Creating a boot CD

July 17, 2007

I want to create a boot CD for my PC with XP.

It looks difficult, I'm not an IT wizard but am proficient with tinkering

around and following instructions; I have read articles about how to do this

and it looks like

a) you can create a boot disc - floppy disc version - if you have a floppy

drive. If you don't (I don't) you can buy an external floppy drive that links

in via a USB.

b) OR, you can go through the process of creating a CD which requires some

skill.

Other tasks linked to this are:

Creating a copy of XP files with all your preferences saved including

drivers etc...via Slipstreaming. ALso a bit scary and complex to me. I also

think there is NO guarantee that it will work and so don't want to waste my

time (is this true?).

I want to have all of this done so if my computer does get it in the neck,

I'm prepared - I can reinstall XP with all my settings, have a copy of my

drivers etc... However, it's a bit more than I bargained for with time and

expertise - I haven't quite decided if this is over my head.

I know there are some help articles on M website to do with this - I have

read some of them, but am looking for someone else's comments first.

Does anyone have any constructive comments about what I want to do here?

Has anyone been through this process? Was it V easy or V difficult?

Does anyone suggest an alternative to what I want to achieve? A piece of

software or a professional? ?

ANY constructive comments are very welcome.

Lex

July 17, 2007

Re: Creating a boot CD

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

news:7415AB2B-2E5D-4442-B3C7-E4A4215B2D73@microsoft.com...

>I want to create a boot CD for my PC with XP.

>

> It looks difficult, I'm not an IT wizard but am proficient with tinkering

> around and following instructions; I have read articles about how to do

> this

> and it looks like

>

> a) you can create a boot disc - floppy disc version - if you have a floppy

> drive. If you don't (I don't) you can buy an external floppy drive that

> links

> in via a USB.

> b) OR, you can go through the process of creating a CD which requires some

> skill.

>

> Other tasks linked to this are:

>

> Creating a copy of XP files with all your preferences saved including

> drivers etc...via Slipstreaming. ALso a bit scary and complex to me. I

> also

> think there is NO guarantee that it will work and so don't want to waste

> my

> time (is this true?).

>

> I want to have all of this done so if my computer does get it in the neck,

> I'm prepared - I can reinstall XP with all my settings, have a copy of my

> drivers etc... However, it's a bit more than I bargained for with time and

> expertise - I haven't quite decided if this is over my head.

>

> I know there are some help articles on M website to do with this - I have

> read some of them, but am looking for someone else's comments first.

>

> Does anyone have any constructive comments about what I want to do here?

> Has anyone been through this process? Was it V easy or V difficult?

> Does anyone suggest an alternative to what I want to achieve? A piece of

> software or a professional? ?

>

> ANY constructive comments are very welcome.

>

> Lex

>

You probably need Acronis TrueImage.

July 17, 2007

Re: Creating a boot CD

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

news:7415AB2B-2E5D-4442-B3C7-E4A4215B2D73@microsoft.com...

>I want to create a boot CD for my PC with XP.

>

> It looks difficult, I'm not an IT wizard but am proficient with tinkering

> around and following instructions; I have read articles about how to do

> this

> and it looks like

>

> a) you can create a boot disc - floppy disc version - if you have a floppy

> drive. If you don't (I don't) you can buy an external floppy drive that

> links

> in via a USB.

> b) OR, you can go through the process of creating a CD which requires some

> skill.

>

> Other tasks linked to this are:

>

> Creating a copy of XP files with all your preferences saved including

> drivers etc...via Slipstreaming. ALso a bit scary and complex to me. I

> also

> think there is NO guarantee that it will work and so don't want to waste

> my

> time (is this true?).

>

> I want to have all of this done so if my computer does get it in the neck,

> I'm prepared - I can reinstall XP with all my settings, have a copy of my

> drivers etc... However, it's a bit more than I bargained for with time and

> expertise - I haven't quite decided if this is over my head.

>

> I know there are some help articles on M website to do with this - I have

> read some of them, but am looking for someone else's comments first.

>

> Does anyone have any constructive comments about what I want to do here?

> Has anyone been through this process? Was it V easy or V difficult?

> Does anyone suggest an alternative to what I want to achieve? A piece of

> software or a professional? ?

>

> ANY constructive comments are very welcome.

>

> Lex

You are wanting to use an imaging program. This will make bootable

recovery CDs for you, if you choose the right options. It's very easy.

Acronis TrueImage Home creates these files sized for DVDs, but can write to

DVD. Create a base image, then do incremental backups. Periodically,

refresh the base image and start new sets.

No matter what you do, though, be sure to verify the backups.

