backing up settings

[Guest Jo-Anne]

I'm about to install Acronis True Image 11 on my new laptop computer running

Windows XP SP2. Before I do that, is there any way to back up my current

settings? I've tweaked a number of things and don't want to lose what I've

done if something goes wrong in the installation. (I don't have a floppy

drive.) I also plan to create a Restore Point before installing the program,

so I suppose that would protect everything.

 

Thank you!

 

Jo-Anne

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: backing up settings

 

Creating a System Restore point before you do it sounds good, if you have no

other already previously installed backup imagining or cloning software to

use. Or you could also use ERUNT, but ERUNT only backs up the system

registry and its associated files, so it's not as complete, of course.

 

Jo-Anne wrote:

> I'm about to install Acronis True Image 11 on my new laptop computer

> running

> Windows XP SP2. Before I do that, is there any way to back up my current

> settings? I've tweaked a number of things and don't want to lose what I've

> done if something goes wrong in the installation. (I don't have a floppy

> drive.) I also plan to create a Restore Point before installing the

> program,

> so I suppose that would protect everything.

>

> Thank you!

>

> Jo-Anne

[Guest Jo-Anne]

Re: backing up settings

 

Thank you, Bill! I guess System Restore is my best bet.

 

Jo-Anne

 

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

news:uUuMdfJFJHA.2072@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> Creating a System Restore point before you do it sounds good, if you have

> no other already previously installed backup imagining or cloning software

> to use. Or you could also use ERUNT, but ERUNT only backs up the system

> registry and its associated files, so it's not as complete, of course.

>

> Jo-Anne wrote:

>> I'm about to install Acronis True Image 11 on my new laptop computer

>> running

>> Windows XP SP2. Before I do that, is there any way to back up my current

>> settings? I've tweaked a number of things and don't want to lose what

>> I've

>> done if something goes wrong in the installation. (I don't have a floppy

>> drive.) I also plan to create a Restore Point before installing the

>> program,

>> so I suppose that would protect everything.

>>

>> Thank you!

>>

>> Jo-Anne

>

>

[Guest Stephen Harris]

Re: backing up settings

 

Jo-Anne wrote:

> I'm about to install Acronis True Image 11 on my new laptop computer running

> Windows XP SP2. Before I do that, is there any way to back up my current

> settings? I've tweaked a number of things and don't want to lose what I've

> done if something goes wrong in the installation. (I don't have a floppy

> drive.) I also plan to create a Restore Point before installing the program,

> so I suppose that would protect everything.

>

> Thank you!

>

> Jo-Anne

>

>

 

Installing Acronis True Image 11 has little risk.

It is the next step which introduces some risk.

If you don't have your hard drive pretty full,

say 17 gigs of used space, you can do your backup

to 4 dvds; more than 4 becomes confusing later.

 

Then you can make a backup to a hidden partition

on your hard drive called Acronis Secure Zone (SZ).

Many of the new laptops have a hidden partition

used for the OS and drivers restore. If the F11 key

is used to access this hidden partition then *do not*

activate "Acronis Startup Recovery Manager", because

it also wants to use the F11 key. Instead, also under

Tools, create a bootable rescue media. This lets you

boot to SZ and not use F11 saving F11 for the laptop

hidden partition, if it has one.

 

To see how big your hard drive is, click on My Computer

and look at C: your local drive. Suppose you have an

160 gig hard drive. Open a command prompt by going to

Start -> Run and then type cmd <enter>. That will open

up a command prompt; then type dir <enter>

C:\>dir <enter>

This will generate a report, and at the bottom will say

34 Dir(s) 29,524,869,120 bytes free

 

This is an example, not the exact number you should see.

 

So suppose I had a 40 gig hard drive. Subtracting the

29,524,869,120 bytes free would mean I was actually

using about 10.5 gigs, which would take about 3 dvds

to backup or you could use 12-15 gigs to create a SZ.

The SZ is another hidden partition on the disk and it

takes up space even if you don't see it reported.

This SZ method will work quite well with a new laptop

that hasn't used up lots of space and has a pretty

large hard drive. There is not much risk to making a

backup to dvds, other than the backup might get corrupted

so you would need to validate it. There is some risk in

making a SZ because the partition is resized, but it

nearly always works well.

