Backing up XP Pro to D: (no floppy?)

[Guest]

I've just used the backup wizard to backup "all information on this computer"
to my second HD "D:". Strangely (imo), the Wizard gave the default location
of "A:" (the floppy) to store the backup. Instead I browsed and selected
"D:", and it completed the backup successfully. But shouldn't I have been
asked to insert a floppy disk (it said one was also necessary) at some point
- to point to the backup during the restore process?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I've just used the backup wizard to backup "all information on this computer"
to my second HD "D:". Strangely (imo), the Wizard gave the default location
of "A:" (the floppy) to store the backup. Instead I browsed and selected
"D:", and it completed the backup successfully. But shouldn't I have been
asked to insert a floppy disk (it said one was also necessary) at some point
- to point to the backup during the restore process?

If you had left the destination at A: then it would have prompted
you for a floppy disk.

To complete the exercise, you should now go through a practice
recovery process. Think of a file you would like to recover, move
it somewhere else, then restore it to its original location.

Note that having your backup file on drive D: covers you against
some threats but leaves you badly exposed to events such as
fire, theft, inadvertent modification/deletion, corruption and disk
failure. A robust backup strategy requires your backup files to
be stored on an independent medium that is kept well away from
your PC for most of the time. A 2.5" disk in an external case
meets these requirements and costs very little.

 

[Guest]

Are you suggesting I store a 6.9GB backup on floppys?!

Anyway, I've just started the process again, and after selecting "D:" as
destination, it definitely does says that I will be prompted for a floppy at
the end of the process.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Are you suggesting I store a 6.9GB backup on floppys?!

I never said any such thing. I said ' 2.5" disk in an external
USB case.' In today's jargon, a 2.5" disk is a laptop hard
disk.

 

[Guest]

OK, apologies. I understand.

But anyway, just gone through the same default Backup and Restore wizard
process to disk D, and this time, at the beginning it said it said it was
making an ASR and at the end it did ask for a floppy. But ASR's aren't the
default option; they're in the advanced options, which I didn't select. So
I've now just repeated the steps again up to actually initiating the backup,
and this time it didn't say it was an ASR, but did say It'd be prompted for a
floppy at the end.
Totally confused!

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I've just used the backup wizard to backup "all information on this
computer" to my second HD "D:". Strangely (imo), the Wizard gave
the default location of "A:" (the floppy) to store the backup.
Instead I browsed and selected "D:", and it completed the backup
successfully. But shouldn't I have been asked to insert a floppy
disk (it said one was also necessary) at some point - to point to
the backup during the restore process?

If you had left the destination at A: then it would have prompted
you for a floppy disk.

To complete the exercise, you should now go through a practice
recovery process. Think of a file you would like to recover, move
it somewhere else, then restore it to its original location.

Note that having your backup file on drive D: covers you against
some threats but leaves you badly exposed to events such as
fire, theft, inadvertent modification/deletion, corruption and disk
failure. A robust backup strategy requires your backup files to
be stored on an independent medium that is kept well away from
your PC for most of the time. A 2.5" disk in an external case
meets these requirements and costs very little.

I never said any such thing. I said ' 2.5" disk in an external
USB case.' In today's jargon, a 2.5" disk is a laptop hard
disk.

Are you suggesting I store a 6.9GB backup on floppys?!

Anyway, I've just started the process again, and after selecting
"D:" as destination, it definitely does says that I will be
prompted for a floppy at the end of the process.

OK, apologies. I understand.

But anyway, just gone through the same default Backup and Restore
wizard process to disk D, and this time, at the beginning it said
it said it was making an ASR and at the end it did ask for a
floppy. But ASR's aren't the default option; they're in the
advanced options, which I didn't select. So I've now just repeated
the steps again up to actually initiating the backup, and this time
it didn't say it was an ASR, but did say It'd be prompted for a
floppy at the end.
Totally confused!

