Backup and restore

[Man T]

My harddisk crashed from time to time, ie my XP got system file corrupted
cannot be booted up.
I need to reinstall XP from time to time.
Any way I can backup the whole XP and restore it if it happened again so
that I don't need to re-format the the harddisk and re-install XP?

Do I need something like Acronis True Image?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

My harddisk crashed from time to time, ie my XP got system file corrupted
cannot be booted up.
I need to reinstall XP from time to time.
Any way I can backup the whole XP and restore it if it happened again so
that I don't need to re-format the the harddisk and re-install XP?

Do I need something like Acronis True Image?

Yes, TrueImage is a popular product for creating images.

 

[Man T]

Why is it crashing from time to time.

That's the issue. I would think relates to hardware like the internal mobile
rack. The reason I suspect the internal mobile rack was sometimes the bios
does not recognise the first harddisk.
When the machine boots up, by pressing F8 to goto the list of harddisk,
somethimes the first harddisk (All are SATA), this first harddisk is in the
mobile rack, disappears. What I need to do was to pull out the mobile rack
and put it back again. Then not long ago the XP got the system file error
when I boot up the machine and need to re-install XP.

 

[Anna]

On Sun, 6 Apr 2008 16:48:40 +1000
Why is it crashing from time to time.

That's the issue. I would think relates to hardware like the internal
mobile rack. The reason I suspect the internal mobile rack was sometimes
the bios does not recognise the first harddisk.
When the machine boots up, by pressing F8 to goto the list of harddisk,
somethimes the first harddisk (All are SATA), this first harddisk is in
the mobile rack, disappears. What I need to do was to pull out the mobile
rack and put it back again. Then not long ago the XP got the system file
error when I boot up the machine and need to re-install XP.

Man T:
Yes, as you have heard you certainly do need a comprehensive backup system
such as the Acronis True Image program that you mention. Our preference is
the Casper 4 program but the ATI program will do the job as well.

You should provide more detailed information re your system. When you refer
to "internal mobile rack(s)", you mean a removable HDD, correct? A mobile
rack that has a removable tray (caddy) that contains a HDD and which the
system treats as an internal HDD. That's the device you're talking about,
right?

Presumably you're working with a desktop PC. Does it contain one or two
mobile racks? Or just one mobile rack and your other drive is a fixed
internal HDD? You mention the "first harddisk" but provide no information on
a second HDD.

Is it possible you're just dealing with a defective mobile rack? What
make(s) & model(s) are you working with?

How is your system set up with respect to the configuration of your SATA
HDDs? Which is the boot drive? There's no RAID configuration here is there?
Your BIOS boot priority order is correct? Your sure your SATA HDDs are all
properly connected to the appropriate SATA connector(s) on the motherboard?

Has this problem just surfaced or has it arisen only after installation of
the mobile rack and/or another HDD?

What happens if you remove the SATA HDD from its mobile rack and install it
as an internal HDD? Same non-recognition problem?

Do you have any clue whatsoever as to what's causing your problem?
Anna

 

[Man T]

Man T:

Yes, as you have heard you certainly do need a comprehensive backup system
such as the Acronis True Image program that you mention. Our preference is
the Casper 4 program but the ATI program will do the job as well.

I have used the Acronis to make a backup file in one of the harddisk.
However, I have no idea what to do if my C drive is corrupted. How to use
the backup file?

You should provide more detailed information re your system. When you
refer to "internal mobile rack(s)", you mean a removable HDD, correct? A
mobile rack that has a removable tray (caddy) that contains a HDD and
which the system treats as an internal HDD. That's the device you're
talking about, right?

Yes, I used the internal mobile rack that is the tray in the caddy.

Presumably you're working with a desktop PC. Does it contain one or two
mobile racks? Or just one mobile rack and your other drive is a fixed
internal HDD? You mention the "first harddisk" but provide no information
on a second HDD.

I have 2 mobile racks to swap between XP and Vista.
I also have 2 other 'fixed' harddisks.

Is it possible you're just dealing with a defective mobile rack? What
make(s) & model(s) are you working with?

This is what I thought.
Because my other removable harddisk has Vista installed. I also came across
of this Vista OS corrupted just last week. I thought the two harddisk failed
at the same time is not likely.
So it may fall on the mobile rack's reason.

How is your system set up with respect to the configuration of your SATA
HDDs? Which is the boot drive? There's no RAID configuration here is
there? Your BIOS boot priority order is correct? Your sure your SATA HDDs
are all properly connected to the appropriate SATA connector(s) on the
motherboard?

All harddisks are SATA.
They should be fine and connected correctly.

Has this problem just surfaced or has it arisen only after installation of
the mobile rack and/or another HDD?

I cannot remember it was after the installation of the internal mobile rack.

What happens if you remove the SATA HDD from its mobile rack and install
it as an internal HDD? Same non-recognition problem?

I will try to take off the internal mobile rack to see if the harddisk/OS
corruption will occur.

 

[Anna]

Man T responds...
I have used the Acronis to make a backup file in one of the harddisk.
However, I have no idea what to do if my C drive is corrupted. How to use
the backup file?


Man T responds...
Yes, I used the internal mobile rack that is the tray in the caddy.


Man T responds...
I have 2 mobile racks to swap between XP and Vista.
I also have 2 other 'fixed' harddisks.


Man T responds...
This is what I thought.
Because my other removable harddisk has Vista installed. I also came
across of this Vista OS corrupted just last week. I thought the two
harddisk failed at the same time is not likely.
So it may fall on the mobile rack's reason.


Man T responds...
All harddisks are SATA.
They should be fine and connected correctly.


Man T responds...
I cannot remember it was after the installation of the internal mobile
rack.


Man T responds...
I will try to take off the internal mobile rack to see if the harddisk/OS
corruption will occur.

Man T...
I'm not sure I understand the precise nature of your problem(s). It really
would be best if you would detail the exact nature of your problem(s).

But if I correctly understand you...

*Both* the XP & Vista operating systems are "corrupted" on two *different*
installations - i.e., they're installed on two different mobile racks? It's
hard to believe you're dealing with both racks being defective at the same
time although that's always a possibility (although I'm hard-pressed to
think of a single situation where that occurred in all my experience with
removable HDDs over a nearly 10-year span except in the case of a mammoth
power surge that took out the complete system).

All I can suggest at this time is that you install each HDD as a fixed
internal HDD in your system and at the same time disconnecting all other
HDDs & storage devices and see what happens.
Anna

 

[Man T]

But if I correctly understand you...

*Both* the XP & Vista operating systems are "corrupted" on two *different*
installations - i.e., they're installed on two different mobile racks?
It's hard to believe you're dealing with both racks being defective at the
same time although that's always a possibility (although I'm hard-pressed
to think of a single situation where that occurred in all my experience
with removable HDDs over a nearly 10-year span except in the case of a
mammoth power surge that took out the complete system).

All I can suggest at this time is that you install each HDD as a fixed
internal HDD in your system and at the same time disconnecting all other
HDDs & storage devices and see what happens.

Actually I got 2 harddisks, one has XP and the other has Vista installed and
each of them is put into a mobile rack. I only use either one at a time.
Yes, I'll try to put the harddisk as fixed disk and get rid of the mobile
rack.