backup entire system

My system crashed the end of Oct. It has taken me this long to get it up to
speed.
I update Norton's every week. Now I am able to get windows update to work.
The sp2 update is being mailed to me on a cd. My computer is 3 yrs. old. I
run windows xp home edition. I do not have disc for total recovery. It is
in a little spot on the hard drive. I am told this cannot be changed. I have
been checking into dvd drives and have decided to go with 16x but not sure of
which brand. I am good at following directions. What is the best program to
handle the entire system. I don't use the computer every day. If there is a
problem, I will sit on the information and think about it. This helps me to
understand. It would take a long time to update the last 3 yrs. I had no
problem with sp1. There are many post that has helped me. I had to follow
several to get to where I am now.

Get your system up exactly the way you want it. That is,

1. Get your OS loaded and updated.
2. Load your Office Software and update it.
3. Load your AV software and update it.
4. Load your FW software and update it.
5. Win2K or XP Pro, Setup your local Security Policy.
6. Make sure all your hardware devices are loaded and operating properly.
7. Defrag your Hard Drive.

Get online and buy a CDRW. While your there, buy GHOST. Follow the
instructions. Eat well, be happy, and, exercise often.


"tj" wrote:

> My system crashed the end of Oct. It has taken me this long to get it up to
> speed.
> I update Norton's every week. Now I am able to get windows update to work.
> The sp2 update is being mailed to me on a cd. My computer is 3 yrs. old. I
> run windows xp home edition. I do not have disc for total recovery. It is
> in a little spot on the hard drive. I am told this cannot be changed. I have
> been checking into dvd drives and have decided to go with 16x but not sure of
> which brand. I am good at following directions. What is the best program to
> handle the entire system. I don't use the computer every day. If there is a
> problem, I will sit on the information and think about it. This helps me to
> understand. It would take a long time to update the last 3 yrs. I had no
> problem with sp1. There are many post that has helped me. I had to follow
> several to get to where I am now.

"tj" <> wrote in message
news:EF9ACCAF-2298-4FBA-9A0E-...
> My system crashed the end of Oct. It has taken me this long to get it up
> to
> speed.
> I update Norton's every week. Now I am able to get windows update to
> work.
> The sp2 update is being mailed to me on a cd. My computer is 3 yrs. old.
> I
> run windows xp home edition. I do not have disc for total recovery. It
> is
> in a little spot on the hard drive. I am told this cannot be changed. I
> have
> been checking into dvd drives and have decided to go with 16x but not sure
> of
> which brand. I am good at following directions. What is the best program
> to
> handle the entire system. I don't use the computer every day. If there
> is a
> problem, I will sit on the information and think about it. This helps me
> to
> understand. It would take a long time to update the last 3 yrs. I had no
> problem with sp1. There are many post that has helped me. I had to
> follow
> several to get to where I am now.


I have used PQ Drive Image, Norton Ghost 9 and I have now finally changed to
Acronis True Image. This is by far the best of the three. It is easier to
use, faster, prettier, cheaper and you don't have to install Dot Net.

Backups can be made to a range of media including DVD RW but if you have not
made your purchase yet you should consider adding an extra hard drive to
your system. This could be mounted internally or, if your computer supports
USB 2, in an external enclosure.

I back up my whole system with a full backup every week. These are updated
with incremental backups on a daily basis. All this can be scheduled to
happen automatically and you can continue using your computer while the
backups run in the background. It takes about 30 mins for a complete backup
of my rather elderly computer with incremental taking 10 mins.

I tested the effectiveness of the backup system by removing my still working
hard drive and replaced it with a spare one. Recovery, using a recovery CD,
took less than an hour from start to finish and that included the removal
and refitting of the drives. Obviously one does not have to do this unless
there is a total drive failure but it is good to know it works and can be
used with confidence in a real disaster situation.

Richard.

