How to back up all system and files on a DVD

[Lou]

I have a computer with Windows XP and a DVD burner. is
there a way to back up the contents of the entire hard
drive into DVD?. I've tried the System tools, but the
backup utility does not appear in there, and I had a very
bad experience when I lost my hard drive and all its
contents.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Betty]

Hi Lou;
From what I've read here, if you are running XP Home, the
only way to back up to DVD is with a 3rd party program
such as Norton Ghost or something similar. I don't know
if the same applies to XP Pro though.
Hope this helps.
Betty

 

[Lou]

-----Original Message-----
I have a computer with Windows XP and a DVD burner. is
there a way to back up the contents of the entire hard
drive into DVD?. I've tried the System tools, but the
backup utility does not appear in there, and I had a very
bad experience when I lost my hard drive and all its
contents.

Thanks for your help.
.
For backup utility insert xp cd / Perform additionsl

task / browse this cd / value added thats where you will
find backup utility you can install. I believe Pro will
give you option of making bootable cd. If you don't have
pro see post one page back 11:16 11-18-2003. Hope this
helps.

 

[group.post1]

One of the things I've tried testing after my recent
harddrive crash, is whether or not I could restore from
DVD. The answer is "No.". So, even if you succeed in
writing a backup to your DVD, you won't be able to
restore from it. (Or if you do find a way to make this
work, _Please_ tell me about it!).

 

[Rick]

Have you tried Norton Ghost2003 ?

One of the things I've tried testing after my recent
harddrive crash, is whether or not I could restore from
DVD. The answer is "No.". So, even if you succeed in
writing a backup to your DVD, you won't be able to
restore from it. (Or if you do find a way to make this
work, _Please_ tell me about it!).

 

[Old Geek]

Drive image 7.01 allows you to image to, and restore from, a CD or a DVD.

 

[Alex Nichol]

One of the things I've tried testing after my recent
harddrive crash, is whether or not I could restore from
DVD. The answer is "No.". So, even if you succeed in
writing a backup to your DVD, you won't be able to
restore from it. (Or if you do find a way to make this
work, _Please_ tell me about it!).

Depends on how you make the backup image. I use 'Image for Windows' or
BootIT NG, from http://www.BootitNG.com ($35 shareware - 30 day full
functional trial) which are essentially the same burning engine - you
can image with the one and restore with the other. Image is faster, but
you cannot readily and safely image the partition you are running from.
With that, provided you use its settings to 'burn extra track' and 'use
alternate CD close' you get a DVD that works fine for restoration -
indeed if made with Image it can be self-booting to do so