Mirror Image System Backup

[Bob Tyrka]

Does Microsoft have a system backup application for Windows XP Home? I have
a second hard drive and would like to back up my system in case of a main
hard drive failure.

Any recommendations?

 

[DL]

Ghost or Acronis True Image

 

[MartinX]

From http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302894/en-us:

SUMMARY
The Backup utility is not included in the default installation of Windows XP
Home Edition. The Backup icon is not present on the Start menu in Windows XP
Home Edition, nor is Backup listed in Add Remove Programs for Windows XP
Home edition.

This article describes how to install Backup, which is included on the
CD-ROM in the Valueadd folder. To use Backup, you have to install it
manually.

Note: Automated System Recovery is not a supported feature in Windows XP
Home Edition using Backup, but Backup is provided on the CD-ROM as
additional value to help back up critical system data. For additional
information, click the article number below to view the article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
302700 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302700/EN-US/) An Error Message Is
Displayed When You Attempt to Use the Automated System Recovery Wizard

Manually Install the Backup Utility
To manually install Backup:
1. Double-click the Ntbackup.msi file in the following location on the
Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM to start a wizard that installs Backup:
CD-ROM Drive:\VALUEADD\MSFT\NTBACKUP
2. When the wizard is complete, click Finish.

--------------

Does Microsoft have a system backup application for Windows XP Home? I have
a second hard drive and would like to back up my system in case of a main
hard drive failure.

Any recommendations?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Does Microsoft have a system backup application for Windows XP Home?

Yes, the same one as the one that comes with XP Professional.

Backup is installed automatically on XP Professional, but not on XP Home. If
you have the complete XP Home CD, find backup on the CD, in
\ValueAdd\MSFT\NTBACKUP and install it yourself by doubleclicking the file
ntbackup.msi.

If you don't have an XP CD, you can download ntbackup.msi at
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/software/ntbackup.msi Also see
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=302894

I have a second hard drive and would like to back up my system in
case of a main hard drive failure.

Be aware that hard drive failure is only one of the many dangers to your
data. A good backup scheme should be designed not only to protect you
against hard drive failure, but also things like user error, severe power
glitches, nearby lightning strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the
computer.

Any recommendations?

As backup applications go, the one which comes with Windows XP is probably
the poorest choice available. Almost any third-party choice is preferable. I
personally like Acronis True Image.

 

[Bob Tyrka]

Thanks for your suggestions. I'll explore them and report back. RHT

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks for your suggestions. I'll explore them and report back. RHT

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[Bob Tyrka]

Insofar as I have a thumb drive with an incremental backup system for
important files, I only need a mirror image backup of my system that would
need to be updated infrequently, so I thought I would start with Microsoft's
'free' application.

However, when I open up the CD with XP Home on it, there is no choice for
Ntbackup.msi file in either Install Optional Windows Components or Perform
Additional Tasks. If I select Install Windows XP to see if it is hidden
there I get the message that it would not begin to install because the
version on the computer is later than the version on the CD (apparently
SP2).

What do you suggest?

 

[AJR]

Note "> This article describes how to install Backup, which is included on
the > CD-ROM in the Valueadd folder. To use Backup, you have to install it>
manually." regarding backup

Regarding newer version of OS - the instilled OS has SP2 instilled - the CD
you are trying to use does not. BTW has nothing to do with backup - again
note "valueadd folder included on the CD".

 

[Rock]

Insofar as I have a thumb drive with an incremental backup system for
important files, I only need a mirror image backup of my system that would
need to be updated infrequently, so I thought I would start with
Microsoft's 'free' application.

However, when I open up the CD with XP Home on it, there is no choice for
Ntbackup.msi file in either Install Optional Windows Components or Perform
Additional Tasks. If I select Install Windows XP to see if it is hidden
there I get the message that it would not begin to install because the
version on the computer is later than the version on the CD (apparently
SP2).

Ntbackup is not installed by default in XP Home. Look on the installation
CD in the \MSFT\ValueADD\Ntbackup folder. It's called ntbackup.msi or
download it from here:
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/windowsxp_tips.htm#backup_home

Ntbackup is not a disk imaging program. It has an Automated System Recovery
feature (ASR) but that is only available in XP Pro, not Home, and is very
awkward to use anyway. You are much better off using something like Acronis
True Image.

 

[Bob Tyrka]

Not only is Windows Backup the poorest choice for use with XP Home, it's not
a choice at all. After downloading the exe. as recommended by a few people,
I installed it and discovered that it would not work at all with XP
Home--"The files for the recovery diskette could not be created. The
operation was aborted."

The confused and confusing instructions by Microsoft about this only adds to
one's dismay about Windows.

 

[Rock]

Not only is Windows Backup the poorest choice for use with XP Home, it's
not a choice at all. After downloading the exe. as recommended by a few
people, I installed it and discovered that it would not work at all with
XP Home--"The files for the recovery diskette could not be created. The
operation was aborted."

The confused and confusing instructions by Microsoft about this only adds
to one's dismay about Windows.

That's correct, the ASR function does not work in XP Home.