System back up

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Guest

After a very unsuccessful attempt at downloading XP service pack 2 I had to
take my computer to Best Buy and have a system restore done. Back to day 1
now. So after the horrible lesson I learned from not backing up and losing
everything I'm trying to learn from my mistakes. I'm trying to back up like
one of the Microsoft updates is telling me to do. I go to Accessories/System
Tools/Back up. Nothing happens. Am I doing this wrong?
 
m8knstamps said:
After a very unsuccessful attempt at downloading XP service pack 2 I
had to take my computer to Best Buy and have a system restore done.
Back to day 1 now. So after the horrible lesson I learned from not
backing up and losing everything I'm trying to learn from my
mistakes. I'm trying to back up like one of the Microsoft updates is
telling me to do. I go to Accessories/System Tools/Back up. Nothing
happens. Am I doing this wrong?
Click to expand...

WinXP Home does not automatically install NTBackup. It can, however, be
installed from the WinXP CD.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
 
In
Frank Saunders said:
WinXP Home does not automatically install NTBackup. It can, however,
be installed from the WinXP CD.
Click to expand...

I'm *guessing* the OP is using the terms "back-up" and "restore",
interchangeably. Of course, they are *not* the same thing at all.

The way I read the post (and I could certainly be wrong) s/he's looking in;

System Tools>

For something called >Backup, which is either not there, or not installed.

When what s/he probably really wants is >System Tools> System Restore.

And it would make sense that if the computer has recently been returned to
the way it was on "day 1" ....

There would be no, "Restore my computer to an earlier date" (backup?)
available in System Restore ... yet.

Though "Set a restore point" should be there, and should be implemented.

Bill
 
Actually, what I'm looking for is a what to back my system up on a cd so if I
kill my computer again I don't lose all my files, pictures, etc.
 
Actually, what I'm looking for is a what to back my system up on a cd so if I
kill my computer again I don't lose all my files, pictures, etc.
Click to expand...

You need to assess your backup needs. Then pick a backup product that meets
those needs.

Consider: You can have the operating system and programs that can be
reinstalled but you can't reinstall your data. Consequently, user data is a
number one priority in any backup plan.

You can choose to backup data only. You could add downloaded setup files
for programs, updates and drivers to that. And you might even go so far as
wanting to backup the entire system now and then. Some folks adopt a
multi-layered approach. Example: backup data weekly and backup entire
system once a month.

Windows XP Pro includes NT Backup in a default setup. Windows XP Home does
not. It is included on the XP Home CD but must be installed separately.
Further, if your recovery/restore software for XP was provided by the
system manufacturer, they may not have included the necessary files to
install NT Backup.

There are also many third party solutions available. Quick opinion on just
a few of those: Acronis True Image is a nice program that can perform data
and system backups. It has a nice interface for beginners as well. Another
easy to use program is Backup My PC from Stomp Inc. "Image for Windows"
from www.terabyteunlimited.com is a bit more difficult to use (not much)
but is well supported and very reliable. Capable of performing backups and
of imaging an entire drive. Personally I use Image for Windows and have
been quite happy with it.
 
In addition to Sharon's post, note that the backup application included with
XP will not backup directly to CD and is quite limited in the devices to
which it will directly backup. However, you can backup to the hard drive
and copy the file to CD.
 
This product is well worth the cost
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


| Actually, what I'm looking for is a what to back my system up on a cd so
if I
| kill my computer again I don't lose all my files, pictures, etc.
|
| "Bill" wrote:
|
| > In | > Frank Saunders, MS-MVP <[email protected]> typed:
| >
| > > | >
| > >> After a very unsuccessful attempt at downloading XP service pack 2 I
| > >> had to take my computer to Best Buy and have a system restore done.
| > >> Back to day 1 now. So after the horrible lesson I learned from not
| > >> backing up and losing everything I'm trying to learn from my
| > >> mistakes. I'm trying to back up like one of the Microsoft updates is
| > >> telling me to do. I go to Accessories/System Tools/Back up. Nothing
| > >> happens. Am I doing this wrong?
| > >
| > > WinXP Home does not automatically install NTBackup. It can, however,
| > > be installed from the WinXP CD.
| >
| > I'm *guessing* the OP is using the terms "back-up" and "restore",
| > interchangeably. Of course, they are *not* the same thing at all.
| >
| > The way I read the post (and I could certainly be wrong) s/he's looking
in;
| >
| > System Tools>
| >
| > For something called >Backup, which is either not there, or not
installed.
| >
| > When what s/he probably really wants is >System Tools> System Restore.
| >
| > And it would make sense that if the computer has recently been returned
to
| > the way it was on "day 1" ....
| >
| > There would be no, "Restore my computer to an earlier date" (backup?)
| > available in System Restore ... yet.
| >
| > Though "Set a restore point" should be there, and should be implemented.
| >
| > Bill
| >
| >
| >
 
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