Another backup software option is BootIt NG
http://www.bootitng.com/

Be sure that your backup/restoration device is detectable and usable during
the restoration process.
A second HD is reliable, cheap, and inexpensive.
--
Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.aspx
Your cooperation is very appreciated.
------
"Richard" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> "tj" <> wrote in message
> news:EF9ACCAF-2298-4FBA-9A0E-...
> > My system crashed the end of Oct. It has taken me this long to get it
up
> > to
> > speed.
> > I update Norton's every week. Now I am able to get windows update to
> > work.
> > The sp2 update is being mailed to me on a cd. My computer is 3 yrs.
old.
> > I
> > run windows xp home edition. I do not have disc for total recovery. It
> > is
> > in a little spot on the hard drive. I am told this cannot be changed. I
> > have
> > been checking into dvd drives and have decided to go with 16x but not
sure
> > of
> > which brand. I am good at following directions. What is the best program
> > to
> > handle the entire system. I don't use the computer every day. If there
> > is a
> > problem, I will sit on the information and think about it. This helps
me
> > to
> > understand. It would take a long time to update the last 3 yrs. I had
no
> > problem with sp1. There are many post that has helped me. I had to
> > follow
> > several to get to where I am now.
>
>
> I have used PQ Drive Image, Norton Ghost 9 and I have now finally changed
to
> Acronis True Image. This is by far the best of the three. It is easier to
> use, faster, prettier, cheaper and you don't have to install Dot Net.
>
> Backups can be made to a range of media including DVD RW but if you have
not
> made your purchase yet you should consider adding an extra hard drive to
> your system. This could be mounted internally or, if your computer
supports
> USB 2, in an external enclosure.
>
> I back up my whole system with a full backup every week. These are updated
> with incremental backups on a daily basis. All this can be scheduled to
> happen automatically and you can continue using your computer while the
> backups run in the background. It takes about 30 mins for a complete
backup
> of my rather elderly computer with incremental taking 10 mins.
>
> I tested the effectiveness of the backup system by removing my still
working
> hard drive and replaced it with a spare one. Recovery, using a recovery
CD,
> took less than an hour from start to finish and that included the removal
> and refitting of the drives. Obviously one does not have to do this unless
> there is a total drive failure but it is good to know it works and can be
> used with confidence in a real disaster situation.
>
> Richard.
>
>

I thank everyone for your input. I have a lot to think about. I will check
into everything. I hope I can understand these solutions. It will take some
time, but I don't want to rush anything.

tj

"Jack E Martinelli" wrote:

> Another backup software option is BootIt NG
> http://www.bootitng.com/
>
> Be sure that your backup/restoration device is detectable and usable during
> the restoration process.
> A second HD is reliable, cheap, and inexpensive.
> --
> Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS
> Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.aspx
> Your cooperation is very appreciated.
> ------
> "Richard" <> wrote in message
> news:...
> >
> > "tj" <> wrote in message
> > news:EF9ACCAF-2298-4FBA-9A0E-...
> > > My system crashed the end of Oct. It has taken me this long to get it
> up
> > > to
> > > speed.
> > > I update Norton's every week. Now I am able to get windows update to
> > > work.
> > > The sp2 update is being mailed to me on a cd. My computer is 3 yrs.
> old.
> > > I
> > > run windows xp home edition. I do not have disc for total recovery. It
> > > is
> > > in a little spot on the hard drive. I am told this cannot be changed. I
> > > have
> > > been checking into dvd drives and have decided to go with 16x but not
> sure
> > > of
> > > which brand. I am good at following directions. What is the best program
> > > to
> > > handle the entire system. I don't use the computer every day. If there
> > > is a
> > > problem, I will sit on the information and think about it. This helps
> me
> > > to
> > > understand. It would take a long time to update the last 3 yrs. I had
> no
> > > problem with sp1. There are many post that has helped me. I had to
> > > follow
> > > several to get to where I am now.
> >
> >
> > I have used PQ Drive Image, Norton Ghost 9 and I have now finally changed
> to
> > Acronis True Image. This is by far the best of the three. It is easier to
> > use, faster, prettier, cheaper and you don't have to install Dot Net.
> >
> > Backups can be made to a range of media including DVD RW but if you have
> not
> > made your purchase yet you should consider adding an extra hard drive to
> > your system. This could be mounted internally or, if your computer
> supports
> > USB 2, in an external enclosure.
> >
> > I back up my whole system with a full backup every week. These are updated
> > with incremental backups on a daily basis. All this can be scheduled to
> > happen automatically and you can continue using your computer while the
> > backups run in the background. It takes about 30 mins for a complete
> backup
> > of my rather elderly computer with incremental taking 10 mins.
> >
> > I tested the effectiveness of the backup system by removing my still
> working
> > hard drive and replaced it with a spare one. Recovery, using a recovery
> CD,
> > took less than an hour from start to finish and that included the removal
> > and refitting of the drives. Obviously one does not have to do this unless
> > there is a total drive failure but it is good to know it works and can be
> > used with confidence in a real disaster situation.
> >
> > Richard.
> >
> >
>
>
>