Please, take a screenshot and put it up on a web page somewhere...
What you are saying is happening goes against everything I know about the
internal backup utility in Windows XP...

You also may want to watch the video here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422

And tell us when you see what you see and make sure you are doing the steps
as shown...

 

[Guest]

Don't know how to make screen shots nor where to post them.

I watched the vid. As I'm not an advanced user (obviously), I just clicked
<next> (default). Then I selected "back up files and settings" <default>.
Then, selected the "all information on this computer" button. I then selected
drive D as destination (by same process as on vid). After <next> it then
tells you (just before starting the back up process) : "after the wizard
creates a back up of your files you will then be asked to insert a floppy
disk".

I've just gone that far again and that's what happens alright. Just that the
first time I did it, it didn't ask for a floppy at the end. The second time,
it told me it was making and ASR just before initiating the back up, and it
did ask for a floppy. And as I've just said, if I go through those steps
again, it now doesn't mention ASR, but does say it'll want a floppy at the
end. This is XP Pro SP2. I'm not sure what you're saying shouldn't be
happening.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I've just used the backup wizard to backup "all information on this
computer" to my second HD "D:". Strangely (imo), the Wizard gave
the default location of "A:" (the floppy) to store the backup.
Instead I browsed and selected "D:", and it completed the backup
successfully. But shouldn't I have been asked to insert a floppy
disk (it said one was also necessary) at some point - to point to
the backup during the restore process?

If you had left the destination at A: then it would have prompted
you for a floppy disk.

To complete the exercise, you should now go through a practice
recovery process. Think of a file you would like to recover, move
it somewhere else, then restore it to its original location.

Note that having your backup file on drive D: covers you against
some threats but leaves you badly exposed to events such as
fire, theft, inadvertent modification/deletion, corruption and disk
failure. A robust backup strategy requires your backup files to
be stored on an independent medium that is kept well away from
your PC for most of the time. A 2.5" disk in an external case
meets these requirements and costs very little.

I never said any such thing. I said ' 2.5" disk in an external
USB case.' In today's jargon, a 2.5" disk is a laptop hard
disk.

Are you suggesting I store a 6.9GB backup on floppys?!

Anyway, I've just started the process again, and after selecting
"D:" as destination, it definitely does says that I will be
prompted for a floppy at the end of the process.

OK, apologies. I understand.

But anyway, just gone through the same default Backup and Restore
wizard process to disk D, and this time, at the beginning it said
it said it was making an ASR and at the end it did ask for a
floppy. But ASR's aren't the default option; they're in the
advanced options, which I didn't select. So I've now just repeated
the steps again up to actually initiating the backup, and this time
it didn't say it was an ASR, but did say It'd be prompted for a
floppy at the end.
Totally confused!

Please, take a screenshot and put it up on a web page somewhere...
What you are saying is happening goes against everything I know
about the internal backup utility in Windows XP...

You also may want to watch the video here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422

And tell us when you see what you see and make sure you are doing
the steps as shown...

Don't know how to make screen shots nor where to post them.

I watched the vid. As I'm not an advanced user (obviously), I just
clicked <next> (default). Then I selected "back up files and
settings" <default>. Then, selected the "all information on this
computer" button. I then selected drive D as destination (by same
process as on vid). After <next> it then tells you (just before
starting the back up process) : "after the wizard creates a back up
of your files you will then be asked to insert a floppy disk".

I've just gone that far again and that's what happens alright. Just
that the first time I did it, it didn't ask for a floppy at the
end. The second time, it told me it was making and ASR just before
initiating the back up, and it did ask for a floppy. And as I've
just said, if I go through those steps again, it now doesn't
mention ASR, but does say it'll want a floppy at the end. This is
XP Pro SP2. I'm not sure what you're saying shouldn't be happening.

Do what the video and instructions on that page say to do.
It does not matter if you are 'advanced' or not - you don't have to be to
follow steps...

