Automated System Restore Wizard

[hjharv]

Is there any way to access the Automated System Restore Wizard or similar
program in Windows XP if I don't have the Windows XP Home Edition CD? Any
information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[PD]

Is there any way to access the Automated System Restore Wizard or similar
program in Windows XP if I don't have the Windows XP Home Edition CD? Any
information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

There is no "Automated System Restore Wizard".

What do you want/need to do.

 

[Claymore]

Is there any way to access the Automated System Restore Wizard or similar
program in Windows XP if I don't have the Windows XP Home Edition CD? Any
information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Sorry, what do you mean by "access"? Have you tried starting it, and
if so, do you get an error? If the shortcut is missing go to Start =>
Run and type in "restore" {without the quotes}. Double-click on the
file rstrui.exe
Or, has it been turned off? If so, right-click on My Computer =>
Properties => System Restore tab and uncheck the box 'Turn of...'.
All this is just guessing.

 

[Andrew Murray]

Is there any way to access the Automated System Restore Wizard or similar
program in Windows XP if I don't have the Windows XP Home Edition CD? Any
information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

System Restore is available in both XP versions.

If you mean you want to do a repair install or reinstall or something of
that sort, it will require the CD.

If you're talking about a computer such as Dell that has it's own
'restore' program, consult the documentation that came with it to find
out how to run the restore (that is, it will restore to factory
condition). Usually the install files (a disk image or similar) is on a
hidden partition of the hard drive, if no disks came with the machine.

One of the "Function" Keys (F1, F2 etc) will start this procedure, but
it is different for each computer or each brand of computer like Dell,
HP, Acer etc.

What brand/model of PC do you have? Have you tried the manufacturer's
site for instructions on restoring the PC.

What is the actual problem with it?

 

[hjharv]

There is no "Automated System Restore Wizard".

What do you want/need to do.

Thanks for your response. I use an external hard drive to back up my
computer. One of the options offered by the backup function in Windows XP
says the Automated System Recovery (ASR) feature enables users to create a
set of floppy disks that can be used to automate the process of recovering a
failed system. When I select that option, I immediately receive a message
that says, "The files for recovery diskette could not be created. The
operation was cancelled."

A recent response to my original post said, "If you receive this message,
you may be unable to create a backup set with ASR. This behavior can occur
because ASR is not supported in Windows XP Home Edition. However, Windows XP
Home Edition users can access the ASR Wizard if they install the Ntbackup
program from the Valueadd folder on the Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM."

That post contained specific instructions for accessing the Automated System
Recovery Wizard. Since I don't have the CD-Rom, I'm wondering how I can
proceed.

 

[hjharv]

System Restore is available in both XP versions.

If you mean you want to do a repair install or reinstall or something of
that sort, it will require the CD.

If you're talking about a computer such as Dell that has it's own
'restore' program, consult the documentation that came with it to find
out how to run the restore (that is, it will restore to factory
condition). Usually the install files (a disk image or similar) is on a
hidden partition of the hard drive, if no disks came with the machine.

One of the "Function" Keys (F1, F2 etc) will start this procedure, but
it is different for each computer or each brand of computer like Dell,
HP, Acer etc.

What brand/model of PC do you have? Have you tried the manufacturer's
site for instructions on restoring the PC.

What is the actual problem with it?

I'll try your suggestion, but I don't think it will work. It seems the Automated System Recovery feature is not on the computer and can only be accessed through the Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM. My HP computer came without the CD. All the Windows XP programs were already installed on the computer when I bought it. I may have to check with Microsoft to see if the CD is still available.

 

[PD]

Thanks for your response. I use an external hard drive to back up my
computer. One of the options offered by the backup function in Windows XP
says the Automated System Recovery (ASR) feature enables users to create a
set of floppy disks that can be used to automate the process of recoveringa
failed system.

You need to ABANDON the use of any MS backup/restore options and buy a
third-party program that will allow you to backup your entire system
to an image file on your external drive, to clone your system disk to
another internal disk, and to selectively restore either the entire
system drive from the image, or just restore selected files/
directories.

I've been playing with computers for 17 years now (my first had only
768K of memory and NO hard drive) and the best I've seen is Acronis
True Image.

WELL WORTH the price. Second Place goes to Norton's GHOST, but it's
so far behind that it's not even worth looking at (I stopped using it
at version 8).

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

You need to ABANDON the use of any MS backup/restore options and buy a
third-party program that will allow you to backup your entire system
to an image file on your external drive, to clone your system disk to
another internal disk, and to selectively restore either the entire
system drive from the image, or just restore selected files/
directories.

