external
drive to restore the system and data files as they were at the time of the
ASR set creation.

I need either a baby-step KB file, or some other set of tiny baby step
instructions which make no assumptions about what I am supposed to know
already.

I do, fortunately, have my original Win XP SP2 reinstallation disk is that
is called for. I went through a completely destructive installation from
this CD last year, under the interactive telephone instructions of an MS
tech support guy. I never want to do that again; wiping out all my previous
work.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I am trying to follow the MS KB 950717; Steps to take before you install
Windows XP Service Pack 3. One of those steps is to create an Automated
System Recovery (ASR) set. I follow the steps to initiate the ASR Wizard.

I must have missed a step somewhere, because it apparently the Wizard was
copying ordinary data files to my 1.44 mg floppy.
Yep.


I do have a large external drive for holding the large amount of data that
a full backup requires.

That gets used later.

I have perused a couple of MS KB files, but have not seen where I went
astray. My so-far very incomplete understanding is that the 1.44 mg
floppy is to become some sort of boot floppy,

Not quite. You launch Setup from the install CD first and choose ASR;
you'll be asked for the floppy, which contains information about the drives.

which will mount and use the external drive to restore the system and data
files as they were at the time of the ASR set creation.

Yes, that's correct. The floppy is not optional.

However, if you have XP Home, it will start and fail. This task only
completes with XP Pro.

More modern imaging setups don't use floppies and can write to optical
disks.

You can try googling "how to use ASR", but be aware that it will mislead you
into thinking it works on XP Home.

HTH
-pk

I need either a baby-step KB file, or some other set of tiny baby step
instructions which make no assumptions about what I am supposed to know
already.

I do, fortunately, have my original Win XP SP2 reinstallation disk is that
is called for. I went through a completely destructive installation from
this CD last year, under the interactive telephone instructions of an MS
tech support guy. I never want to do that again; wiping out all my
previous work.

If

 

[Twayne]

That gets used later.


Not quite. You launch Setup from the install CD
first
and choose ASR; you'll be asked for the floppy,
which
contains information about the drives.

Yes, that's correct. The floppy is not
optional.

However, if you have XP Home, it will start and
fail. This task only completes with XP Pro.

More modern imaging setups don't use floppies
and can
write to optical disks.

You can try googling "how to use ASR", but be
aware that
it will mislead you into thinking it works on XP
Home.

HTH
-pk




If

I had recent cause to play with that recently and
it's true that the ASR floppy for XP Home won't
work. You can go ahead and create a complete
backup, but not the floppy for some reason. There
is a KB about it, but I can't relocate it again
now. I never really believed it until recently
when I had my sister's macine here to repair.

The MS recommendation said to go ahead and make
the backup. Then install windows from your CD
(assuming you have one). Once windoes in
installed, THEN you'll be able to use the backup
you created to restrore things.

These links have references to it:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_backup.htm

Ah: Found the KB:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320820

HTH,

Twayne

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I had recent cause to play with that recently and it's true that the ASR
floppy for XP Home won't work. You can go ahead and create a complete
backup, but not the floppy for some reason. There is a KB about it, but I
can't relocate it again now.

The KB you're referring to is incredible.

It tells you how to install ntbackup on Home, how to access the wizard,
steps you through it...

.... and then tells you it won't work on XP Home.

It's this one:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302700/

"To work around this behavior, access the Automated System Restore Wizard:
1.. <and then it lists the steps and finishes with this encouraging
comment:>

NOTE: ASR does not function and is not supported on Windows XP Home
edition."


Perhaps I'm misreading this, but I'm not so sure.

-pk