BACKING UP THAT WORKS

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Guest

I just got the backup for XP HOME edition off the MS
website (as it isn't installed by default). However,
guess what - it don't work! Anybody know why? I think I
read somewhere about XP HOME not being able to read or
boot from the file anyway and that you needed to get into
the backup file you created using some clever messing
around with the registry or something. Anyway, if anyone
can point me to the right MS knowledge Base article I'd
be much appriciated - I've got 12 gigs of data sitting
waiting for a home!
 
Hi

Why not burn the data to CD or DVD - if you have one of those devices
available to you?

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


| I just got the backup for XP HOME edition off the MS
| website (as it isn't installed by default). However,
| guess what - it don't work! Anybody know why? I think I
| read somewhere about XP HOME not being able to read or
| boot from the file anyway and that you needed to get into
| the backup file you created using some clever messing
| around with the registry or something. Anyway, if anyone
| can point me to the right MS knowledge Base article I'd
| be much appriciated - I've got 12 gigs of data sitting
| waiting for a home!
 
Will, I got the data backed up BUT MS's XP operating
System can't read the .bkf file which is a compressed
file format. I presume the professional version of XP has
the software to decode it - can it be done using HOME
edition was my question.
 
I'm having the same problem. I need to reinstall the entire package and cannot backup my computer. I even tried to go through file settings and transfer through accessories and I couldn't get my data to back up to my CD.
 
There is only one real way to get a reliable and efficient 'backup'.

If one considers that to Backup a computer means to create a file [or set of files] from which the working state of the computer can be recreated in the event of an error [software, hardware or user], then this is what I have found to work.

1. Build an external Hard Drive enclosure - simple find a Firewire / USB 1 / USB 2 compatible IDE enclosure should cost less than US$ 90: now buy another hard disk drive - if it is to work as a substitute for the original C Drive in the event of disk failure, then buy the identical hard drive - no substitution here, this should also cost less than US $ 90.
2. Once this external Drive is assembled - four screws and a few plastic clips is all that's needed - plug it into your working computer, to USB or Firewire ; make sure you use the fastest connector available to you with the PC.
3. Windows XP will generally identify the new device and install all the drivers [ in some rare circumstances you may need to use the driver supplied with the external case].
4. Buy or download Norton Ghost or Drive Image.
5. Configure Ghost to Backup your C Drive to the external drive - allow for the Firewire or USB adapter that you are using.

Now the sytem will reboot to run Ghost in a DOS version: create an image file and then reboot XP.

This can take 1/2 to 3 hours, depending on your USB speed or Firewire.

Now the blessing of this is that your whole system: Windows, Applications, Data, Email etc [not another thing to do] is imaged.

SHould you ever need to rebuild that into a working system, use the Ghost restore floppy set and go the other way.

Thus in generally less than 1 hour from distaster you have a fully working system.

No pain no fuss, no advanced or expert knowledge required.

If you can't find the bits and pieces I'm happy to supply a fully built unit : mail to brianrignall AT bigpond DOT net DOT au - make the logical changes for '@' and '.'
 
There's a wizard to restore from the backup. See Microsoft Knowledge Base
Article - 309340.

srdiamond
 
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