"Need" is a very strong word. I'm not sure that he *needs* to, but I
think your advice is sound and I second it. It's a much better way to
go, and worth investing a few dollars (or whatever your local is) in.

I've been playing with computers for 17 years now (my first had only
768K of memory and NO hard drive) and the best I've seen is Acronis
True Image.

45 years for me (my first had 4K of memory and no hard drive). And
like you, I recommend Acronis True Image.

 

[hjharv]

PD and Ken Blake, MVP

Thank you both for your help. I'll go along with you trusted vets and check
out Acronis True Image. Thanks once again.

hjharv

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

PD and Ken Blake, MVP

Thank you both for your help. I'll go along with you trusted vets and check
out Acronis True Image. Thanks once again.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[Bill in Co.]

And if I'm not mistaken, you can even backup and restore your system on the
same hard drive (image info being saved in its own special partition), in
case you mess up something with some program installations and want to
revert back again to a cleaner system. Right? I don't think Norton
can do that.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

And if I'm not mistaken, you can even backup and restore your system on the
same hard drive (image info being saved in its own special partition), in
case you mess up something with some program installations and want to
revert back again to a cleaner system. Right?

The image doesn't have to be stored in "its own special partition," it
can be anyplace at all, including another drive entirely.

In fact, I strongly recommend *against* saving an image on the same
drive, whether in its own partition or not, since it leaves you
susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup to many of
the most common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning
strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the computer.

Such a technique is better than no backup at all, but just barely.

I don't think Norton
can do that.

I don't know whether or not it can, but in my view it doesn't matter,
since that's something you should definitely *not* want to do.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

The image doesn't have to be stored in "its own special partition," it
can be anyplace at all, including another drive entirely.

He's referring to a newer feature in True Image called "Secure Zone"
that appeared with version 9 or 10.

 

[Claymore]

And if I'm not mistaken, you can even backup and restore your system on the
same hard drive (image info being saved in its own special partition), in
case you mess up something with some program installations and want to
revert back again to a cleaner system.    Right?  

The image doesn't have to be stored in "its own special partition," it
can be anyplace at all, including another drive entirely.

In fact, I strongly recommend *against* saving an image on the same
drive, whether in its own partition or not, since it leaves you
susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup to many of
the most common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning
strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the computer.

Such a technique is better than no backup at all, but just barely.

I don't think Norton
can do that.

I don't know whether or not it can, but in my view it doesn't matter,
since that's something you should definitely *not* want to do.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Glad it got sorted.
Thoroughly agree with Mr. Blake. Acronis.
p.s. Norton will back up to a separate partition on the same drive
also. But, yes, a separate hard drive, or external hard drive, or
DVD's if you're stuck, and a bazillion CD's if you're really stuck.

Cheers!

 

[Bill in Co.]

The image doesn't have to be stored in "its own special partition," it
can be anyplace at all, including another drive entirely.

True. But Acronis also lets you save it on the main hard drive in its own
special partition.

In fact, I strongly recommend *against* saving an image on the same
drive, whether in its own partition or not, since it leaves you
susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup to many of
the most common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning
strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the computer.

Such a technique is better than no backup at all, but just barely.


I don't know whether or not it can, but in my view it doesn't matter,
since that's something you should definitely *not* want to do.

Well, but wait a minute, though. One reason for doing it might be to test
out a new installation of a bunch of programs, with a quick and easy restore
capability, and one that doesn't require any other drives to be hooked up or
working.

True, I could probably save the partition on an external USB drive (and I
have one), but I'm not sure how long that process would take (going thru
USB2 - I imagine it would be hours). But admitedly a separate drive
backup is a lot better for the long haul - for a real and true backup.

The other concern you mentioned about a power failure ... I would fully
expect that that would NOT prevent the system from being rebooted, since the
original system partition is left untouched. And, as a last resort, I
believe one also has an Acronis boot CD as a fallback. But I might be
mistaken. I haven't gotten the Acronis True Image yet, but it's on its
way.

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:47:01 -0800, hjharv

PD and Ken Blake, MVP

Thank you both for your help. I'll go along with you trusted vets and check
out Acronis True Image. Thanks once again.


You're welcome. Glad to help.




:

:

 

[hjharv]

hjharv wrote:

Great info everyone. Thanks again to PD and Ken Blake and to Bill in Co.,
Uncle Grumpy and Claymore for their contributions. Much appreciated.

hjharv

The image doesn't have to be stored in "its own special partition," it
can be anyplace at all, including another drive entirely.