As for the screenshots - any Google search would bring up help on this...

Heck - if you want - take a screenshot with the screen you mention showing
(the 'you will be asked for a floppy diskette at the end' screen) and paste
it into Word or better yet - Paint; and send it to me via email (reply to
this message) and I will post it.

To take a screenshot and paste it into Paint...
1) Get whatever it is you want a picture of on the screen.
2) Press the "Priint Screen" key on your keyboard.
3) Open MS Paint (Start Button --> All Programs --> Accessories --> Paint)
and once open, press CTRL+V to paste the screenshot.
4) Choose "File" --> "Save As" from the paint top menu...
5) Click on 'Desktop' in the left side column of the Save As window...
6) Change the name "untitled" to something more descriptive - like
"backup-FDDRequest".
7) Change the 'Save As Type" to "JPEG".
8) Click the "Save" button.
9) Close MS paint...
10) Open your email client.
11) Compose an email to me:
(e-mail address removed) (removing the obvious)
and attach a file - the picture you just created.

 

[Guest]

Now that's what I call instructions! Thanks. Even this Mac user can follow
that. Screen shot on way.

But yes, I can follow the vid. Just saying, the logical thing for someone
inexperienced backing up is to take the non 'only recommended for advanced
users' option, and if you do, thats what transpired.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I've just used the backup wizard to backup "all information on this
computer" to my second HD "D:". Strangely (imo), the Wizard gave
the default location of "A:" (the floppy) to store the backup.
Instead I browsed and selected "D:", and it completed the backup
successfully. But shouldn't I have been asked to insert a floppy
disk (it said one was also necessary) at some point - to point to
the backup during the restore process?

If you had left the destination at A: then it would have prompted
you for a floppy disk.

To complete the exercise, you should now go through a practice
recovery process. Think of a file you would like to recover, move
it somewhere else, then restore it to its original location.

Note that having your backup file on drive D: covers you against
some threats but leaves you badly exposed to events such as
fire, theft, inadvertent modification/deletion, corruption and disk
failure. A robust backup strategy requires your backup files to
be stored on an independent medium that is kept well away from
your PC for most of the time. A 2.5" disk in an external case
meets these requirements and costs very little.

I never said any such thing. I said ' 2.5" disk in an external
USB case.' In today's jargon, a 2.5" disk is a laptop hard
disk.

Are you suggesting I store a 6.9GB backup on floppys?!

Anyway, I've just started the process again, and after selecting
"D:" as destination, it definitely does says that I will be
prompted for a floppy at the end of the process.

OK, apologies. I understand.

But anyway, just gone through the same default Backup and Restore
wizard process to disk D, and this time, at the beginning it said
it said it was making an ASR and at the end it did ask for a
floppy. But ASR's aren't the default option; they're in the
advanced options, which I didn't select. So I've now just repeated
the steps again up to actually initiating the backup, and this time
it didn't say it was an ASR, but did say It'd be prompted for a
floppy at the end.
Totally confused!

Please, take a screenshot and put it up on a web page somewhere...
What you are saying is happening goes against everything I know
about the internal backup utility in Windows XP...

You also may want to watch the video here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422

And tell us when you see what you see and make sure you are doing
the steps as shown...

Don't know how to make screen shots nor where to post them.

I watched the vid. As I'm not an advanced user (obviously), I just
clicked <next> (default). Then I selected "back up files and
settings" <default>. Then, selected the "all information on this
computer" button. I then selected drive D as destination (by same
process as on vid). After <next> it then tells you (just before
starting the back up process) : "after the wizard creates a back up
of your files you will then be asked to insert a floppy disk".

I've just gone that far again and that's what happens alright. Just
that the first time I did it, it didn't ask for a floppy at the
end. The second time, it told me it was making and ASR just before
initiating the back up, and it did ask for a floppy. And as I've
just said, if I go through those steps again, it now doesn't
mention ASR, but does say it'll want a floppy at the end. This is
XP Pro SP2. I'm not sure what you're saying shouldn't be happening.

