Hard drive recovery(Vanity)

vanity | 12/8/2004 | chuckles

[chuckles]

I have had to format C: so many times, I need a new way to get my computer back quickly. I have a dial up connection so updating my Windows packages and Norton virus definitions and other such stuff is a real pain. I have tried several backup meathods and none so far are satifactory. I would love to be back up in a few hours instead of days with all my software installed with the proper serial numbers with all the updates and settings that I like, down to my wallpaper and file locations. I want one of those restoral disks like the name brand boxes have so I can just reboot with the CD in the tray and be done.

I know somebody out there has the answer I'm looking for. Norton Ghost worked like I want when I was using 98, but since going to Win 2000 and then XP, it doesn't work. I will be doing it this weekend.

[dennisw]

I can see no advantage to slipstreaming XP other than it's a quicker install and means you have the smarts to burn a proper boot disc. Install XP and immediately afterwards the complete sp2 download I posted.

[Capitalism2003]

I recommend you download the latest version of norton ghost and give it a shot.

[A CA Guy]

I don't run the internet with virus scan.

I just happen to have virus scanning in my email which most people have these days.

Before this was common a year ago, was no big deal. I investigated attachments and didn't open any that seemed wrong.

The mistake most people have with their Email is that they have these mail programs set to preview attachments. BIG MISTAKE.

But, I haven't seen a net service that doesn't have a virus scan on the Email. Services these days even warn that if you have a detected virus on your computer, they won't allow your connection until you fix it. :-)

Even when there was no Email scan in the line, I never OPENED attachments left and right.

I send links myself to things. Pictures to everyone is a no no.

[roaddog727]

The question is why do you have to reformat so often?

Once you know why, we can more accurately provide a viable solution.

[omniscient]

The solution: Systemworks Premier 2005 (includes Ghost 9 for XP and Ghost 2003 for Win98) and an external USB 250GB drive. You can use the Symantec Recovery Disk to boot from the CD. Then use Ghost to restore from your external USB. This works for me.

Forget about Linux (and Mac). These systems are for people who hate games and love watching spreadsheets recalculate or decorating their lofts with goofy-looking machines resembling a table lamp.

Good luck, and long live Bill Gates.

[JoJo Gunn]

Yeah, that'll work.

I'm just thinking about getting the first batch, then getting what couldn't be installed until certain ones were installed first, etc.

[mailbox1282000]

Since you are familiar with Norton Ghost, I would advise using a recent version with a DVD+RW drive. It should work fine.

I have used it for almost a year while playing with several different operating systems.

When I want to play a game on Windows, I put my last good Windows DVD+RW disc in the drive, start the computer, select the image with the Norton utility that boots up, get a snack, and then play that game.

[Izzy Dunne]

Service pack 2 for XP is available as one big 173mb download over here--->>>

173 Meg over a dial-up connection, yeah, THAT's the ticket!!!

[dennisw]

I don't know about his library but I can go to mine and download the complete XP service pack 2 in no time flat and burn it onto CD at the library. Other drivers... patches.... etc. too. And if the library doesn't have cd/rw on it's computers then bring a 256mb flash drive for your downloads/

[Solamente]

Microsoft was mailing out XP SP2 CD's by request, that's how I got mine.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Bump

[Tunehead54]

Bump for later. ;-) I like NovaBackup - backing up is one thing but restoring an individual file later is the test for a backup program - Nova backup is very good at this - Lots of good advice on this thread. Luck!

[ScottM1968]

I do not suggest ZoneAlarm functions as an anti-virus.

I was merely telling you that your understanding of ZoneAlarm was wrong.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Norton Ghost or Dantz Retrospect are two excellent imaging packages.

[ScottM1968]

Windows is not that unstable, konaice. The problem lies outside of Windows to his general software use or his hardware and its power.

Again, just because some application has been programmed under Linux, it does not follow it is good or usable.

[chuckles]

I have SP2, no problem. I just havent slipstreamed it. There are many programs that don't alow you to save to disk though. And the endless reboots after instalation....Wheew! And the typing of 25 serial numbers...yuk! And the moving file locations to folders on F drive where I keep my mail and address book and my stock quotes and my documents and my downloads and my.......and setting my apearence to the clasic look and installing drivers for my sound card that XP doesn't have a clue and another reboot...

Like I said, I just want an easier way of starting over. I don't get that many viruses( none in over 9 months), I keep the adware and spyware in control,and my machine runs pretty well AFTER I get it setup. Its the setup that is a pain. Just as an example, my stock quote download software has quit. Reinstalling won't work. This is about the 3rd crash for that and I have to have it. I have it on a backup machine on my network so I download quotes from there every night. My scanner is now uninstalled( again) and cannot be reinstalled without several hours of deleting files and registry entries, and then a new install with a patch written by a hacker to get his Visioneer 7600USB to work in 2000. The company won't suport 2000 and xp. If I could live with 98, my life would be easier because all the drivers for my stuff work in 98. I know all the solutions, but I am very hard headed(I am a freeper). I refuse to buy a new computer or scanner when there is nothing wrong with them and when I pay for software, I'm not going to throw it away. Trble is, alot of the writers are out of business or tell me to pay for the upgrade so I just go on doing the same ole same ole. When it is running good, it's great. When it starts to mess up, it's an all weekender.

[Outland]

"I agree with most of what you said except:...."

I was trying to keep things simple. Not everyone is a guru or has the cash to spend on more expensive external drives.

I realize that a local internal drive can be subject to the same threat that can take out the primary drive, but I can say that with reasonable power protection, all the primary drive failures that I've had in the past were isolated to the primary drive. I've never had a secondary drive fail at the same time.

On one system, my secondary drive is removeable. On another system, I transfer the image files to CDs, then I don't have to worry about it.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the info!

[dickmc]

Go get Casper XP at http://www.fssdev.com/ for $45.

Works better than anything else I have found:
*Easy to install
*Runs directly in XP without booting to DOS
*Takes about 5 minutes to backup a 12 gig C drive
*Has gotten exceptional reviews.

I have two drives and keep a partition on the second drive
with a copy of the C drive.

Also, went out and bought a 2.5-inch USB drive at 40 gig for about $110.
Make a backup of the c drive on its first partition which is bootable directly
from the ASUS bios. Then use a few other partitions on the USB to backup data, photos, etc.
With Casper XP I can backup a 12 gig C drive to the USB drive in ten minutes.

Liked the thing so well I bought a second USB drive, so that I can rotate the backups.
BTW, to do partition management you can use Settings/Control Panel/Administrative Tools/
Computer Management/Storage/Disk Management which is already
built-into XP. This will allow you to add/delete/etc. partitions including on the USB drive.
Just make sure that the c-drive copy partition is always the first partition on
the USB drive so it is bootable from the BIOS. Works like
a charm and easy to manage.


Regards,
Dick

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Very interesting!