True. But Acronis also lets you save it on the main hard drive in its own
special partition.

In fact, I strongly recommend *against* saving an image on the same
drive, whether in its own partition or not, since it leaves you
susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup to many of
the most common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning
strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the computer.

Such a technique is better than no backup at all, but just barely.


I don't know whether or not it can, but in my view it doesn't matter,
since that's something you should definitely *not* want to do.

Well, but wait a minute, though. One reason for doing it might be to test
out a new installation of a bunch of programs, with a quick and easy restore
capability, and one that doesn't require any other drives to be hooked up or
working.

True, I could probably save the partition on an external USB drive (and I
have one), but I'm not sure how long that process would take (going thru
USB2 - I imagine it would be hours). But admitedly a separate drive
backup is a lot better for the long haul - for a real and true backup.

The other concern you mentioned about a power failure ... I would fully
expect that that would NOT prevent the system from being rebooted, since the
original system partition is left untouched. And, as a last resort, I
believe one also has an Acronis boot CD as a fallback. But I might be
mistaken. I haven't gotten the Acronis True Image yet, but it's on its
way.

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:47:01 -0800, hjharv

PD and Ken Blake, MVP

Thank you both for your help. I'll go along with you trusted vets and check
out Acronis True Image. Thanks once again.


You're welcome. Glad to help.




:

:

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

Well, but wait a minute, though. One reason for doing it might be to test
out a new installation of a bunch of programs, with a quick and easy restore
capability, and one that doesn't require any other drives to be hooked up or
working.

That's fine. I have no problem with someone's doing that. It's not
what I would call "backup" though.

True, I could probably save the partition on an external USB drive (and I
have one), but I'm not sure how long that process would take (going thru
USB2 - I imagine it would be hours).

In my experience (even with big drives), if you start it before you go
to sleep at night, it's always done by when I awake in the morning.
How many hours it took doesn't matter.

But admitedly a separate drive
backup is a lot better for the long haul - for a real and true backup.

Yes, my point exactly.

The other concern you mentioned about a power failure ... I would fully
expect that that would NOT prevent the system from being rebooted, since the
original system partition is left untouched.

No, no, I don't mean just an ordinary power failure. I mean a *severe*
power surge, the kind that can come from an event like a nearby
lightning strike. I'm talking about destroying the drive, and probably
the rest of the computer too.

I certainly agree that an ordinary lapse of power doesn't normally
cause such a problem.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

hjharv wrote:

Great info everyone. Thanks again to PD and Ken Blake and to Bill in Co.,
Uncle Grumpy and Claymore for their contributions. Much appreciated.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:08:39 -0700, "Bill in Co."

And if I'm not mistaken, you can even backup and restore your system on the
same hard drive (image info being saved in its own special partition), in
case you mess up something with some program installations and want to
revert back again to a cleaner system. Right?

The image doesn't have to be stored in "its own special partition," it
can be anyplace at all, including another drive entirely.

True. But Acronis also lets you save it on the main hard drive in its own
special partition.

In fact, I strongly recommend *against* saving an image on the same
drive, whether in its own partition or not, since it leaves you
susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup to many of
the most common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning
strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the computer.

Such a technique is better than no backup at all, but just barely.

I don't think Norton can do that.

I don't know whether or not it can, but in my view it doesn't matter,
since that's something you should definitely *not* want to do.

Well, but wait a minute, though. One reason for doing it might be to test
out a new installation of a bunch of programs, with a quick and easy restore
capability, and one that doesn't require any other drives to be hooked up or
working.

True, I could probably save the partition on an external USB drive (and I
have one), but I'm not sure how long that process would take (going thru
USB2 - I imagine it would be hours). But admitedly a separate drive
backup is a lot better for the long haul - for a real and true backup.

The other concern you mentioned about a power failure ... I would fully
expect that that would NOT prevent the system from being rebooted, since the
original system partition is left untouched. And, as a last resort, I
believe one also has an Acronis boot CD as a fallback. But I might be
mistaken. I haven't gotten the Acronis True Image yet, but it's on its
way.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

hjharv wrote:

Great info everyone. Thanks again to PD and Ken Blake and to Bill in Co.,
Uncle Grumpy and Claymore for their contributions. Much appreciated.

You're welcome and thanks for the feedback.

For everyone's info: PD and I are one and the same. I was briefly
using the "PD" persona on Google Groups, but have stopped that in
favor of accessing the group using my all-time favorite newsgroup
reader, Forte Agent.

 

[Marianne]

For everyone's info: PD and I are one and the same.

That explains the idiotic nature of PD's posts.