Create Backup

[Roger]

I intend upgrade to sp3 from sp2. I have Win xp pro 7. Microsoft advise
automated backup. I have read support info on creating backup. I inserted
floppy and followed instructions for system backup. Estimated time was
around 6days to complete ? It filled floppy quickly and was asked to insert
another. At this rate I would need dozens. Any advice please on above.

Regards Roger
----------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------

 

[news.microsoft.com]

I intend upgrade to sp3 from sp2. I have Win xp pro 7. Microsoft advise
automated backup. I have read support info on creating backup. I inserted
floppy and followed instructions for system backup. Estimated time was
around 6days to complete ? It filled floppy quickly and was asked to
insert another. At this rate I would need dozens. Any advice please on
above.

Regards Roger
----------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------

You do realize even one cd is approx 400+ floppies? You also should realize
that Windows installed without any apps is usually even larger. Floppies is
not the way to go.

In practice a second hard disk is fastest and easiest, especially if it's an
external usb drive. They're pretty cheap now for one with capacity to keep
multiple backups. Other option is a DVD burner and backup to one or more
DVD's. If it's just personal stuff interested in (docs, pics, etc.) then
often that's small size and can even fit on a flash-thumb drive, memory card
if so equipped to write to one or a burned cd.

The big problem is creating the actual backup. If you are "religious" about
it and always keep your personal files (docs, pics, etc.) in ONE folder (and
sub-folders as required) it's easy to at least backup all that stuff.
Backing up Windows itself, the installed apps and all the other stuff is a
lot harder; can't fully be done just using Explorer and/or burning software
(if saving to DVD). I've personally used Acronis TrueImage to make an
"image" of my system that has worked when required. There's other software.

 

[Roger]

You do realize even one cd is approx 400+ floppies? You also should
realize that Windows installed without any apps is usually even larger.
Floppies is not the way to go.

In practice a second hard disk is fastest and easiest, especially if it's
an external usb drive. They're pretty cheap now for one with capacity to
keep multiple backups. Other option is a DVD burner and backup to one or
more DVD's. If it's just personal stuff interested in (docs, pics, etc.)
then often that's small size and can even fit on a flash-thumb drive,
memory card if so equipped to write to one or a burned cd.

The big problem is creating the actual backup. If you are "religious"
about it and always keep your personal files (docs, pics, etc.) in ONE
folder (and sub-folders as required) it's easy to at least backup all that
stuff. Backing up Windows itself, the installed apps and all the other
stuff is a lot harder; can't fully be done just using Explorer and/or
burning software (if saving to DVD). I've personally used Acronis
TrueImage to make an "image" of my system that has worked when required.
There's other software.

Thank you for input, The win tech site for "How to Re-create a Missing
Automated system recovery Floppy Disk" just refers to a Floppy!
I have MY Docs and files back up to a USB pencil drive normally. All I
wanted was a boot backup in case system went wrong on upgrade to SP3 as MS
recommends ! So Im a little blank on what to do.

Roger

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I intend upgrade to sp3 from sp2. I have Win xp pro 7. Microsoft advise
automated backup. I have read support info on creating backup. I inserted
floppy and followed instructions for system backup. Estimated time was
around 6days to complete ? It filled floppy quickly and was asked to
insert another. At this rate I would need dozens. Any advice please on
above.

Purchase and use an external hard disk drive with enough space to backup
your entire system - or at least the data you wish to drag and drop copy to
it. Or get something like a Seagate Replica that literally does all the
work for you - I recommend the 500GB version.

As for SP3 - make sure your system is cleaned up after you backup and then
install it. If you want more specific instructions on that - let us know.

 

[Jo-Anne]

Purchase and use an external hard disk drive with enough space to backup
your entire system - or at least the data you wish to drag and drop copy
to it. Or get something like a Seagate Replica that literally does all
the work for you - I recommend the 500GB version.

As for SP3 - make sure your system is cleaned up after you backup and then
install it. If you want more specific instructions on that - let us know.

A good program for imaging the entire disk is Acronis True Image. If you buy
a Western Digital external drive (and I think this applies to Seagate and
Maxtor as well), you can download a free copy of True Image, which normally
costs $25 to $50. To complete the download, you have to have the WD external
drive attached. The WD Acronis download is at

http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp?swid=119&wdc_lang=en

It's possible that the free version isn't as extensive as the paid-for one,
but it does what I need. (I bought two copies of Acronis True Image for my
other computers, and the free version I'm using on the third seems much the
same to me.)

Jo-Anne

 

[Roger]

A good program for imaging the entire disk is Acronis True Image. If you
buy a Western Digital external drive (and I think this applies to Seagate
and Maxtor as well), you can download a free copy of True Image, which
normally costs $25 to $50. To complete the download, you have to have the
WD external drive attached. The WD Acronis download is at

http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp?swid=119&wdc_lang=en

It's possible that the free version isn't as extensive as the paid-for
one, but it does what I need. (I bought two copies of Acronis True Image
for my other computers, and the free version I'm using on the third seems
much the same to me.)

Jo-Anne

Thank you all for your useful input. Also I have on second attempt
upgraded to SP3 I think I had a dropped connection during the 1st one.
I disabled my AVG anti virus and Ad-aware and defragged etc to make sure
nothing got in the way of download, it took just under an hour to complete.
I did not do any work at that time to interrupt.

Regards Roger
----------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------

 

[Daave]

I intend upgrade to sp3 from sp2. I have Win xp pro 7.

What is Win xp pro 7?

 

[Twayne]

In

I intend upgrade to sp3 from sp2. I have Win xp pro 7.
Microsoft advise automated backup. I have read support info on creating
backup. I inserted floppy and followed instructions for system backup.
Estimated time was around 6days to complete ? It filled floppy quickly
and
was asked to insert another. At this rate I would need dozens. Any advice
please on above.
Regards Roger
----------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------

Reread the instructions: Chances are excellent it's going to be a total of 5
or 6 floppies. They go with the ASR disk usually.

 

[Roger]

What is Win xp pro 7?

Oh dear, I missed the IE before 7

 

[Daave]

Oh dear, I missed the IE before 7

Now it makes sense.