Is a backup copy of windows folder on same partition a useful recoverytrick?

[Jeff W]

Hi - an old WIN98SE trick I use is to do a weekly xcopy32 of the
\windows folder to \winstor on the same partition. Then, if I can't
boot (windows somehow corrupted), I boot to safe mode DOS, rename the
\windows folder to \winbad, and rename \winstor to \windows, and reboot,
and at least I'm up and running again. The actualy xcopy32 is
automatically scheduled.

I intend to stay wih FAT32.

Is this a useful trick for XP Home? . I know I would have to boot off
of floppy or CD ROM to do the rename, but is it a valid recovery mechanism?
thanks
/j

 

[Don MI]

Hi - an old WIN98SE trick I use is to do a weekly xcopy32 of the
\windows folder to \winstor on the same partition. Then, if I can't
boot (windows somehow corrupted), I boot to safe mode DOS, rename the
\windows folder to \winbad, and rename \winstor to \windows, and reboot,
and at least I'm up and running again. The actualy xcopy32 is
automatically scheduled.

I intend to stay wih FAT32.

Is this a useful trick for XP Home? . I know I would have to boot off
of floppy or CD ROM to do the rename, but is it a valid recovery
mechanism?
thanks
/j

IMO, no.

Windows XP already creates System Restore files {if you have it turned on}
and maintains a last good configuration. Either will do what you suggest.

IMO, better to get an image program and maintain a current image of known
good system.

Don

 

[Jeff W]

This is in addition to a backup. Something to do if your system wont
boot (so you cant get at the System Restore files)

 

[D.Currie]

Sounds like an idea, as long as the "not booting" problem is related to
something in the Windows folder.

 

[Don MI]

This is in addition to a backup. Something to do if your system wont
boot (so you cant get at the System Restore files)

If your system does not boot, Windows XP offers you the choice to boot to
the last known good configuration. { I am assuming that the failure to boot
is not due to a hard drive hardware failure.}

If you can boot to Safe Mode, you can do a System Restore.

If the above do not apply, your system is likely so messed up that you best
restore your latest good image.

Don

 

[Jeff W]

yes - but isn't it helpful to have an old 'image' (at least of the
windows directory) right there so it can be 'restored' with a simple
pair of renames?

or am i missing something?
/j

 

[D.Currie]

It will work for some situations, but not all. If you've got another backup,
that's fine, but I wouldn't recommend it as the only solution. For example,
a virus could easily infect both directories.

I guess it only matters if it's helpful to you or not, though. For me, I see
no point in it. It just doesn't seem worth the bother for the few times it
would do any good -- and there are other ways to handle those situations,
anyway. I'm more concerned with backing up data than I am with backing up
the operating system.

 

[Jeff W]

this is in addition to all other backups - under 98 it was attractive
because if the machine wouldn't boot, I could swap folders and be up in
seconds...

IF it works - which was my original qn


/j