MrMay
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windows xp backup
Going back to windows xp. If I was using the build in backup program that comes with windows xp.... if I was to "backup everything on this computer" and lets say my hard drive crashes and I need to replace it. Now, since I have this backup do I need to create a new partition on the drive and install windows xp and then do a restore, or can I somehow just dump the restore and it will create the partition and install windows?
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You're far better off creating an IMAGE of the drive -- then if you ever need to replace the drive, you simply restore the image to a new drive and you're done :-)
This also ensures that your restored OS will have all your programs, all updates, configuration settings, etc.
I'd also redo the image the first week of April, after you've updated with the final set of XP updates as XP support shuts down.
This also ensures that your restored OS will have all your programs, all updates, configuration settings, etc.
I'd also redo the image the first week of April, after you've updated with the final set of XP updates as XP support shuts down.
I use XXCLONE http://www.xxclone.com/ to make a bootable image of the hard drive for my backups. Of course that requires the original system to still be running. There are other programs that will do that too.
for imaging, i suggest the free Paragon software : http://www.paragon-software.com/free/
for restoring from the backup, here the MS document : http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/restore_overview.mspx?mfr=true
and before you can use it, you need a running OS
but you can run it from a live XP cd http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
for restoring from the backup, here the MS document : http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/restore_overview.mspx?mfr=true
and before you can use it, you need a running OS
but you can run it from a live XP cd http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
I will go for Paragon as well as nobus suggested
you can get lots of tutorials about it on youtube
other good and professional choice is Acronis True Image
Its really robust and fast
you can get lots of tutorials about it on youtube
other good and professional choice is Acronis True Image
Its really robust and fast
ASKER
Thank you all for your posts. I've been using Symantec ghost and on some occasion Acronis as well. One other question that I do have is... let say my original hard drive is 50GB but I only use about 20GB of it. I image this drive and then it dies. Now, do I have to use the same size hard drive or can it be larger or even a bit smaller since I'm only using 20GB of it?
if you use the paragon tool, it lets you adapt to other sizes
i don't know if the others have that option; if not, you can use any partition manager to change the size
i don't know if the others have that option; if not, you can use any partition manager to change the size
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