Problem Creating Automated System Recovery in Windows XP Pro

[Guest]

H
I was Trying to Set up/Create and Use Automated System Recovery in Windows XP Pro

I Followed This article in Micosoft Help and Support: (How to Set up and Use Automated System Recovery in Windows XP)
This article describes how to set up and use Automated System Recovery in Windows XP. ASR which is a two–part system of recovery: ASR backup and ASR restore.
So I open Backup ( Ntbackup), Then Advanced Mode, Then Tool Menu, Then ASR Wizard. I followed the instructions that appeared on The screen. I Clicked NEXT without putting check marks on anything and, I inserted a blank 1.44 megabyte (MB) floppy disk to save my system settings and media to contain the backup files. I started the Back Up Then A Pop Up Message Said: Finished , I Clicked OK, Then I saw an other wizard just started and some kind of Transfering of Files and Folders and Stuff has started .. I never Put Check Marks On those files to be transfered!! It Says It Needs 3 Days and 7 hours to Finish ,, Then It Asked Me To Insert The Second Floopy To continue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought One Floopy is Enough to Create a good system failure Back Up !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then I Found about 25 MG of stuff in C:\Windows\Repair. Its Confusing, and The Most Confusing Part is This One
In Same Article, It says
To recover from a system failure using Automated System Recovery
Make sure you have the following items before you begin the recovery procedure:
Your previously created Automated System Recovery (ASR) floppy disk.
Your previously created backup media.
The original operating system installation C

1- What Is ((((((The previously created backup media.))))))) Where Are They?? Can Any One Tell Me Please ???????????? I Don't Know ,, I Never Created One and, I never was asked to Create One. Are They Included In The Back up Process
2- Should I delete The 25 MB Of stuff That been Created in The C:\Windows\Repair Folder ???????? Or What ?
3- SOOOOOOOOOO How To Do A Proper One Of This System Failure Floopy Disk Back Up (Just In Case)......
4- Do I need To Change Any Settings Here and There In Order To Get It Done Right ???????(Am I Missing Something Here
Because It Seems That Ny System Is Set to Do A Full Files and Folders BackUp !!!!) How Can I Find out?

Your Help, Support, and Advice are Appreciated

Please Take A look at The Report
Backup Statu
Operation: Backu
Active backup destination: Fil
Media name: "Backup.bkf created 4/2/2004 at 1:31 PM
Error returned while creating the volume shadow copy:8004230
Reverting to non-shadow copy backup mode
Backup of "C:
Backup set #1 on media #
Backup description: "
Media name: "Backup.bkf created 4/2/2004 at 1:31 PM
Backup Type: Cop
Backup started on 4/2/2004 at 1:33 PM
The operation was ended
Backup completed on 4/2/2004 at 1:35 PM
Directories:
Files:
Bytes: 1,700,69
Time: 1 minute and 16 second
Thank
Janet

 

[Sharon F]

It Says It Needs 3 Days and 7 hours to Finish ,, Then It Asked Me To
Insert The Second Floopy To continue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I

You elected to create the backup on floppy disks. Run the wizard again.
This time read the screens.

 

[Guest]

Sharo
Sorry I Didn't Understand !
What You Mean ?
Can you be More Specific,, With Some Details Please
Thank
Janet

 

[Sharon F]

You elected to create the backup on floppy disks. Run the wizard again.
This time read the screens.

Your original post said you just clicked through the screens. There is one
that asks where you want to locate the main portion of the ASR set. You
need to select a location - I use a second hard drive. The data set is
created and then the utility has me make a single floppy disk.

When you ran the tool, you (inadvertently) selected to place the entire ASR
set (the main backup and a single ASR floppy) onto floppy disk. That's why
you ended up with a "3 days and 7 hours" estimate for getting the ASR set
created.

Run the ASR tool again. Pay attention to the screens this time.