HTH

-pk

July 17, 2007

Re: Creating a boot CD

Thanks very much for your comments - I've just been to see Acronis.

I thought this was what I was looking for, i.e. imaging.

I think the solution is an external hard-drive for backing up everything

Plus a piece of software to help with the copying. But I still think that I

need to create a boot disc, as you say on a DVD disc, because that is what

I'll need to get things going again if it all goes down. An external back-up

hard-drive won't get things going again, it only serves as a place to store

data.

Do you think that making this type of disc is an simple process?

And what does verifying mean?

Lex

"Patrick Keenan" wrote:

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

> news:7415AB2B-2E5D-4442-B3C7-E4A4215B2D73@microsoft.com...

> >I want to create a boot CD for my PC with XP.

> >

> > It looks difficult, I'm not an IT wizard but am proficient with tinkering

> > around and following instructions; I have read articles about how to do

> > this

> > and it looks like

> >

> > a) you can create a boot disc - floppy disc version - if you have a floppy

> > drive. If you don't (I don't) you can buy an external floppy drive that

> > links

> > in via a USB.

> > b) OR, you can go through the process of creating a CD which requires some

> > skill.

> >

> > Other tasks linked to this are:

> >

> > Creating a copy of XP files with all your preferences saved including

> > drivers etc...via Slipstreaming. ALso a bit scary and complex to me. I

> > also

> > think there is NO guarantee that it will work and so don't want to waste

> > my

> > time (is this true?).

> >

> > I want to have all of this done so if my computer does get it in the neck,

> > I'm prepared - I can reinstall XP with all my settings, have a copy of my

> > drivers etc... However, it's a bit more than I bargained for with time and

> > expertise - I haven't quite decided if this is over my head.

> >

> > I know there are some help articles on M website to do with this - I have

> > read some of them, but am looking for someone else's comments first.

> >

> > Does anyone have any constructive comments about what I want to do here?

> > Has anyone been through this process? Was it V easy or V difficult?

> > Does anyone suggest an alternative to what I want to achieve? A piece of

> > software or a professional? ?

> >

> > ANY constructive comments are very welcome.

> >

> > Lex

>

> You are wanting to use an imaging program. This will make bootable

> recovery CDs for you, if you choose the right options. It's very easy.

>

> Acronis TrueImage Home creates these files sized for DVDs, but can write to

> DVD. Create a base image, then do incremental backups. Periodically,

> refresh the base image and start new sets.

>

> No matter what you do, though, be sure to verify the backups.

>

> HTH

> -pk

>

July 17, 2007

Re: Creating a boot CD

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

news:D4C8BA2C-59BD-44AA-998B-6CC9F0AA090D@microsoft.com...

> Thanks very much for your comments - I've just been to see Acronis.

>

> I thought this was what I was looking for, i.e. imaging.

>

> I think the solution is an external hard-drive for backing up everything

> Plus a piece of software to help with the copying. But I still think that

> I

> need to create a boot disc, as you say on a DVD disc, because that is what

> I'll need to get things going again if it all goes down. An external

> back-up

> hard-drive won't get things going again, it only serves as a place to

> store

> data.

>

> Do you think that making this type of disc is an simple process?

>

> And what does verifying mean?

>

> Lex

>

> "Patrick Keenan" wrote:

>

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

>> news:7415AB2B-2E5D-4442-B3C7-E4A4215B2D73@microsoft.com...

>> >I want to create a boot CD for my PC with XP.

>> >

>> > It looks difficult, I'm not an IT wizard but am proficient with

>> > tinkering

>> > around and following instructions; I have read articles about how to do

>> > this

>> > and it looks like

>> >

>> > a) you can create a boot disc - floppy disc version - if you have a

>> > floppy

>> > drive. If you don't (I don't) you can buy an external floppy drive that

>> > links

>> > in via a USB.

>> > b) OR, you can go through the process of creating a CD which requires

>> > some

>> > skill.

>> >

>> > Other tasks linked to this are:

>> >

>> > Creating a copy of XP files with all your preferences saved including

>> > drivers etc...via Slipstreaming. ALso a bit scary and complex to me. I

>> > also

>> > think there is NO guarantee that it will work and so don't want to

>> > waste

>> > my

>> > time (is this true?).

>> >

>> > I want to have all of this done so if my computer does get it in the

>> > neck,

>> > I'm prepared - I can reinstall XP with all my settings, have a copy of

>> > my

>> > drivers etc... However, it's a bit more than I bargained for with time

>> > and

>> > expertise - I haven't quite decided if this is over my head.

>> >

>> > I know there are some help articles on M website to do with this - I

>> > have

>> > read some of them, but am looking for someone else's comments first.

>> >

>> > Does anyone have any constructive comments about what I want to do

>> > here?