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: backing up settings

 

To add to this - I recommend that you do NOT install or use the Acronis

Secure Zone feature, but, instead, always backup *to another disk*, and NOT

the one the operating system is on! If you do that, you will not suffer

from any of the potential pitfalls of using the Acronis Secure Zone

(including the boot up modifications that can result, if using the Secure

Zone)

 

Stephen Harris wrote:

> Jo-Anne wrote:

>> I'm about to install Acronis True Image 11 on my new laptop computer

>> running

>> Windows XP SP2. Before I do that, is there any way to back up my current

>> settings? I've tweaked a number of things and don't want to lose what

>> I've

>> done if something goes wrong in the installation. (I don't have a floppy

>> drive.) I also plan to create a Restore Point before installing the

>> program,

>> so I suppose that would protect everything.

>>

>> Thank you!

>>

>> Jo-Anne

>>

>>

>

> Installing Acronis True Image 11 has little risk.

> It is the next step which introduces some risk.

> If you don't have your hard drive pretty full,

> say 17 gigs of used space, you can do your backup

> to 4 dvds; more than 4 becomes confusing later.

>

> Then you can make a backup to a hidden partition

> on your hard drive called Acronis Secure Zone (SZ).

> Many of the new laptops have a hidden partition

> used for the OS and drivers restore. If the F11 key

> is used to access this hidden partition then *do not*

> activate "Acronis Startup Recovery Manager", because

> it also wants to use the F11 key. Instead, also under

> Tools, create a bootable rescue media. This lets you

> boot to SZ and not use F11 saving F11 for the laptop

> hidden partition, if it has one.

>

> To see how big your hard drive is, click on My Computer

> and look at C: your local drive. Suppose you have an

> 160 gig hard drive. Open a command prompt by going to

> Start -> Run and then type cmd <enter>. That will open

> up a command prompt; then type dir <enter>

> C:\>dir <enter>

> This will generate a report, and at the bottom will say

> 34 Dir(s) 29,524,869,120 bytes free

>

> This is an example, not the exact number you should see.

>

> So suppose I had a 40 gig hard drive. Subtracting the

> 29,524,869,120 bytes free would mean I was actually

> using about 10.5 gigs, which would take about 3 dvds

> to backup or you could use 12-15 gigs to create a SZ.

> The SZ is another hidden partition on the disk and it

> takes up space even if you don't see it reported.

> This SZ method will work quite well with a new laptop

> that hasn't used up lots of space and has a pretty

> large hard drive. There is not much risk to making a

> backup to dvds, other than the backup might get corrupted

> so you would need to validate it. There is some risk in

> making a SZ because the partition is resized, but it

> nearly always works well.

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: backing up settings

 

I think so, but only with the caveat I gave in the other post (of avoiding

setting up and using the Acronis Secure Zone, but instead, storing ALL

backups on a separate HD).

 

 

Jo-Anne wrote:

> Thank you, Bill! I guess System Restore is my best bet.

>

> Jo-Anne

>

> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

> news:uUuMdfJFJHA.2072@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> Creating a System Restore point before you do it sounds good, if you have

>> no other already previously installed backup imagining or cloning

>> software

>> to use. Or you could also use ERUNT, but ERUNT only backs up the system

>> registry and its associated files, so it's not as complete, of course.

>>

>> Jo-Anne wrote:

>>> I'm about to install Acronis True Image 11 on my new laptop computer

>>> running

>>> Windows XP SP2. Before I do that, is there any way to back up my current

>>> settings? I've tweaked a number of things and don't want to lose what

>>> I've

>>> done if something goes wrong in the installation. (I don't have a floppy

>>> drive.) I also plan to create a Restore Point before installing the

>>> program,

>>> so I suppose that would protect everything.

>>>

>>> Thank you!

>>>

>>> Jo-Anne

[Guest Anteaus]

Re: backing up settings

 

The other option is to create a bootable CD with the Acronis imaging

software. This then involves NO software installation, you boot into the CD,

which loads DOS and the Acronis software directly.

 

On a laptop, whatever method is used, the issue is always where to store the

backup. A USB hard-disk is possible as most of these will work under DOS,

however it may be rather slow.

 

"Bill in Co." wrote:

> To add to this - I recommend that you do NOT install or use the Acronis

> Secure Zone feature, but, instead, always backup *to another disk*, and NOT

> the one the operating system is on! If you do that, you will not suffer

> from any of the potential pitfalls of using the Acronis Secure Zone

> (including the boot up modifications that can result, if using the Secure

> Zone)

>

[Guest M.I.5¾]

Re: backing up settings

 

 

"Anteaus" <Anteaus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:85C1EB7E-FA5A-4D3A-85FB-1E9EB9A5A926@microsoft.com...

