System Backup

[Martin]

Hello - I want to fully backup my XP desktop to my Vista laptop. What is the
best way to move all of my applications and user files without compromising
the operating system?

Thank you,

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hello - I want to fully backup my XP desktop to my Vista laptop. What is the
best way to move all of my applications and user files without compromising
the operating system?

I'm not sure I understand what you are asking, but let me point out
that backing up applications is useless unless it's done as part of a
complete image or clone of the drive. Since all applications (except
for a rare, usually very small, trivial one) have registry entries and
other files and pointers within \Windows, application backups can't be
used unless they are part of a backup including the operating system.

 

[Dave Cohen]

I'm not sure I understand what you are asking, but let me point out
that backing up applications is useless unless it's done as part of a
complete image or clone of the drive. Since all applications (except
for a rare, usually very small, trivial one) have registry entries and
other files and pointers within \Windows, application backups can't be
used unless they are part of a backup including the operating system.

I'm assuming he means just that, a backup from which he could restore in
the event of a disaster. An image backup program is best for this. I
don't know how he intends to connect, but having just purchased one of
those wonderful little external hd's (320GB) that get their power from
the usb, I would recommend one of those. Maxtor comes with an image and
file backup software included.
Dave Cohen

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I'm assuming he means just that,

Maybe, but since he made a point of specifying "applications and user
files," I'm not at all sure of it.

a backup from which he could restore in
the event of a disaster. An image backup program is best for this. I
don't know how he intends to connect, but having just purchased one of
those wonderful little external hd's (320GB) that get their power from
the usb, I would recommend one of those. Maxtor comes with an image and
file backup software included.

My personal experience is that the best such program is Acronis True
Image.

 

[Martin]

Thank you - does this mean that if I use the Acronis to image the desktop and
restore to the laptop, i will have a mirror image of the desktop? Also, what
operating system will the laptop then utilize?

Thank you,

 

[Anthony Buckland]

Maybe, but since he made a point of specifying "applications and user
files," I'm not at all sure of it.




My personal experience is that the best such program is Acronis True
Image.

The recommendation I make, too.

However, another issue. Recently my machine was away for extended
warranty service (turned out to be a kaput power supply). I wondered,
what if my machine were totalled in some way? Theft or fire damage,
for instance. I wouldn't be able to buy an exact duplicate (it's a Sony
VAIO desktop, and they make only laptops now AFAIK). Even if I had
another brand, a replacement would likely differ in some important way
after two years. How would I deal with the discrepancies between the
hardware I was restoring to and the hardware configuration the image
was made on? You can't patch images. Might the restored file system
be so out of sync with the hardware that the replacement machine
wouldn't even be able to start? I could reinstall software I have on CD
or DVD, but I have some applications that came with the machine and
for which I have no source, and I have many for which I downloaded
the source so that I'd need to restore My Documents to reinstall them.

I have the feeling this must be a FAQ. But not one I've ever seen asked.
Thanks for any pointers.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thank you - does this mean that if I use the Acronis to image the desktop and
restore to the laptop, i will have a mirror image of the desktop?

Yes, but it won't work. The laptop will need drivers specific to it.
Moreover you would need to do at least a repair installation because
of the differences in the hardware. Worst case, you might have to do a
clean reinstallation.

As I said, "I [was not] sure I understand what you are asking," and
this is a good example. I thought you just wanted to store the backup
on the laptop, so you could later restore it back to the desktop.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

However, another issue. Recently my machine was away for extended
warranty service (turned out to be a kaput power supply). I wondered,
what if my machine were totalled in some way? Theft or fire damage,
for instance. I wouldn't be able to buy an exact duplicate (it's a Sony
VAIO desktop, and they make only laptops now AFAIK). Even if I had
another brand, a replacement would likely differ in some important way
after two years. How would I deal with the discrepancies between the
hardware I was restoring to and the hardware configuration the image
was made on? You can't patch images. Might the restored file system
be so out of sync with the hardware that the replacement machine
wouldn't even be able to start? I could reinstall software I have on CD
or DVD, but I have some applications that came with the machine and
for which I have no source, and I have many for which I downloaded
the source so that I'd need to restore My Documents to reinstall them.

Several points here:

1. The copy of Windows that presumably came with your Sony is an OEM
version. The single biggest disadvantage of an OEM version is that the
license for it is limited to the machine it was originally installed
on. You may never move it to another computer.

2. Over and above the licensing issue, the SONY OEM copy of Windows
might be BIOS-locked to the original machine, and wouldn't work on a
different one.

3. It's for the above reasons that I always recommend against OEM
copies of Windows.

 

[Daave]

Hello - I want to fully backup my XP desktop to my Vista laptop. What
is the
best way to move all of my applications and user files without
compromising
the operating system?

Please be more clear.

It appears you want your desktop PC's hard drive cloned onto your
laptop. But I might be misunderstanding. But if that's the case, your
laptop obviously will no longer be running Vista, it will be running XP.
Furthermore you won't have the necessary drivers for your laptop's
hardware, so you won't be able to use it. And since you didn't tell us
the make and model of the laptop, we can't tell you whether or not
XP-specific drivers even exist for it.

Additionally, unless your laptop has XP downgrade rights, you don't even
have a license to run XP on it!

So in your next post, please indicate exactly it is what you are
thinking of doing. Provide as much detail as possible!

 

[DL]

You cannot do what you seem to be asking, clone your system and install it
on other hardware

 

[Randem]

What I think you mean is Do you want to transfer you application, data and
settings from an old XP computer to a New Vista computer? If so the easiesr
way is thru a set of cables and software specifically designed for that
purpose. MS also has a transfer mechanism that you can use and you can save
the infor to a file then restore to teh new computer.

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
http://www.rndem.com/installerproblems.html
http://www.randem.com/vistainstalls.html
http://www.financialtrainingservices.org

 

[Jim]

Hello - I want to fully backup my XP desktop to my Vista laptop. What is the
best way to move all of my applications and user files without compromising
the operating system?

Thank you,

What happens if the Vista laptop crashes after you backup ? Any backup
- use external drive .

 

[Randem]

That is still conflicting... Did you get a new Vista computer and want to
move your XP applications and data onto the Vista computer?

This is NOT a backup...

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
http://www.rndem.com/installerproblems.html
http://www.randem.com/vistainstalls.html
http://www.financialtrainingservices.org