Complete backup

N

Norman Stein

Hello

I used the windows XP utility to backup the entire system onto an
external hard drive. It worked fine. Then I was prompted to insert a
diskette so as to have an emergeny boot diskette which I though would,
in an emergency, enable me to boot from the external drive. When I
tried to do so, however, I got a messge which prompted me to remove
the diskette. So how do I use my backup copy to restore the system in
an emergency?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Norman Stein
 
M

Mark Adams

Norman Stein said:
Hello

I used the windows XP utility to backup the entire system onto an
external hard drive. It worked fine. Then I was prompted to insert a
diskette so as to have an emergeny boot diskette which I though would,
in an emergency, enable me to boot from the external drive. When I
tried to do so, however, I got a messge which prompted me to remove
the diskette. So how do I use my backup copy to restore the system in
an emergency?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Norman Stein
Click to expand...
Use Acronis True Image. Much easier to use and more reliable.
 
J

JS

Image Backup software mentioned below
is a much more reliable a probably faster
way to backup your PC.

Norton Ghost version 14 - has a 30 day trial available
(Trial does not allow you to create a Bootable Restore CD AFAIK)
http://www.symantec.com/norton/products/overview.jsp?pcid=br&pvid=ghost14
User's Guide:
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/products/ghost/14/manuals/ngh_14_user_guide.pdf

Product Review "Symantec's 14th Ghost":
http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/windows/Norton-Ghost--Review-78775.shtml

True Image 2009 - has a 15 day trial version available,
(Create a Restore/Rescue Media CD before you start)
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/
User's Guide: http://us1.download.acronis.com/pdf/TrueImage12_ug.en.pdf

Product Review Acronis True Image Home 2009:
http://www.brighthub.com/computing/windows-platform/reviews/16045.aspx
 
J

Jim

Norman Stein said:
Hello

I used the windows XP utility to backup the entire system onto an
external hard drive. It worked fine. Then I was prompted to insert a
diskette so as to have an emergeny boot diskette which I though would,
in an emergency, enable me to boot from the external drive. When I
tried to do so, however, I got a messge which prompted me to remove
the diskette. So how do I use my backup copy to restore the system in
an emergency?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Norman Stein
Click to expand...
What you do is first put the floppy in the drive. Then, set the CD to be
the first choice in the boot.
Next, find your XP installation disk and put it in the drive.
Then, shutdown and boot from the CD.
Eventually, you will be given the choice of restore from backup or install.
Choose restore and off you go.

And, what you might ask, happens if you do not have an installation disk?
The quick answer is that you cannot use ntbackup for this purpose.
I know that BartPE can read backup files generated by ntbackup. However,
what I don't know is whether you can use BartPE to restore an entire disk or
not.

I know that I can restore entire disks from a backup made by ATI because I
have done this.

Jim
 
T

Tim Meddick

Norman,
Just to clarify a little. MS Backup is not really useful if
your OS (Operating System) is not functioning and you cannot boot into
Windows to use the Backup facility. Using the ASR (Automated System
Recovery) floppy disk, you were referring to, will only allow you to restore
the OS in conjunction with the ORIGINAL INSTALLATION CD
Using 'Disk Imaging' or 'Disk Cloning' software (two slightly different
things) is a lot more functional and more simple method of backup which has
become very popular recently. Disk Imaging - refers to a method of backup
which copies the drive or partition specified as the target to a single
Image File. It is from which, using bootable media with the corresponding
RESTORE half of the software, that the drive or partition is restored.
Disk Cloning - is similar, but instead of storing the data as a single
compressed volume, copies the drive / partition to another physical drive as
a partition on that drive. The advantage of this is that you can access the
files within the copied volume if the need arises to restore one or more
individual files at the same time as being able to restore the drive or
partition in it's entirety. This method also uses a system backup software
and bootable media with corresponding restore software on it.

==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.
 
N

Norman Stein

What you do is first put the floppy in the drive. Then, set the CD to be
the first choice in the boot.
Next, find your XP installation disk and put it in the drive.
Then, shutdown and boot from the CD.
Eventually, you will be given the choice of restore from backup or install.
Choose restore and off you go.