> The other option is to create a bootable CD with the Acronis imaging

> software. This then involves NO software installation, you boot into the

> CD,

> which loads DOS and the Acronis software directly.

>

 

No it doesn't. It loads Linux.

> On a laptop, whatever method is used, the issue is always where to store

> the

> backup. A USB hard-disk is possible as most of these will work under DOS,

> however it may be rather slow.

>

 

It is slower than when done through XP, but it isn't that much slower.

Better would be a firewire drive (if the PC has a firewire port). In any

event, you can always let the whole thing do its stuff while you are doing

something else.

[Guest Jo-Anne]

Re: backing up settings

 

Thank you, Bill, Stephen, and Anteaus! I should have mentioned that I do use

Acronis on my old computer. I bought a new copy for the new laptop because

Acronis licenses its software for only one computer. What I wanted to do was

back up my antivirus program and all the changes I've made in various

settings before trying to install the Acronis program--and if I can't do

that, then System Restore should be helpful.

 

Once I install the Acronis software, I'll be backing up/imaging to two

external hard drives. I did manage to create a bootable CD with Acronis on

my old computer, and I used it to boot into the Acronis program and validate

one of my backups--just to make sure it would work that way.

 

After Acronis is working on my new computer, I'll be able to back up

everything with it and will then be ready to install SP3 and all the other

Microsoft updates and then the rest of my programs.

 

I'm slowly getting acquainted with the new computer.

 

Thanks again!

 

Jo-Anne

 

"Anteaus" <Anteaus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:85C1EB7E-FA5A-4D3A-85FB-1E9EB9A5A926@microsoft.com...

> The other option is to create a bootable CD with the Acronis imaging

> software. This then involves NO software installation, you boot into the

> CD,

> which loads DOS and the Acronis software directly.

>

> On a laptop, whatever method is used, the issue is always where to store

> the

> backup. A USB hard-disk is possible as most of these will work under DOS,

> however it may be rather slow.

>

> "Bill in Co." wrote:

>

>> To add to this - I recommend that you do NOT install or use the Acronis

>> Secure Zone feature, but, instead, always backup *to another disk*, and

>> NOT

>> the one the operating system is on! If you do that, you will not

>> suffer

>> from any of the potential pitfalls of using the Acronis Secure Zone

>> (including the boot up modifications that can result, if using the Secure

>> Zone)

>>

>

[Guest Kayman]

Re: backing up settings

 

On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:26:55 -0500, Jo-Anne wrote:

> I'm about to install Acronis True Image 11 on my new laptop computer running

> Windows XP SP2. Before I do that, is there any way to back up my current

> settings? I've tweaked a number of things and don't want to lose what I've

> done if something goes wrong in the installation. (I don't have a floppy

> drive.) I also plan to create a Restore Point before installing the program,

> so I suppose that would protect everything.

>

Why don't you upgrade to SP3 first?

[Guest Jo-Anne]

Re: backing up settings

 

Well, I've read in the updates newsgroup that sometimes a bad installation

of SP3 (and other updates) can make a mess. I figured that if I had already

imaged the drive, I could always restore from the image. Although Microsoft

is supposed to create a Restore Point before installing SP3, I worry about

the possibility of not being able to even boot the computer. And since I'm

still quite new at dealing with anything beyond word processing, databases,

email, and the web, I want to use whatever safeguards I can.

 

Jo-Anne

 

"Kayman" <kaymanDeleteThis@operamail.com> wrote in message

news:uwFjBXLFJHA.5448@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:26:55 -0500, Jo-Anne wrote:

>

>> I'm about to install Acronis True Image 11 on my new laptop computer

>> running

>> Windows XP SP2. Before I do that, is there any way to back up my current

>> settings? I've tweaked a number of things and don't want to lose what

>> I've

>> done if something goes wrong in the installation. (I don't have a floppy

>> drive.) I also plan to create a Restore Point before installing the

>> program,

>> so I suppose that would protect everything.

>>

> Why don't you upgrade to SP3 first?

[Guest Jo-Anne]

Re: backing up settings

 

"M.I.5¾" <no.one@no.where.NO_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message

news:48ca1bff$1_1@glkas0286.greenlnk.net...

>

> "Anteaus" <Anteaus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:85C1EB7E-FA5A-4D3A-85FB-1E9EB9A5A926@microsoft.com...

>> The other option is to create a bootable CD with the Acronis imaging

>> software. This then involves NO software installation, you boot into the

>> CD,

>> which loads DOS and the Acronis software directly.

