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General discussion

backing up

Jan 1, 2005 5:19AM PST

I recently re-installed xp, sp2, and all my core apps. Its just taking way too long.

I am thinking about backing up these critical files, to my 2nd harddrive the D-drive. This way, I don't have re-install all the software next time. My goal is to simply just copy all the files back from my d: drive to C: drive whenever I need that fresh-reinstall effect.

Has anyone gone about this strategy? The biggest problem I see is that, since XP no longer has dos, I don't know how I would even be able to copy files without XP installed?

please share ideas,
thanks
dan

Discussion is locked

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Good idea
Jan 1, 2005 5:26AM PST

DriveImage will help you to do it.
I use an older version (v6), but I just reboot with the floppies included, then I create an image of my active partition C and save it on partition D (just an example).
In case of disaster, I need 12 min to be back Online.

http://www.powerquest.com/

Symantec is the new owner of driveImage, but I suppose that is still the same program.

Happy

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Make an image.
Jan 1, 2005 5:38AM PST

Programs to do this include Norton Ghost (http://www.symantec.com/sabu/ghost/ghost_personal/ )Powerquest Driveimage (although the link for Driveimage 7.0 on http://www.powerquest.com/ mysteriously redirects to the above for Norton) and Acronis Trueimage (http://www.acronis.com/). Find some reviews and choose what you like. On downseek.com I find 93% up for Ghost and 95% up for TrueImage.

In Windows 98 your scheme is feasible without these programs, but in Windows XP you need such tools indeed.
A removable drive might work also, if you need the space on your d:-drive.

Hope this helps.


Kees

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thanks for the help
Jan 2, 2005 12:59AM PST

yes the imaging by Acronis True image worked out to be very simple.

I partioned my main drive and backed it up there. I also backed it up on my 2nd harddrive. So I have 2 backups.

This should save me some from major re-installation procedures in the future. I think the up-time for me now should be 5-10 mins. Sure beats, 4 hours.

It really does upset me that windows makes it really difficult for us to do this by hand.

In the good ole days, all we would of had to do pkzipped our Tree. and saved it.

Simply format C: and unzip everything. and its all restored. Oh well.

thanks for the help.

dan