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General discussion

XP Backup Utility

Dec 1, 2003 4:58AM PST

I think I have lost my mind!
I used Win98 for years and have just recently switched to XP Home. I always used 98's backup utility. No Problems. I installed the XP Backup Utility from the XP CD.
I did a backup of "My Documents" using the advanced set up option (since I don't need to copy my video files).
After that, I explored the Backup CD (with Windows Explorer) to make sure everything was copied. Some things were there and some things were missing.
My Confusion:
When I click on My Documents on my desk top, ALL my files are there (rather than some in the user doc folder and others in the shared doc folder). But that is not the same file that is copied when I use the backup utility. I think I am confused with the "User Documents", My Documents, and Shared Documents thing. I thought I understood it. I am the only user.
If I just copy My Documents to CD, without using the backup utility, I get all the files.
Is there an easy explanation for me that can clear this up? How can I be sure I am getting good backup via the backup utility?
Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Re:XP Backup Utility
Dec 1, 2003 6:12AM PST

Microsoft hasn't nailed this one.

You should dive in and backup a DIRECTORY by name and not some 'magical' Explorer contrivance. Explorer is not a good file system browser so don't rely on it to show you what you will back up.

Use hard paths to make this work.

Bob

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Re:XP Backup Utility
Dec 1, 2003 7:08AM PST

Sorry, I don't understand. (Guess I'm just having a bad day)
Isn't the XP Backup Utility worth using? Or, are you saying that explorer might not show what is actually on the backup copy?
Is it better just to copy all my files to CD, rather than use the backup utility? If explorer isn't that reliable, how can I check if I caught all my files?
I'm still confused why some files are in my user documents and some (others) are in My Documents. But I can access them in either. But some of the documents in "User Documents" are not up to date, but some the current ones are in "My Documents" and other are in "user Documents". I think I might have done something wrong when I transfered files from my old PC. It too late to go back to that point, though.

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Re:Re:XP Backup Utility/My two cents
Dec 1, 2003 11:07AM PST

You mentioned having XP Home and using it's backup utility. I have both Home and Pro and only Pro has a full backup utility as far as I know so I am presuming you are using the "send to" function and selecting the CD/R option. I also presume you now and have always logged on as the same user as every user has a unique profile and storage area. My own preference is to create a folder myself on a secondary drive and create subfolders under this one for organizational purposes. This way I do not clutter my primary drive. I need to always use the "save as" and not "save" options to direct working and completed files to the correct folder. I now know where everything is (or should be) and can back up to CD or ZIP media quite easily. This works for me.

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Just look at what Explorer shows.
Dec 1, 2003 11:21AM PST

"Sorry, I don't understand. (Guess I'm just having a bad day) Isn't the XP Backup Utility worth using?"

It works.

"Or, are you saying that explorer might not show what is actually on the backup copy?"

It will likely show what's on the backup copy, but using Explorer to select "My Documents" is going to cause some pain to someone since you must check what ends up on the backup. Explorer is programmed as a "friendly" file/machine browser and you have to wonder what is showing is a file or some friendly programming.

"Is it better just to copy all my files to CD, rather than use the backup utility?"

That's my method. You can use what you are confortable with.

"If explorer isn't that reliable, how can I check if I caught all my files?"

Another file browser? There are many. I use Gyula's Navigator.

"I'm still confused why some files are in my user documents and some (others) are in My Documents. But I can access them in either. But some of the documents in "User Documents" are not up to date, but some the current ones are in "My Documents" and other are in "user Documents". I think I might have done something wrong when I transfered files from my old PC. It too late to go back to that point, though."

And that is a great example of Explorer being too "friendly" and not just showing you "files and directories."

I think you have a firm grasp on the mouse by this point. Relax. Take a deep breath and try another file browser to see what's really on the disks.

Bob

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Thanks to shaning and R. Proffitt
Dec 1, 2003 7:59PM PST

Both of you have cleared up most my confusion. I'll just re-group and move forward.
This forum is indispensable thanks to people like you.