Tech: Bonehead XP question

Subject: Tech: Bonehead XP question
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 19 Mar 15 - 05:54 PM

OK, so how do you back up Windows XP onto another HD again? Got a vintage Samsung netbook and can't for the life of me figure out where to find the programme to do this. I have no problems in W7, but haven't used XP in so long that I've either forgotten how or else never knew. I'm sure a friend of mine used to back up his own, but that was centuries ago and he's not around to ask.

Nice to see the cute little search doggie again, but he's dug up so many bones that I don't feel confident about choosing the right one. I'd even welcome the giant paperclip, but he's nowhere to be seen. I think I pissed him off that day I converted him into a silver pretzel.

Got the machine booted, got the external drive plugged into the USB. All dressed up and nowhere to go. Help!

Oh what I would give to hear John in Kansas sneer at my itsy-bitsy-teensy-weensy-widdle-compuderette once more.

Subject: RE: Tech: Bonehead XP question
From: GUEST,DaveRo
Date: 19 Mar 15 - 06:05 PM

Start > All Programs > Accessories> System Tools > Backup

Subject: RE: Tech: Bonehead XP question
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 19 Mar 15 - 06:25 PM

Been there - mine doesn't give a backup option. There's defrag and disk cleanup and lotsa other goodies but not that one.

Maybe this version of XP is stripped down for the small netbooks? I know that's true for my other netbook (yes, I actually have two) but that one runs W7, which is a behemoth and needs to shed weight to even fit onto it.

Thank you for the swift reply, only that it doesn't seem to apply in my case. :-(

Subject: RE: Tech: Bonehead XP question
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 Mar 15 - 06:26 PM

depends what you want backed-up. If it is the operating system, it could get messy.
If you have a big enough external HDD I would personally copy every folder into a specific folder and leave it to do it. Or in an empty HDD into the root directory.

Then at your leisure delete things you weren't going to use. Like "Programs", "RECYCLED", "System Volume Information" but go searching for Fonts and keep them just in case you acquired them and need them for docs or spreadsheets etc. within "Windows" before delting that folder.

"Documents and Settings" will not have much you need, but keepr "My Documents" there will be loads of stuff you dumped there through lack of any time at the time.

Go searching for Fonts and keep them just in case you acquired them and need them for docs or spreadsheets etc.

That way all the folder structure is as you remember it. Files where you remember them. And modern HDDs are cheap enough to accept there may be duplicates. Use the HDD as an archive , NOT as a workhorse in case duplicates exist and you can't remember the update level.

Subject: RE: Tech: Bonehead XP question
From: GUEST,Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Mar 15 - 06:31 PM

Try Aomie Backupper. Seems pretty good. I have been using it for a few weeks as it got good reviews and seems to do everything but I cannot say if it will do all you want. Give it a try anyway - Nothing to lose!

Subject: RE: Tech: Bonehead XP question
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 19 Mar 15 - 06:45 PM

Thanks for all the useful info! There are some good ideas to try - though I'm going to knock it on the head for tonight and come back when my brain cell is feeling more energetic. Cheers -

Subject: RE: Tech: Bonehead XP question
From: GUEST,DaveRo
Date: 19 Mar 15 - 06:48 PM

Apparently, the backup utility is only installed in XP professional. With XP Home you can install it from the CD, if you have one, or search online for NTBACKUP

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/302894

I googled and found this
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/software_download.htm

Subject: RE: Tech: Bonehead XP question
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 04:39 PM

Thanks DaveRo. I could picture a dialog box with all the Tools options but couldn't find it after reading this thread. I don't use backup routinely and was baffled as to where mine had gone.
I had bother with Microsoft wrongly blacklisting my copy of Windows Prof as nongenuine and eventually i got a shop to reinstall. For reason unknown they installed Home so that looks like why its missing.

Subject: RE: Tech: Bonehead XP question
From: GUEST,JHW
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 04:41 PM

Last guest is JHW. I moved my laptop into the front bedroom and i think my cookie must have dropped out on the landing somewhere

Subject: RE: Tech: Bonehead XP question
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 07:27 PM

I think your safest bet is to attach a large capacity external USB drive and simply copy all of the data over (My picture, my documents, my music, my videos, etc.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Bonehead XP question
From: GUEST,DaveRo
Date: 21 Mar 15 - 02:24 AM

I think your safest bet is to attach a large capacity external USB drive and simply copy all of the data over

That is certainly the simplest way. It also has the advantage that the data is accessible on other machines.

Proper backup programs should be quicker and usually have the advantage of being able to save the computer's settings - accounts, browser bookmarks/favorites etc. Which may or may not matter to you. In the case of NTBACKUP (I used it on XP and now on Win7) you can restore a backup taken on XP onto Win7 if you replace the machine. (And probably on other Win versions too, but that combination I've checked.) Other backup programs may not be able to do that.

Subject: RE: Tech: Bonehead XP question
From: Mr Red
Date: 21 Mar 15 - 05:14 AM

copy everything, then cull. The memory of the folder structure you originally set up will come back to you slowly as you go looking. It is easier. Get everything - then decide what is important on any computer you prefer "now".
I have a stack of HDDs taken out of machines over the years, occasionally I need one file.
I use VirtualVolumesViewPortable as a documenter/finder. Good for memory sticks as well. Keep it on a memory stick.