Do what the video and instructions on that page say to do.
It does not matter if you are 'advanced' or not - you don't have to
be to follow steps...

As for the screenshots - any Google search would bring up help on
this...

Heck - if you want - take a screenshot with the screen you mention
showing (the 'you will be asked for a floppy diskette at the end'
screen) and paste it into Word or better yet - Paint; and send it
to me via email (reply to this message) and I will post it.

To take a screenshot and paste it into Paint...
1) Get whatever it is you want a picture of on the screen.
2) Press the "Priint Screen" key on your keyboard.
3) Open MS Paint (Start Button --> All Programs --> Accessories -->
Paint) and once open, press CTRL+V to paste the screenshot.
4) Choose "File" --> "Save As" from the paint top menu...
5) Click on 'Desktop' in the left side column of the Save As
window... 6) Change the name "untitled" to something more
descriptive - like "backup-FDDRequest".
7) Change the 'Save As Type" to "JPEG".
8) Click the "Save" button.
9) Close MS paint...
10) Open your email client.
11) Compose an email to me:
(e-mail address removed) (removing the
obvious) and attach a file - the picture you just created.

Now that's what I call instructions! Thanks. Even this Mac user can
follow that. Screen shot on way.

But yes, I can follow the vid. Just saying, the logical thing for
someone inexperienced backing up is to take the non 'only
recommended for advanced users' option, and if you do, thats what
transpired.

I have posted the screenshot...
http://picasaweb.google.com/newshelper/BackupWizardComparison

Added mine for comparison.
It looks like yours - for whatever reason - is tagging an ASR on the end.
I tried to get mine to do this and failed.

Is this installed on your Macintosh?
If so, is it a Parallels, VMWare or Boot Camp installation?
Is the system up to date with patches?
(http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and scan for updates.)

Personally - I avoid the built-in Windows XP backup - although it has its
uses and such. I like to add on:

Cobian Backup
http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm

I think it adds a lot and makes the restoration more reliable.

 

[Guest]

No, this is a new, high-end games PC with everything up-to-date. (I wouldn't
let Windows anywhere near my Macs).

But you've selected the "advanced" option on the first page of the update
wizard. If I do that I finish up with what you've got. But I don't understand
why you don't get what I've got if you take the default option and just click
next on the first page and follow my selections.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I've just used the backup wizard to backup "all information on this
computer" to my second HD "D:". Strangely (imo), the Wizard gave
the default location of "A:" (the floppy) to store the backup.
Instead I browsed and selected "D:", and it completed the backup
successfully. But shouldn't I have been asked to insert a floppy
disk (it said one was also necessary) at some point - to point to
the backup during the restore process?

If you had left the destination at A: then it would have prompted
you for a floppy disk.

To complete the exercise, you should now go through a practice
recovery process. Think of a file you would like to recover, move
it somewhere else, then restore it to its original location.

Note that having your backup file on drive D: covers you against
some threats but leaves you badly exposed to events such as
fire, theft, inadvertent modification/deletion, corruption and disk
failure. A robust backup strategy requires your backup files to
be stored on an independent medium that is kept well away from
your PC for most of the time. A 2.5" disk in an external case
meets these requirements and costs very little.

I never said any such thing. I said ' 2.5" disk in an external
USB case.' In today's jargon, a 2.5" disk is a laptop hard
disk.

Are you suggesting I store a 6.9GB backup on floppys?!

Anyway, I've just started the process again, and after selecting
"D:" as destination, it definitely does says that I will be
prompted for a floppy at the end of the process.

OK, apologies. I understand.

But anyway, just gone through the same default Backup and Restore
wizard process to disk D, and this time, at the beginning it said
it said it was making an ASR and at the end it did ask for a
floppy. But ASR's aren't the default option; they're in the
advanced options, which I didn't select. So I've now just repeated
the steps again up to actually initiating the backup, and this time
it didn't say it was an ASR, but did say It'd be prompted for a
floppy at the end.
Totally confused!