>>

>

> No it doesn't. It loads Linux.

>

>> On a laptop, whatever method is used, the issue is always where to store

>> the

>> backup. A USB hard-disk is possible as most of these will work under DOS,

>> however it may be rather slow.

>>

>

> It is slower than when done through XP, but it isn't that much slower.

> Better would be a firewire drive (if the PC has a firewire port). In any

> event, you can always let the whole thing do its stuff while you are doing

> something else.

>

>

My external drives aren't firewire, but as you said, I start the backup and

do something else while it's working. The one area of backing up with

Acronis that is really slow is validation. It's slow even with one backup;

but I've read that where there are multiple backups on a drive, it

re-validates the old ones as well as the new one, which can take many hours.

A friend of mine starts his Acronis full backup every night before going to

bed, and that way it's done when he's ready to work on the computer the next

day.

 

I'll check into whether I have a firewire port on the new computer. I know I

don't on the old one.

 

Thank you!

 

Jo-Anne

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: backing up settings

 

Sounds good.

(Besides which, SP3 is *optional* - and, thanks, but no thanks, pour moi)

 

Jo-Anne wrote:

> Well, I've read in the updates newsgroup that sometimes a bad installation

> of SP3 (and other updates) can make a mess. I figured that if I had

> already

> imaged the drive, I could always restore from the image. Although

> Microsoft

> is supposed to create a Restore Point before installing SP3, I worry about

> the possibility of not being able to even boot the computer. And since I'm

> still quite new at dealing with anything beyond word processing,

> databases,

> email, and the web, I want to use whatever safeguards I can.

>

> Jo-Anne

>

> "Kayman" <kaymanDeleteThis@operamail.com> wrote in message

> news:uwFjBXLFJHA.5448@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:26:55 -0500, Jo-Anne wrote:

>>

>>> I'm about to install Acronis True Image 11 on my new laptop computer

>>> running

>>> Windows XP SP2. Before I do that, is there any way to back up my current

>>> settings? I've tweaked a number of things and don't want to lose what

>>> I've

>>> done if something goes wrong in the installation. (I don't have a floppy

>>> drive.) I also plan to create a Restore Point before installing the

>>> program,

>>> so I suppose that would protect everything.

>>>

>> Why don't you upgrade to SP3 first?

[Guest smlunatick]

Re: backing up settings

 

On Sep 12, 9:04 pm, "Bill in Co." <not_really_h...@earthlink.net>

wrote:

> Sounds good.

> (Besides which, SP3 is *optional* - and, thanks, but no thanks, pour moi)

>

> Jo-Anne wrote:

> > Well, I've read in the updates newsgroup that sometimes a bad installation

> > of SP3 (and other updates) can make a mess. I figured that if I had

> > already

> > imaged the drive, I could always restore from the image. Although

> > Microsoft

> > is supposed to create a Restore Point before installing SP3, I worry about

> > the possibility of not being able to even boot the computer. And since I'm

> > still quite new at dealing with anything beyond word processing,

> > databases,

> > email, and the web, I want to use whatever safeguards I can.

>

> > Jo-Anne

>

> > "Kayman" <kaymanDeleteT...@operamail.com> wrote in message

> >news:uwFjBXLFJHA.5448@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> >> On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:26:55 -0500, Jo-Anne wrote:

>

> >>> I'm about to install Acronis True Image 11 on my new laptop computer

> >>> running

> >>> Windows XP SP2. Before I do that, is there any way to back up my current

> >>> settings? I've tweaked a number of things and don't want to lose what

> >>> I've

> >>> done if something goes wrong in the installation. (I don't have a floppy

> >>> drive.) I also plan to create a Restore Point before installing the

> >>> program,

> >>> so I suppose that would protect everything.

>

> >> Why don't you upgrade to SP3 first?

 

Unfortunately, at the end of August, Microsoft has placed SP3 as an

automatic security update. They have now made not an optional

download and it will install when Automatic Update is enabled.

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: backing up settings

 

smlunatick wrote:

> On Sep 12, 9:04 pm, "Bill in Co." <not_really_h...@earthlink.net>

> wrote:

>> Sounds good.

>> (Besides which, SP3 is *optional* - and, thanks, but no thanks, pour

>> moi!)

