Backing up

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Is it possible to make back up for programs to a C D before i undertake a complete system restore
I have backed up my files etc.
 
I assume by "complete system restore" you mean that you are going to
do a new full install of Windows XP. You can copy programs to a CD
and copy them back after installing Windows. BUT (and this is a big
but) those programs will probably not run correctly until you actually
reinstall them. The reason is that windows saves information about
those programs in the registry when they are installed. Just copying
them will not create those registry entries. Also many programs put
necessary pieces into the Windows system32 (or other) folder. Again,
those pieces won't be there. What copying will do is save and
(probably) restore any customizations to the program that you may have
done. Most of the time, when you install the program, it will check if
the installation folder already exists and will retain any
customization files.

I hope that this answers you question.
Brian

chris f said:
Is it possible to make back up for programs to a C D before i
Click to expand...
undertake a complete system restore?
 
As long as you have saved thedownloaded program from the internet and then done an install you should be able to copy the program to your CD. For instance. I download AdAware 6.0 and instead of clicking run when prompted at the beginning of the download I choose to "save to" and save the download in "my documents" then once the download is completed I can simply open "my documents" right click on the file that I just downloaded and "send to" my CD drive. That way you have saved the complete program including any and all install files. {:~
 
As long as you have saved thedownloaded program from the internet and then done an install you should be able to copy the program to your CD. For instance. I download AdAware 6.0 and instead of clicking run when prompted at the beginning of the download I choose to "save to" and save the download in "my documents" then once the download is completed I can simply open "my documents" right click on the file that I just downloaded and "send to" my CD drive. That way you have saved the complete program including any and all install files. {:~)
Click to expand...

Yea. What he is saying is the right way to do it. I always save a
copy of the download, then I install later. Then save the program to
a folder with an explanative title of what the program is, then save
that folder to a folder I named "installed stuff". Then you can copy
those programs to a CD(s) once in a while so you'll have saved copies
in case of a crash & needed reformat & reinstall of Windows. This is
really important if you are on dial-up because of the download time.
Though some of the programs you saved will want to get a newer version
of itself sometimes anyway. You can also get a free CD from
Microsoft, shipping free too, of all Windows updates through, I think
through Oct of 2003 (also a separate disk with free anti-virus &
firewall, supposed to be good for a year, not assoc with Microsoft).

Or, you can do like I did too - I bought "Norton Ghost" This is an
"imaging" program - it will back up everything =- operating system -
it'll make a complete image of your hard drive, & it is bootable too,
& reinstall everything to where it was at when you saved it. I should
point out that if you don't have a DVD write drive, you are going to
use a lot of CDs. Or better, an external hardrive, but thosenewer USB
plug-ins are expensive - I am going to be checking into buying an old
slow cheap used HD, and a little external case just to put it in, and
maybe put some wiring from the motherboard to the back of the computer
so I can plug it in when I want to make a hardrive image. If someone
has experience or knowledge of this please let me know.

Big Mac
 
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