And, what you might ask, happens if you do not have an installation disk?
The quick answer is that you cannot use ntbackup for this purpose.
I know that BartPE can read backup files generated by ntbackup. However,
what I don't know is whether you can use BartPE to restore an entire disk or
not.

I know that I can restore entire disks from a backup made by ATI because I
have done this.

Jim
Click to expand...

Thanks Jim for your very helpful advice and thanks to the others who
responded. However I still have a question. My thought is that some
day my hard drive may fail and then I'd want to be able to use the
backup. But I won't be able to turn on the PC to change the BIOS so as
to boot first from the CD. I also don't want to change it now to do
that. So is there a way around?

Norman
 
N

Norman Stein

Thanks Jim for the helpful info and thanks to the others who
responded. But I still have a question. In case my hard drive fails
I'd like to be able to use the backup to restore the system or be able
to boot from the Windows CD. But I don't want to set the BIOS now to
boot first from a CD. And if I haven't done that, how can I start up
once my hard drive has failed?

Thanks again for any advice you can give me.

Norman
 
R

R. McCarty

The lack of a bootable hard disk doesn't prevent you from accessing
the BIOS setup. Many recent computers provide for a key press that
brings up a "One Time" boot device option. This doesn't change how
the PC normally boots. Consult your owner's manual to see if your PC
provides that capability.
 
T

Tim Meddick

Norman,
You can always set the BIOS now to boot from cd as the FIRST
option - many computers are set up so that the cd-rom is the first boot
device. Yu just have to remember NOT to have a bootable cd in the drive
when you start the PC!! Having a normal (non-bootable) cd-rom in the drive
will NOT affect the boot sequence from just selecting the next valid
bootable device which would be the hard-drive your OS is on. However,
having the hard-drive or Operating System fail on you will NOT PREVENT YOU
FROM ENTERING THE BIOS SETUP program and setting the order of boot devices
then rather than now. The BIOS setup program is hard-written onto the chip
that starts your system, does the power on self-test (POST), and looks for
the device with an operating system on it. BIOS stands for Basic Input -
Output System, and is (has to be) independent of your installed Operating
System (XP).


==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.
 
D

db

if I'm not mistaken,

the ability to restore the
backup can occur after
the original o.s. has been
reinstalled onto the disk.

--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
B

bobster

Tim,

Sorry to bust in on Norman's question but since you are a brit, I have a
question for you regarding a UK freeware disk imaging backup program called
Macrium Reflect. I have played around with it for a few days and it seems
very simple and user friendly. Do you have any knowledge of this program.
If so, what is your opinion?

I have used Acronis True Image Home 2009 and returned it to the supplier for
a refund because it was difficult to use and unreliable, and I avoid
anything with Norton or Symantec in the title.

TIA

============================================================
Norman,
Just to clarify a little. MS Backup is not really useful if
your OS (Operating System) is not functioning and you cannot boot into
Windows to use the Backup facility. Using the ASR (Automated System
Recovery) floppy disk, you were referring to, will only allow you to restore
the OS in conjunction with the ORIGINAL INSTALLATION CD
Using 'Disk Imaging' or 'Disk Cloning' software (two slightly different
things) is a lot more functional and more simple method of backup which has
become very popular recently. Disk Imaging - refers to a method of backup
which copies the drive or partition specified as the target to a single
Image File. It is from which, using bootable media with the corresponding
RESTORE half of the software, that the drive or partition is restored.
Disk Cloning - is similar, but instead of storing the data as a single
compressed volume, copies the drive / partition to another physical drive as
a partition on that drive. The advantage of this is that you can access the
files within the copied volume if the need arises to restore one or more
individual files at the same time as being able to restore the drive or
partition in it's entirety. This method also uses a system backup software
and bootable media with corresponding restore software on it.

==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.
 
T

Tim Meddick

Not much use if you can't find the original XP cd-rom! MS-Backup creates an
ASR floppy that still requires the cd-rom to restore the OS.


==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.
 
T

Terry R.

