Getting an up to date windows disk?

[Guest]

I have Windows xp sp2 installed on my computer. I got sp2 from windows
update. In the past I have tried to do a repair with my original cd (xp
sp1). It will tell me that I am running a newer version of windows and it
can not continue. Is there a way to get an updated cd with sp2, without
buying a whole new one? I have no problems right now, just would like to
have for future problems I might run into. TIA for any help.

 

[AJR]

Add SP2 to your XP CD via "slipstreaming" ()check on google).

 

[nesredep egrob]

I have Windows xp sp2 installed on my computer. I got sp2 from windows
update. In the past I have tried to do a repair with my original cd (xp
sp1). It will tell me that I am running a newer version of windows and it
can not continue. Is there a way to get an updated cd with sp2, without
buying a whole new one? I have no problems right now, just would like to
have for future problems I might run into. TIA for any help.

May I suggest that you invest in an Acronis True Image Program. You can then
make an image of Drive C: which contains your operating system. That way you can
get back to xp+sp2 whenever you are in trouble. You will also get the updates
you have had since the start.

A good idea is to let the computer run after an update for a week or 10 days
before making another image and then keep the last 2-3 images on hand.

You can slipstream SP2 to a home made copy of XP but then you are right back to
the very start again. Not really a good way to reciver from a disaster.

Borge in sunny Perth, Australia

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

You have 2 choices.

Perform the repair install and then install SP2 again.

Create a new slipstreamed XP SP2 installation disk.

How do I create a slipstreamed XP SP2 disk?
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_create_a_slipstream_cd.htm

 

[Guest]

So if I create a backup image of my hard drive, and I have 20gigs of space
used, does that mean I will need 5 DVD's to do the back up?

 

[JS]

For slipstreaming see:
AutoStreamer, it easy to use and for the most part self explanatory
Download Site:
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=223562

For image backups, I use Ghost, which gives about 50% compression.
20GB of used space would create about a 10GB image file.

JS

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

A program that makes an image of the OS can be used to take the system back to a certain time when everything was working well, like immediately after a clean install when you have everything configured properly. With an image, you lose everything that has been created sime the last image was created. An imaging program should always be supplemented with a more frequent, incremental backup using the same program or another program that simply backs up newly created files.

However, this is different from a Repair install that you first mentioned. A repair install simply repairs any problems with the OS without disturbing any data or programs that are installed, so in theory you would not lose any work.

 

[nesredep egrob]

So if I create a backup image of my hard drive, and I have 20gigs of space
used, does that mean I will need 5 DVD's to do the back up?

I certainly would not - I do not allow many program on my C: drive. Only the
ones that will not install on D:, Therefore I have a max use of 4-5 GB on my
10GB partition. That is stored on a USB2 hard drive which works far quicker than
any DVD written images.
Well worth investing in now that the price of Hard Drives have hit rock Bottom,
like 250 GB Western Digital at Aus $ 118 + app $ 59 for a USB2 case.

Borge in sunny Perth, Australia

 

[nesredep egrob]

A program that makes an image of the OS can be used to take the system back to a certain time when everything was working well, like immediately after a clean install when you have everything configured properly. With an image, you lose everything that has been created sime the last image was created. An imaging program should always be supplemented with a more frequent, incremental backup using the same program or another program that simply backs up newly created files.

However, this is different from a Repair install that you first mentioned. A repair install simply repairs any problems with the OS without disturbing any data or programs that are installed, so in theory you would not lose any work.

If you make sure to keep the C: drive mainly for the OS, there should not be any
bother with using an image 2-3 weeks old


Borge in sunny Perth, Australia

 

[Guest]

Thank you everyone for your input. It has been a lot of help.