>>

>> Jo-Anne wrote:

>>> Well, I've read in the updates newsgroup that sometimes a bad

>>> installation

>>> of SP3 (and other updates) can make a mess. I figured that if I had

>>> already

>>> imaged the drive, I could always restore from the image. Although

>>> Microsoft

>>> is supposed to create a Restore Point before installing SP3, I worry

>>> about

>>> the possibility of not being able to even boot the computer. And since

>>> I'm

>>> still quite new at dealing with anything beyond word processing,

>>> databases,

>>> email, and the web, I want to use whatever safeguards I can.

>>

>>> Jo-Anne

>>

>>> "Kayman" <kaymanDeleteT...@operamail.com> wrote in message

>>> news:uwFjBXLFJHA.5448@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>>> On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:26:55 -0500, Jo-Anne wrote:

>>

>>>>> I'm about to install Acronis True Image 11 on my new laptop computer

>>>>> running

>>>>> Windows XP SP2. Before I do that, is there any way to back up my

>>>>> current

>>>>> settings? I've tweaked a number of things and don't want to lose what

>>>>> I've

>>>>> done if something goes wrong in the installation. (I don't have a

>>>>> floppy

>>>>> drive.) I also plan to create a Restore Point before installing the

>>>>> program, so I suppose that would protect everything.

>>

>>>> Why don't you upgrade to SP3 first?

>

> Unfortunately, at the end of August, Microsoft has placed SP3 as an

> automatic security update. They have now made not an optional

> download and it will install when Automatic Update is enabled.

 

Well, that won't affect me, as I have that automatic update crap disabled

(as in, I wasn't born yesterday :-)

[Guest Daave]

Re: backing up settings

 

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

news:%23iYoOLRFJHA.768@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> (Besides which, SP3 is *optional* - and, thanks, but no thanks, pour

> moi)

 

What's the big deal? Surely you've been hanging around this newsgroup

long enough to know the "best practices" way to install SP3. You already

image your hard drive. So image your hard drive and install SP3. There

is a 99% chance you will have no problems at all. If you do have

problems, simply restore your image that has SP2.

 

If you intend on keeping XP, you will more than likely need to

eventually upgrade to SP3 anyway to stay current with security updates

and possibly for future software or hardware compatibility.

[Guest M.I.5¾]

Re: backing up settings

 

 

"Jo-Anne" <naples@tbcnet.com> wrote in message

news:uqqDYUPFJHA.768@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> "M.I.5¾" <no.one@no.where.NO_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message

> news:48ca1bff$1_1@glkas0286.greenlnk.net...

>>

>> "Anteaus" <Anteaus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:85C1EB7E-FA5A-4D3A-85FB-1E9EB9A5A926@microsoft.com...

>>> The other option is to create a bootable CD with the Acronis imaging

>>> software. This then involves NO software installation, you boot into the

>>> CD,

>>> which loads DOS and the Acronis software directly.

>>>

>>

>> No it doesn't. It loads Linux.

>>

>>> On a laptop, whatever method is used, the issue is always where to store

>>> the

>>> backup. A USB hard-disk is possible as most of these will work under

>>> DOS,

>>> however it may be rather slow.

>>>

>>

>> It is slower than when done through XP, but it isn't that much slower.

>> Better would be a firewire drive (if the PC has a firewire port). In any

>> event, you can always let the whole thing do its stuff while you are

>> doing something else.

>>

>>

> My external drives aren't firewire, but as you said, I start the backup

> and do something else while it's working.

 

What I meant was doing something else, like watching telly or going down the

pub. Doing something else on the same PC is a very bad idea as it means

that some files are changing while the backup is being made.

> The one area of backing up with Acronis that is really slow is validation.

> It's slow even with one backup; but I've read that where there are

> multiple backups on a drive, it re-validates the old ones as well as the

> new one, which can take many hours. A friend of mine starts his Acronis

> full backup every night before going to bed, and that way it's done when

> he's ready to work on the computer the next day.

>

 

I use a father/grandfather backup system and take the risk that the backup

is OK. The odds of two failing are very low. I take it that you have

actually checked that you can restore a backup in anger? You would be

surprised on how many don't and discover the point they've overlooked when

they have to.

> I'll check into whether I have a firewire port on the new computer. I know

> I don't on the old one.

>

> Thank you!

>

> Jo-Anne

>

[Guest smlunatick]

Re: backing up settings

 

On Sep 12, 10:28 pm, "Bill in Co." <not_really_h...@earthlink.net>

wrote:

> smlunatick wrote:

> > On Sep 12, 9:04 pm, "Bill in Co." <not_really_h...@earthlink.net>

> > wrote:

> >> Sounds good.

> >> (Besides which, SP3 is *optional* - and, thanks, but no thanks, pour

> >> moi!)