The date and time was Monday, May 04, 2009 10:34:09 AM, and on a whim,
db pounded out on the keyboard:
if I'm not mistaken,

the ability to restore the
backup can occur after
the original o.s. has been
reinstalled onto the disk.
Click to expand...

That's correct. MS Backup is restored after the OS has been
reinstalled.. I've done it a couple times. Not a big issue unless the
user doesn't have an install CD.


Terry R.
 
T

Tim Meddick

Hi boobster,
I am not familiar with the software you mention.
However, having 'googled' the name, it seems to me to be very much like a
lot of 'Disk Imaging' software that creates an 'Image File' of a drive or
partition. Then the software enables you to create a bootable cd-rom with a
version of LINUX OS on it providing a PE environment to restore your 'Image
File' in (PE is Preinstall Environment as in "Barts PE Builder" provides an
operating system that can boot straight from a cd-rom in order to perform
procedures for OS installation or restore. see also "LIVE CD") It seems
quite a good one by the looks of it (*NB SEEMS and LOOKS as I repeat, I
haven't tried it, yet) But I will look into it as I have discovered a free
version of it available from the manufacturers at::

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

Personally, I like to simply 'clone' my hard drive, as I have twin
physical disks and find it easier to do. I just use the software (I use
Clone Maxx - free software that fits onto a single floppy) to make an exact
copy of one drive to the other. I also find it convenient to have access to
all the individual files in the backup. The same floppy disk can, of
course, be used to copy the backup drive back to the first.

==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.
 
B

BillW50

In Tim Meddick typed on Mon, 4 May 2009 19:27:28 +0100:
Hi boobster,
I am not familiar with the software you mention.
However, having 'googled' the name, it seems to me to be very much
like a lot of 'Disk Imaging' software that creates an 'Image File' of
a drive or partition. Then the software enables you to create a
bootable cd-rom with a version of LINUX OS on it providing a PE
environment to restore your 'Image File' in (PE is Preinstall
Environment as in "Barts PE Builder" provides an operating system
that can boot straight from a cd-rom in order to perform procedures
for OS installation or restore. see also "LIVE CD") It seems quite
a good one by the looks of it (*NB SEEMS and LOOKS as I repeat, I
haven't tried it, yet) But I will look into it as I have discovered a
free version of it available from the manufacturers at::
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

Personally, I like to simply 'clone' my hard drive, as I have
twin physical disks and find it easier to do. I just use the
software (I use Clone Maxx - free software that fits onto a single
floppy) to make an exact copy of one drive to the other. I also find
it convenient to have access to all the individual files in the
backup. The same floppy disk can, of course, be used to copy the
backup drive back to the first.
Click to expand...

I even have used BartPE and the file manager to copy all of the files
and folders. And then to restore, copy them back. I have had no problems
using this method except for MS Works v9 won't run after a restore.
Never did figure that one out. Everything else worked great though. <g>
 
U

Unknown

Have you ever tried that?
WaIIy said:
Norman,

I use "Casper" backing up to an external hard drive in an enclosure.

If my main drive poops out, I replace it with the backup drive.

No muss, no fuss.
Click to expand...
 
O

Old Codger \(NM\)

Ghost has saved my butt numerous times, especially when doing beta testing.
Never failed me.

Old Codger
= = =
"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your
Christ."
-- Mohandas Ghandi (1869 - 1948)
= = =
 
T

Tim Meddick

Wally,
I too like to have a disk ready for immediate use should my OS
go down. Having twin HDs of equal size makes it easy for me to clone one to
the other. However, I use a really small (and free) program that can fit on
one floppy called Clone Maxx. If my main drive fails, I just swap them
round in the BIOS and I'm up and online again in five minutes. After which,
at my leisure, I can use the software to copy the backup to the first HD
again. I recommend it's simplicity and all round ease of use.
It comes in the form of a Self-Extracting Executable floppy disk
image which, when run, writes the Clone Maxx program to a floppy which is
then bootable. Once you have booted from the floppy and selected your
language, you are simply required to select the source and target drives
....and away you go!

The software can be obtained at:

http://www.pcinspector.de/clone-maxx/uk/welcome.htm


==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.
 

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