Complete backup of Windows XP installation
in [Windows XP]
|
Prev: Windows XP reverted itself to default
Next: CMD command
From: Veerle on 29 May 2010 17:22 Hi, I installed Windows XP on an old laptop and then installed a whole bunch of pc games on it for my kids. It took me quite some time to get it all finished. The kids will not have admin rights but nevertheless I'm pretty sure that the pc will be all messed up within a few months. Now I was wondering: is there a way to make an image of the complete hard drive? I have only one partition on it which is being used up for about 12 gigabytes. What I want is an image that I can restore the pc to after they messed it up so that I won't have to do al the work all over again. The last time, my 4 year old son managed it, I don't know what he did, but no-one could logon any more. So I will need some kind of image that I can restore even if the Windows is not accessible any more. The laptop will not be in a domain or something but I have a wireless connection on it which could be used to access the laptop from another pc. The portable also has a cd/dvd writer. Any suggestions? Veerle
From: Pegasus [MVP] on 29 May 2010 17:40 "Veerle" <veerleverbr(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message news:e2cc2fe9-339a-4a42-aaf2-26271772bf1f(a)o1g2000vbe.googlegroups.com... > Hi, > > I installed Windows XP on an old laptop and then installed a whole > bunch of pc games on it for my kids. It took me quite some time to get > it all finished. The kids will not have admin rights but nevertheless > I'm pretty sure that the pc will be all messed up within a few months. > Now I was wondering: is there a way to make an image of the complete > hard drive? I have only one partition on it which is being used up for > about 12 gigabytes. What I want is an image that I can restore the pc > to after they messed it up so that I won't have to do al the work all > over again. The last time, my 4 year old son managed it, I don't know > what he did, but no-one could logon any more. So I will need some kind > of image that I can restore even if the Windows is not accessible any > more. The laptop will not be in a domain or something but I have a > wireless connection on it which could be used to access the laptop > from another pc. The portable also has a cd/dvd writer. Any > suggestions? > > Veerle Get a copy of Acronis TrueImage (or some other imaging tool) and park the image on a 2.5" hard disk in an external USB case. You could use the same disk for your regular data backups.
From: Avatar on 29 May 2010 17:41 "Veerle" <veerleverbr(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message news:e2cc2fe9-339a-4a42-aaf2-26271772bf1f(a)o1g2000vbe.googlegroups.com... > Hi, > > I installed Windows XP on an old laptop and then installed a whole > bunch of pc games on it for my kids. It took me quite some time to get > it all finished. The kids will not have admin rights but nevertheless > I'm pretty sure that the pc will be all messed up within a few months. > Now I was wondering: is there a way to make an image of the complete > hard drive? I have only one partition on it which is being used up for > about 12 gigabytes. What I want is an image that I can restore the pc > to after they messed it up so that I won't have to do al the work all > over again. The last time, my 4 year old son managed it, I don't know > what he did, but no-one could logon any more. So I will need some kind > of image that I can restore even if the Windows is not accessible any > more. The laptop will not be in a domain or something but I have a > wireless connection on it which could be used to access the laptop > from another pc. The portable also has a cd/dvd writer. Any > suggestions? > > Veerle I am not an expert but here is what I do on one laptop: I use Acronis TrueImage (still have older version 8). It enables me to make a regular back up to an external hard drive. Also to CDs. Not sure if it does DVDs. The emergency boot CD made with Acronis enabled me to boot the laptop on a couple of occasions when it would not boot by itself. The image was restored from the external drive painlessly and fast. Try doing a search for "drive back up" on Google. There are several options available out there apart from Acronis. Some are free too. HTH. :-) Avatar -------
From: PA Bear [MS MVP] on 29 May 2010 17:57 See this discussion: http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=27570 Veerle wrote: > I installed Windows XP on an old laptop and then installed a whole > bunch of pc games on it for my kids. It took me quite some time to get > it all finished. The kids will not have admin rights but nevertheless > I'm pretty sure that the pc will be all messed up within a few months. > Now I was wondering: is there a way to make an image of the complete > hard drive? I have only one partition on it which is being used up for > about 12 gigabytes. What I want is an image that I can restore the pc > to after they messed it up so that I won't have to do al the work all > over again. The last time, my 4 year old son managed it, I don't know > what he did, but no-one could logon any more. So I will need some kind > of image that I can restore even if the Windows is not accessible any > more. The laptop will not be in a domain or something but I have a > wireless connection on it which could be used to access the laptop > from another pc. The portable also has a cd/dvd writer. Any > suggestions?
From: Anthony Buckland on 29 May 2010 23:00
"Avatar" <avatar(a)noreply.please> wrote in message news:oSfMn.81707$jt.48097(a)newsfe04.iad... > ... > I use Acronis TrueImage (still have older version 8). > It enables me to make a regular back up to an external hard drive. Also to > CDs. Not sure if it does DVDs. > ... Yes, it does do DVDs. Until I got my first removable drive, this was my standard way of using TI. Typically, I used 3 or 4 DVDs (rewriteable) for a set -- your mileage may vary, considerably if movies are involved. I made two emergency restores using DVDs, with no problems. CDs, ok, but you may use an awful lot of them, and have corresponding management problems. In either case, use quality media; this is no time to make yourself a coaster, when you rely, totally, on having a complete set that will work. Keep whatever media you use safe from prying fingers and minds. One set off-site, such as in your safety deposit box. |