 

[Guest]

back up media could be like a cdrw, dvdrom, tape......etc u create an asr floppy that u will use when the system needs to be recovered.... the wizard that started next was backing up your files.. ie picture and stuff..... so that if u ever crash use the disk and it will prompt u for the backup disk and also at a point the installation cd...
U elected to have your backup on floppies thats is why time frame is that larger go through the process again and read the options again and see

 

[Guest]

Sharo
Hi Agai
Sorry for getting You confused
It's my mistake.. I was confused and I didn't know what I was doing
I Finally Got It, and I know how to do it now
But,I still have Two questions to ask You in this Regard
(1) - Which File/Folder/Drive I should Back up,, in other word : What should I select to put (Check Mark) ?
Every Thing on My Computer,,, or, Hard Drive C ,,,(I Only Have One Hard Drive) or, Files and Folders, My Document ,and Users,,, OR, I Only SHOULD PUT A CHECK MARK ON : SYSTEM STATE??( What Does System State Means ?? Or What ??? You Tell Me Please What Do I Really Need To Back Up that if I Just Want To Use The Floopy Disk To Start The System In Case Of System Failure ?

(2) - Can I save The Back Up File On My Hard Drive C:/ Program Files ,,,, or ,, On Drive M:/ On A CD,,, Or what and Where?? You Tell Me Please
Again I'm Sorry,, Im kind of slo
Thanks For Been Patient with m
Jane

 

[Sharon F]

Sharon
Hi Again
Sorry for getting You confused.
It's my mistake.. I was confused and I didn't know what I was doing.
I Finally Got It, and I know how to do it now.
But,I still have Two questions to ask You in this Regard:
(1) - Which File/Folder/Drive I should Back up,, in other word : What should I select to put (Check Mark) ??
Every Thing on My Computer,,, or, Hard Drive C ,,,(I Only Have One Hard Drive) or, Files and Folders, My Document ,and Users,,, OR, I Only SHOULD PUT A CHECK MARK ON : SYSTEM STATE??( What Does System State Means ?? Or What ??? You Tell Me Please What Do I Really Need To Back Up that if I Just Want To Use The Floopy Disk To Start The System In Case Of System Failure ??

(2) - Can I save The Back Up File On My Hard Drive C:/ Program Files ,,,, or ,, On Drive M:/ On A CD,,, Or what and Where?? You Tell Me Please.
Again I'm Sorry,, Im kind of slow
Thanks For Been Patient with me

Since you have only one hard drive, you have another problem that you're
not aware of yet. You will not be able to restore the system with your ASR
backup. This is a limitation due to how the program works. Explanation in
this article:

ASR Restore Procedure Does Not Succeed When You Specify Drive C as the Destination for the Backup File
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298278&Product=winxp

Do you have a CD burner or DVD burner? If yes, consider other backup
alternatives.

Something to consider when devising a backup plan:
The most important thing to backup is your personal data files. If your
hard drive was to fail tomorrow (and it can happen that quickly), you would
be able to reinstall programs and even Windows from their original CDs.

You cannot reinstall your data but it can be restored from backup files.
These backups might be something as simple as file copies (direct copying
of files to other media). Or the backups are created and maintained by
backup software.

How far you want to go with backing up the operating system and program
files is up to you. You can recover these things by reinstalling them from
their original media. Or in the interest of saving time and effort, you
could create "disaster recovery backups" of the system --or-- the system
and installed programs.

Some suggestions:
--NT Backup could be used for backups of your personal data files. If
working with a CDR or CDRW, select a group of folders and files that will
fit onto a single CD.

--Third party backup programs can split a group of files over multiple CDs.
BackUp My PC is a nice data backup program available from www.stompsoft.om

--"Imaging" programs can create an image (byte for byte copy) of selected
drives or selected folders.

Example:
I use Image for Windows (www.terabyteunlimited.com) and my DVD burner to
create system images. The DVD created by the program is bootable and can
restore the main hard drive that holds Windows within 20 minutes. A new
image is created every week to stay abreast of updates and other minute
changes to the operating system.

I use the same program to back up my data partitions (since you have only a
C: drive, you would back up data folders instead of data partitions). This
is done at least once a week. And whenever I have done a lot of file work.

 

[Guest]

Dear Sharo
I don't know How To Thank You For That Detailed Reply
That was more than enough
I Know What To Do Now.
Yes I do Have CDR and CDRW, I would use this option to back up my Data at least
Thanks
Have a Nice Weeken
Peace
Janet

 

[Sharon F]

Dear Sharon
I don't know How To Thank You For That Detailed Reply.
That was more than enough.
I Know What To Do Now..
Yes I do Have CDR and CDRW, I would use this option to back up my Data at least.
Thanks.
Have a Nice Weekend
Peace.
Janet

You're most welcome, Janet and good luck with whatever path you choose for
backing up!