>

> >> Jo-Anne wrote:

> >>> Well, I've read in the updates newsgroup that sometimes a bad

> >>> installation

> >>> of SP3 (and other updates) can make a mess. I figured that if I had

> >>> already

> >>> imaged the drive, I could always restore from the image. Although

> >>> Microsoft

> >>> is supposed to create a Restore Point before installing SP3, I worry

> >>> about

> >>> the possibility of not being able to even boot the computer. And since

> >>> I'm

> >>> still quite new at dealing with anything beyond word processing,

> >>> databases,

> >>> email, and the web, I want to use whatever safeguards I can.

>

> >>> Jo-Anne

>

> >>> "Kayman" <kaymanDeleteT...@operamail.com> wrote in message

> >>>news:uwFjBXLFJHA.5448@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> >>>> On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:26:55 -0500, Jo-Anne wrote:

>

> >>>>> I'm about to install Acronis True Image 11 on my new laptop computer

> >>>>> running

> >>>>> Windows XP SP2. Before I do that, is there any way to back up my

> >>>>> current

> >>>>> settings? I've tweaked a number of things and don't want to lose what

> >>>>> I've

> >>>>> done if something goes wrong in the installation. (I don't have a

> >>>>> floppy

> >>>>> drive.) I also plan to create a Restore Point before installing the

> >>>>> program, so I suppose that would protect everything.

>

> >>>> Why don't you upgrade to SP3 first?

>

> > Unfortunately, at the end of August, Microsoft has placed SP3 as an

> > automatic security update.  They have now made not an optional

> > download and it will install when Automatic Update is enabled.

>

> Well, that won't affect me, as I have that automatic update crap disabled

> (as in, I wasn't born yesterday  :-)

 

But was there published acticles which mentioned that Microsoft can

"force" updates even with Automatic updates turned off (or with "just

notify") ??

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: backing up settings

 

smlunatick wrote:

> On Sep 12, 10:28 pm, "Bill in Co." <not_really_h...@earthlink.net>

> wrote:

>> smlunatick wrote:

>>> On Sep 12, 9:04 pm, "Bill in Co." <not_really_h...@earthlink.net>

>>> wrote:

>>>> Sounds good.

>>>> (Besides which, SP3 is *optional* - and, thanks, but no thanks, pour

>>>> moi!)

>>

>>>> Jo-Anne wrote:

>>>>> Well, I've read in the updates newsgroup that sometimes a bad

>>>>> installation

>>>>> of SP3 (and other updates) can make a mess. I figured that if I had

>>>>> already

>>>>> imaged the drive, I could always restore from the image. Although

>>>>> Microsoft

>>>>> is supposed to create a Restore Point before installing SP3, I worry

>>>>> about

>>>>> the possibility of not being able to even boot the computer. And since

>>>>> I'm

>>>>> still quite new at dealing with anything beyond word processing,

>>>>> databases,

>>>>> email, and the web, I want to use whatever safeguards I can.

>>

>>>>> Jo-Anne

>>

>>>>> "Kayman" <kaymanDeleteT...@operamail.com> wrote in message

>>>>> news:uwFjBXLFJHA.5448@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>>>>> On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:26:55 -0500, Jo-Anne wrote:

>>

>>>>>>> I'm about to install Acronis True Image 11 on my new laptop computer

>>>>>>> running

>>>>>>> Windows XP SP2. Before I do that, is there any way to back up my

>>>>>>> current

>>>>>>> settings? I've tweaked a number of things and don't want to lose

>>>>>>> what

>>>>>>> I've done if something goes wrong in the installation. (I don't have

>>>>>>> a

>>>>>>> floppy drive.) I also plan to create a Restore Point before

>>>>>>> installing the

>>>>>>> program, so I suppose that would protect everything.

>>

>>>>>> Why don't you upgrade to SP3 first?

>>

>>> Unfortunately, at the end of August, Microsoft has placed SP3 as an

>>> automatic security update. They have now made not an optional

>>> download and it will install when Automatic Update is enabled.

>>

>> Well, that won't affect me, as I have that automatic update crap disabled

>> (as in, I wasn't born yesterday :-)

>

> But was there published acticles which mentioned that Microsoft can

> "force" updates even with Automatic updates turned off (or with "just

> notify") ??

 

Ain't happening over here. I'm on dial-up, so trust me, I'd know if it

attempts it (since any such incoming disk activity would be painfully

obvious on dial-up). I've disabled all of it.