XP backup

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ralph W
  • Start date Start date
R

Ralph W

This is my first time here and just spent an hour or so
browsing the posts and replies hoping to find an answer
to my question. I've never used any backup utilities
before since this computer is primarily for entertainment
only and really had no real reason to do so. I want to
wipe my hard drive using Western Digital's disk
maintenance diskette that came with my WD HD that I
installed about 6 mos ago, then format and reinstall XP.
I've done this a few times in the past and have some idea
of what I need to have available to me before I start. I
found and installed XP's backup on my Upgrade Disk. I'm
thinking of trying to backup to a second HD including
the "System State". Then doing the wipe and format and
install XP again. Will restoring from the backup restore
everything? As I understand the "System State" will
restore all my system settings but will it also restore
Outlook Express and all my saved emails and contacts? Do
I need to reinstall every program I have now or does it
bring them back when I restore? I'm looking for a less
painful way of doing this than I've had in the past. I
know there are third party software that will do what I
want but I probably won't get them since it is not really
critical that I get everything back but there are a few
games that I have that have saved data that would be nice
to keep....if I can do it easily. And if you want to
know why I'm wanting to do this it is because I have a
small EXT2 (Linux) partition that I've not been able to
delete for some reason.....it's not taking up much room
but it bugs me.

One more quick question while I'm at it. I'm running XP
under FAT32. If I install XP in NTFS will the backup
work? And would my games and programs work? Everything
worked when I upgraded.......but I kept the FAT32 system.

I know this is a windy post.......thanks for you time.
 
Last question first. No, your system drive would be restored to the state it was in (FAT32) when the backup was made. Convert first, then run the ASR creation wizard.

When I used ASR with XP pro everthing was restored as it was. You are using XP home, read this first; Backup Utility to Back Up Files and Folders in Windows XP Home Edition http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320820 HTH.

--
Just my 2¢ worth,
Jeff
__________in response to__________
| This is my first time here and just spent an hour or so
| browsing the posts and replies hoping to find an answer
| to my question. I've never used any backup utilities
| before since this computer is primarily for entertainment
| only and really had no real reason to do so. I want to
| wipe my hard drive using Western Digital's disk
| maintenance diskette that came with my WD HD that I
| installed about 6 mos ago, then format and reinstall XP.
| I've done this a few times in the past and have some idea
| of what I need to have available to me before I start. I
| found and installed XP's backup on my Upgrade Disk. I'm
| thinking of trying to backup to a second HD including
| the "System State". Then doing the wipe and format and
| install XP again. Will restoring from the backup restore
| everything? As I understand the "System State" will
| restore all my system settings but will it also restore
| Outlook Express and all my saved emails and contacts? Do
| I need to reinstall every program I have now or does it
| bring them back when I restore? I'm looking for a less
| painful way of doing this than I've had in the past. I
| know there are third party software that will do what I
| want but I probably won't get them since it is not really
| critical that I get everything back but there are a few
| games that I have that have saved data that would be nice
| to keep....if I can do it easily. And if you want to
| know why I'm wanting to do this it is because I have a
| small EXT2 (Linux) partition that I've not been able to
| delete for some reason.....it's not taking up much room
| but it bugs me.
|
| One more quick question while I'm at it. I'm running XP
| under FAT32. If I install XP in NTFS will the backup
| work? And would my games and programs work? Everything
| worked when I upgraded.......but I kept the FAT32 system.
|
| I know this is a windy post.......thanks for you time.
 
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