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DieCommie


Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Backup image of fresh XP install
#8143318 - 03/13/08 08:28 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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What is the best program to create a backup image of my fresh XP install? I would like to save the image on a external hard disk, and then use a boot cd to reload it easily.
I have always backed up personal files, but never an installed OS. Had an OS failure yesterday, and Im still reinstalling programs... I would like to avoid this next time and have an image of my fresh install and programs ready.
I heard of Norton Ghost, but I would seriously prefer a different program if anyone has an idea. What should I use? Thanks!
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blz3432
Stranger
Registered: 11/25/07
Posts: 173
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install *DELETED* [Re: DieCommie]
#8143340 - 03/13/08 08:32 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Post deleted by blz3432Reason for deletion: nevermind
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Legend9123



Registered: 09/24/06
Posts: 2,590
Last seen: 1 year, 7 days
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: blz3432]
#8143382 - 03/13/08 08:38 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
blz3432 said: Acronis True Image
It works.
-------------------- Those who would give up a little freedom to get a little security shall soon have neither. -Benjamin Franklin
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tak
geo's henchman




Registered: 11/20/00
Posts: 3,776
Loc: nowhereland
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: Legend9123]
#8143742 - 03/13/08 09:41 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I just started using it based on numerous recommendations. Can't really give a first hand account, but I still vouch for Acronis anyways.
-------------------- The DJ's took pills to stay awake and play for seven days.
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debianlinux
Myconerd - DBK




Registered: 12/09/02
Posts: 8,334
Loc: Over There
Last seen: 10 months, 19 days
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: tak]
#8143813 - 03/13/08 09:52 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I have used Acronis TrueImage to copy one HDD to another. It worked flawlessly. Norton Ghost works okay as well.
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DieCommie


Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: DieCommie]
#8143954 - 03/13/08 10:19 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thx for the suggestion! I have Acronis TrueImage downloading right now. I will try it tomorrow.
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Baeosistine
ڜڭۑۄڴڡڟژۻۼئٹ



Registered: 12/23/07
Posts: 902
Loc: England
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: DieCommie]
#8146559 - 03/14/08 04:13 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Is there any freeware that can do this?
-------------------- jesus
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DieCommie


Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: Baeosistine]
#8147719 - 03/14/08 09:59 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Well I tried Arconis and it did not work. I made a windows restore point. Then I made an image of my OS partition with arconis, along with a boot disk. I then purposfully went into the WINDOWS file and deleted a bunch of crazy shit. Then I went to restore using arconis, and I get an error when restoring. I tired that a few times. When I try to boot I get "NTLDR is missing" which is ironically the problem that I had yesterday. So I have a boot disk that goes past the NTLDR problem and get into windows. Here I try arconis recovery from within windows... errors and it doesnt work. I try the windows restore point, doesnt work. 
I am going to have to reinstall the OS, which is OK. But what pisses me off is I have no feasible way of recovering the OS if/when it fucks up.
Thx for the suggestions though, Im open to new ones.
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tak
geo's henchman




Registered: 11/20/00
Posts: 3,776
Loc: nowhereland
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: DieCommie]
#8148415 - 03/15/08 03:25 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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That's good to know man. I'd like to hear some people chime in. I was foolishly about to start making images without making sure the system was fully functional -- just configured right.
Very curious to see where this leads.
-------------------- The DJ's took pills to stay awake and play for seven days.
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Legend9123



Registered: 09/24/06
Posts: 2,590
Last seen: 1 year, 7 days
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: DieCommie]
#8149249 - 03/15/08 12:19 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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What partition was XP installed on and to where did you install it? If it wasn't C:/ then I think I know your problem.
-------------------- Those who would give up a little freedom to get a little security shall soon have neither. -Benjamin Franklin
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DieCommie


Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: Legend9123]
#8149322 - 03/15/08 12:44 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Windows was on C:, and that was where arconis was installed. But that shouldnt matter should it? I saved the backup image to a different HD, as well as a different computer on the network.
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Legend9123



Registered: 09/24/06
Posts: 2,590
Last seen: 1 year, 7 days
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: DieCommie]
#8149426 - 03/15/08 01:18 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
DieCommie said: Well I tried Arconis and it did not work. I made a windows restore point. Then I made an image of my OS partition with arconis, along with a boot disk. I then purposfully went into the WINDOWS file and deleted a bunch of crazy shit. Then I went to restore using arconis, and I get an error when restoring. I tired that a few times. When I try to boot I get "NTLDR is missing" which is ironically the problem that I had yesterday. So I have a boot disk that goes past the NTLDR problem and get into windows. Here I try arconis recovery from within windows... errors and it doesnt work. I try the windows restore point, doesnt work. 
Can you explain a little more? Were you having this problem before you decided to make a backup or did it start after?
-------------------- Those who would give up a little freedom to get a little security shall soon have neither. -Benjamin Franklin
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Diploid
Cuban



Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 19,274
Loc: Rabbit Hole
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: DieCommie]
#8149430 - 03/15/08 01:20 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I am going to have to reinstall the OS, which is OK. But what pisses me off is I have no feasible way of recovering the OS if/when it fucks up.
I do this all the time and it works fine. In fact, I use Acronis as my uninstaller as well as for backups. I backup the C: drive before I install software. Then if I don't like what I installed, I restore the backup of C: and everything is back like it was. I've done this every few days for years, so I know it works.
Note that while you CAN make a backup of the OS partition while you're booted into it, you CAN'T restore it while you're booted into it because of write-locked OS files. To restore, you have to boot off the Acronis CD which actually boots a customized Linux under the covers.
Also, did you backup the master boot record for the boot partition? You may be clobbering your MBR somehow and without that as part of the backup, restoring the OS may not work.
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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DieCommie


Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: Legend9123]
#8149464 - 03/15/08 01:27 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Legend9123 said:Can you explain a little more? Were you having this problem before you decided to make a backup or did it start after?
I had this problem after I made the backup and after I purposefully destroyed my windows files.
I had that problem on thursday too, (caused by partition magic) but that was a separate issue and have since reformatted.
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DieCommie


Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: Diploid]
#8149482 - 03/15/08 01:31 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Diploid said: Note that while you CAN make a backup of the OS partition while you're booted into it, you CAN'T restore it while you're booted into it because of write-locked OS files. To restore, you have to boot off the Acronis CD which actually boots a customized Linux under the covers.
Also, did you backup the master boot record for the boot partition? You may be clobbering your MBR somehow and without that as part of the backup, restoring the OS may not work.
Yea, i did boot off of the acronis CD. After reimaging my OS partition, it put into some command line consel that wouldnt let me exit, so I had to restart. When I restart I get errors.
Im not sure that I backed up the master boot record... I did try to restore it (in acronis I can restore the windows image or the MBR), but I saw no option to back it up. I assumed that when I backed up my windows OS, the MBR was backed up with it. I will look into that.
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DieCommie


Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: DieCommie]
#8149531 - 03/15/08 01:43 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I hunted around the arconis software for a way to backup the MBR. There is none. I can only assume that it backs that up automatically when I tell it to backup the C: drive, or that it doest back it up at all.
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Diploid
Cuban



Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 19,274
Loc: Rabbit Hole
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: DieCommie]
#8149561 - 03/15/08 01:48 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Weird problem. Are you using any kind of multi-boot manager? NTLDR is the thing the BIOS hands off to as the very first executable file of the OS in the bootup sequence. If you're using a boot manager, that might be causing the problem.
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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Legend9123



Registered: 09/24/06
Posts: 2,590
Last seen: 1 year, 7 days
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: Diploid]
#8149576 - 03/15/08 01:52 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I am kind of stumped on this one as well. I mean it is easily fixable by doing a recovery from windows recovery console but that shouldn't have to happen.
-------------------- Those who would give up a little freedom to get a little security shall soon have neither. -Benjamin Franklin
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DieCommie


Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: Legend9123]
#8149609 - 03/15/08 01:57 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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The NTLDR was not fixable from windows recovery. Specifically, FIXBOOT and FIXMBR did not work under windows recovery...
I dont use a boot manager (not sure what that is)
EDIT - When I exit acronis boot disk I expect to reboot the computer. Instead I get a whole screen of stuff with "Please press Enter to activate this console. I hit enter and get a prompt "/ # _ ". Wierd.
Just to clarify, arconis should be able to rebuild my OS partition/image even if I stuck a different hard drive in there.
Edited by Qubit (03/15/08 02:06 PM)
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Diploid
Cuban



Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 19,274
Loc: Rabbit Hole
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Re: Backup image of fresh XP install [Re: DieCommie]
#8149632 - 03/15/08 02:03 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I dont use a boot manager (not sure what that is)
It's what you would use to support, for example, both Linux and Windows on the same machine. When you power up, the boot manager screen comes up first and asks you which OS you want to boot, then it starts the one you select.
I dunno why this isn't working for you. The only thing left to try is to pay for it and get tech support.
Are you sure your copy of Acronis is complete and correct? If you're not absolutely sure, I can hook you up with my copy and paid-for serial number. Just don't give it to anyone else. If you want it, PM me and I'll set it up on my FTP server for download.
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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