XP Backup Utility

[Guest]

Hi!....... I've just created a small partition on my hdd for backup purposes
only, and created a backup image using the XP Backup Utility. Now lets say
for arguements sake I accidently formatted my c-drive but still had the
backup image on my other partition, could I install everything from that
backup image including installing windows?
And if not, are there other third party utilities that do, like Norton Ghost
v9.0.
Basically I want a 1 stop fix that installs everything, Windows, drivers,
settings.....etc

 

[Blane]

You mentioned that you created a backup image with the XP backup utility.
This utility does not create an "image", rather it backs up the directories
and files that you tell it to back up. It is not a full backup of your
system and all system files that you can just use to restore the system.
There is one more step in the process called a System State Backup.

I would recommend performing a System State Backup using the XP Backup
utility with the ASR (Automated System Restore) option. ASR will allow for
you to restore your system to the backup state by using hte Windows XP
installation media, a floppy disk, and your backup set. By using ASR
correctly you can return your system rather quickly to the state it was in
at the time of the backup.

The following site helps explain the ASR technology, methodsa and procedures

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us
/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prdg_d
sm_ugql.asp

Best regards,
Blane Clark


This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
You assume all risk for your use.
(C) 2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved

 

[Guest]

thankyou Blain, much appreciated.
The reason I'm after a 1 stop fix is because I've lost my WinXp Pro disc and
I dont wanna have to buy another one, so I want a Backup utility that will
Backup everything I have installed on my computer now and restore everything,
especially Windows.
Are you familiar with Norton Ghost v 9.0, and can I do such a task with that?

 

[SlowJet]

Thanks for the link. It made perfectly clear how useless NTBACKup is and how
the much the glamorised ASR is almost impossible to use on other than a
local tape drive or an expensive USB remoable disk (which would not be very
big compared to a dozen tapes.)

Couple that with the fact that most people don't have a slipstreamed SP2 CD
and you have the Worst consumer ripe off and fake out since aluminnnmmmmmnnn
siding.

Fortunatly for MS, the majority of home users are as dumb as a post and
blame them selves for not knowing enough computer jargon to get their OS
working after a hardware or software glitch.

I now see why all the Computer vendors made those recovery hidden images on
the back half of disk drives.
Because there was no other way to recover with out a complete re-install of
Windows XP, system drivers, SP1, more drivers, SP2, more drivers, SP2 post
updates, new AV and FW, Blocker software, system utiliies and finally, a 3rd
party backup program and a very good tape drive on each machine. If I were a
computer mfg I wouldn't a million calls a day either.

JHC what a racket. lol
My but hurts. Does yours?

SJ

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Hi!....... I've just created a small partition on my hdd for
backup
purposes only,

You might want to reconsider that backup strategy. Using a
second partition on your only physical drive is better than no
backup at all, but just barely. It leaves you vulnerable to a
hard drive crash, user error, sever power glitches, nearby
lightning strike, virus attack, even theft of the computer, which
can cause the loss of everything on your drive--causing you to
simultaneously lose the original and backup.


If you're serious about backup, you should consider backing up to
an external device or to media that can be removed from the
computer and stored separately. If you're really serious,
consider storing backups off-site.

 

[Alex Nichol]

.. I've just created a small partition on my hdd for backup purposes
only, and created a backup image using the XP Backup Utility. Now lets say
for arguements sake I accidently formatted my c-drive but still had the
backup image on my other partition, could I install everything from that
backup image including installing windows?
And if not, are there other third party utilities that do, like Norton Ghost
v9.0.

For that you really need a proper imaging program; rather than a file
oriented backup. I suggest Image for windows which is $27 from
www.bootitng.com and which will run under windows to image a partition
(including the one you are running on) to either a compressed file in
another partition or to a set of CD or DVD. And comes with a utility
that allows you to boot a DOS floppy and run the utility to restore; or
the DVD would be bootable.