Hard drive backup

[Nosleepfred]

I have "intermediate (what ever that means) computer experience. At present,
I do not have a personal problem to post. I do however, have a friend that
uses a dial-up connection that needs to get copies of Microsoft's SP3 and the
various updates that have come out. I personally use MSN with fairly fast
downloads. How can I download everything (files, updates, ????) that he will
need in case he has to ever reformat his hard drive? I have an external HD
for my personal computers but he does not want to have to buy an external HD,
soooo, what are his/my options? Appreciate any help you all can send my way.
Thanks, Nosleepfred

 

[Erwin Moller]

Nosleepfred schreef:

I have "intermediate (what ever that means) computer experience. At present,
I do not have a personal problem to post. I do however, have a friend that
uses a dial-up connection that needs to get copies of Microsoft's SP3 and the
various updates that have come out. I personally use MSN with fairly fast
downloads. How can I download everything (files, updates, ????) that he will
need in case he has to ever reformat his hard drive? I have an external HD
for my personal computers but he does not want to have to buy an external HD,
soooo, what are his/my options? Appreciate any help you all can send my way.
Thanks, Nosleepfred

Back it up on YOUR external HD?
Seriously, if he doesn't want to invest in a cheap external HD, how can
he ever make backups?

And if he stores the backups on the same HD, he'll risk a HD failure,
which will also come to him sooner or later, even if you make different
partitions.
So buy a cheap external HD.

I also invested a little money into Acronis software, that works great
for me so far. It is able to complely backup your HD without much
hassle. (No, I don't work for them)

Regards,
Erwin Moller

--
"There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to
make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the
other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious
deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult."
-- C.A.R. Hoare

 

[Big_Al]

I have "intermediate (what ever that means) computer experience. At present,
I do not have a personal problem to post. I do however, have a friend that
uses a dial-up connection that needs to get copies of Microsoft's SP3 and the
various updates that have come out. I personally use MSN with fairly fast
downloads. How can I download everything (files, updates, ????) that he will
need in case he has to ever reformat his hard drive? I have an external HD
for my personal computers but he does not want to have to buy an external HD,
soooo, what are his/my options? Appreciate any help you all can send my way.
Thanks, Nosleepfred

You can download Windows XP SP3 and burn it to a CD. I'm sure he has a
CD that works. This will bring his PC somewhat up to date. You can
even download Windows Media Player 11 and IE 7 if you want as they are
optional installs beyond SP3.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en
And it depends on what original XP CD he has if you need SP1a or SP2
before SP3. If he has XP Gold, meaning the original XP with Zero
patches, then you need at least SP1a or SP2 before SP3. All of these
can be found on www.microsoft.com downloads.

But the updates after SP3 you could try to download but I don't think
its logical. I think he can just go them over the dial up.

There is also the point of Drivers for his PC. But one would have to
know his PC make and model first. He should have his XP cd as well
as all the drivers from the original manufacturer. I got all of my
dell drivers on a CD from them when mine was bought, and have even
downloaded them from the dell site. But that's me.

 

[beamish]

I have "intermediate (what ever that means) computer experience. At present,
I do not have a personal problem to post. I do however, have a friend that
uses a dial-up connection that needs to get copies of Microsoft's SP3 and the
various updates that have come out. I personally use MSN with fairly fast
downloads. How can I download everything (files, updates, ????) that he will
need in case he has to ever reformat his hard drive? I have an external HD
for my personal computers but he does not want to have to buy an external HD,
soooo, what are his/my options? Appreciate any help you all can send my way.
Thanks, Nosleepfred

Hello,
It is also possible,(besides downloading SP3), to have Microsoft send a SP3
disc, there is only a charge for shipping.
Your friend can list all the files needed "after SP3" by KB number.
You can go to: http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Home.aspx
Use the search window, place a KB number and click go. Pick the file needed
from the list presented for your friends computer. Placed them in the basket
until you have all the files, then download to a folder.
These are .exe files in individual folders, remove from the individual
folder and place in a single folder.
Can be burned to CD or installed on a flash drive, then transferred to a
computer.
For future use the OS, SP3 and the updates can be slipstreamed, (to a
bootable Cd), using n-Lite.
http://www.nliteos.com/index.html
take care.
beamish.