Please, take a screenshot and put it up on a web page somewhere...
What you are saying is happening goes against everything I know
about the internal backup utility in Windows XP...

You also may want to watch the video here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422

And tell us when you see what you see and make sure you are doing
the steps as shown...

Don't know how to make screen shots nor where to post them.

I watched the vid. As I'm not an advanced user (obviously), I just
clicked <next> (default). Then I selected "back up files and
settings" <default>. Then, selected the "all information on this
computer" button. I then selected drive D as destination (by same
process as on vid). After <next> it then tells you (just before
starting the back up process) : "after the wizard creates a back up
of your files you will then be asked to insert a floppy disk".

I've just gone that far again and that's what happens alright. Just
that the first time I did it, it didn't ask for a floppy at the
end. The second time, it told me it was making and ASR just before
initiating the back up, and it did ask for a floppy. And as I've
just said, if I go through those steps again, it now doesn't
mention ASR, but does say it'll want a floppy at the end. This is
XP Pro SP2. I'm not sure what you're saying shouldn't be happening.

Do what the video and instructions on that page say to do.
It does not matter if you are 'advanced' or not - you don't have to
be to follow steps...

As for the screenshots - any Google search would bring up help on
this...

Heck - if you want - take a screenshot with the screen you mention
showing (the 'you will be asked for a floppy diskette at the end'
screen) and paste it into Word or better yet - Paint; and send it
to me via email (reply to this message) and I will post it.

To take a screenshot and paste it into Paint...
1) Get whatever it is you want a picture of on the screen.
2) Press the "Priint Screen" key on your keyboard.
3) Open MS Paint (Start Button --> All Programs --> Accessories -->
Paint) and once open, press CTRL+V to paste the screenshot.
4) Choose "File" --> "Save As" from the paint top menu...
5) Click on 'Desktop' in the left side column of the Save As
window... 6) Change the name "untitled" to something more
descriptive - like "backup-FDDRequest".
7) Change the 'Save As Type" to "JPEG".
8) Click the "Save" button.
9) Close MS paint...
10) Open your email client.
11) Compose an email to me:
(e-mail address removed) (removing the
obvious) and attach a file - the picture you just created.

Now that's what I call instructions! Thanks. Even this Mac user can
follow that. Screen shot on way.

But yes, I can follow the vid. Just saying, the logical thing for
someone inexperienced backing up is to take the non 'only
recommended for advanced users' option, and if you do, thats what
transpired.

I have posted the screenshot...
http://picasaweb.google.com/newshelper/BackupWizardComparison

Added mine for comparison.
It looks like yours - for whatever reason - is tagging an ASR on
the end. I tried to get mine to do this and failed.

Is this installed on your Macintosh?
If so, is it a Parallels, VMWare or Boot Camp installation?
Is the system up to date with patches?
(http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and scan for updates.)

Personally - I avoid the built-in Windows XP backup - although it
has its uses and such. I like to add on:

Cobian Backup
http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm

I think it adds a lot and makes the restoration more reliable.

No, this is a new, high-end games PC with everything up-to-date. (I
wouldn't let Windows anywhere near my Macs).

But you've selected the "advanced" option on the first page of the
update wizard. If I do that I finish up with what you've got. But I
don't understand why you don't get what I've got if you take the
default option and just click next on the first page and follow my
selections.

I did try both ways - and never got the thing creating any diskette or even
warning me it would (and yes - this system happens to have a diskette
drive.)

As for not letting "... Windows anywhere near my Macs ..." --> I love the
way it runs on the macs I get to utilize.
And the ability to use both - sometimes at the same time - drag/drop between
them, etc... Fantastic!

 

[Guest]

Well, it's all bloody mysterious then. Anyway, thanks for the help and links.