>> > Has anyone been through this process? Was it V easy or V difficult?

>> > Does anyone suggest an alternative to what I want to achieve? A piece

>> > of

>> > software or a professional? ?

>> >

>> > ANY constructive comments are very welcome.

>> >

>> > Lex

>>

>> You are wanting to use an imaging program. This will make bootable

>> recovery CDs for you, if you choose the right options. It's very easy.

>>

>> Acronis TrueImage Home creates these files sized for DVDs, but can write

>> to

>> DVD. Create a base image, then do incremental backups. Periodically,

>> refresh the base image and start new sets.

>>

>> No matter what you do, though, be sure to verify the backups.

>>

>> HTH

>> -pk

>>

If you buy Acronis in the box, the CD is bootable. If you buy Acronis but

download of the net, then you can use Acronis to make a bootable CD. This

process only takes a few minutes

The latest Acronis also supplies a plugin for BartPE, and creating a BartPE

disk also only takes a few minutes.

Verifying means that you determine that the backup really does have the

files that you thought it had. The most painless way is to download the

backup to a second, unused, and spare disk.

Acronis will also clone any disk to one which is as large or large than the

source.

Jim

July 17, 2007

Re: Creating a boot CD

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

news:D4C8BA2C-59BD-44AA-998B-6CC9F0AA090D@microsoft.com...

> Thanks very much for your comments - I've just been to see Acronis.

>

> I thought this was what I was looking for, i.e. imaging.

>

> I think the solution is an external hard-drive for backing up everything

> Plus a piece of software to help with the copying. But I still think that

> I

> need to create a boot disc, as you say on a DVD disc, because that is what

> I'll need to get things going again if it all goes down. An external

> back-up

> hard-drive won't get things going again, it only serves as a place to

> store

> data.

Keep in mind that hard disks do fail. One thing you want to avoid is

relying on only one backup.

>

> Do you think that making this type of disc is an simple process?

Yes, it's very easy. Imaging programs use this as a basic restore feature.

It's a checkbox and OK, and it does it.

>

> And what does verifying mean?

It means being sure that the backup worked, that the backed-up data is valid

and matches the original. With non-image backups, you restore data to

another location and compare it to the original. With imaging, you mount

the image (which assigns the image a drive letter), and then compare the

mounted files with the originals. Or, just try opening files from the

mounted image.

Check out the free trial version of True Image; it's big, but will give you

a very good idea of how it works, at little cost. I don't know if the

other imaging product manufacturers have trial versions.

HTH

-pk

>

> Lex

>

> "Patrick Keenan" wrote:

>

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

>> news:7415AB2B-2E5D-4442-B3C7-E4A4215B2D73@microsoft.com...

>> >I want to create a boot CD for my PC with XP.

>> >

>> > It looks difficult, I'm not an IT wizard but am proficient with

>> > tinkering

>> > around and following instructions; I have read articles about how to do

>> > this

>> > and it looks like

>> >

>> > a) you can create a boot disc - floppy disc version - if you have a

>> > floppy

>> > drive. If you don't (I don't) you can buy an external floppy drive that

>> > links

>> > in via a USB.

>> > b) OR, you can go through the process of creating a CD which requires

>> > some

>> > skill.

>> >

>> > Other tasks linked to this are:

>> >

>> > Creating a copy of XP files with all your preferences saved including

>> > drivers etc...via Slipstreaming. ALso a bit scary and complex to me. I

>> > also

>> > think there is NO guarantee that it will work and so don't want to

>> > waste

>> > my

>> > time (is this true?).

>> >

>> > I want to have all of this done so if my computer does get it in the

>> > neck,

>> > I'm prepared - I can reinstall XP with all my settings, have a copy of

>> > my

>> > drivers etc... However, it's a bit more than I bargained for with time

>> > and

>> > expertise - I haven't quite decided if this is over my head.

>> >

>> > I know there are some help articles on M website to do with this - I

>> > have

>> > read some of them, but am looking for someone else's comments first.

>> >

>> > Does anyone have any constructive comments about what I want to do

>> > here?

>> > Has anyone been through this process? Was it V easy or V difficult?

>> > Does anyone suggest an alternative to what I want to achieve? A piece

>> > of

>> > software or a professional? ?

>> >

>> > ANY constructive comments are very welcome.

>> >

>> > Lex

>>

>> You are wanting to use an imaging program. This will make bootable

>> recovery CDs for you, if you choose the right options. It's very easy.

>>

>> Acronis TrueImage Home creates these files sized for DVDs, but can write

>> to

>> DVD. Create a base image, then do incremental backups. Periodically,

>> refresh the base image and start new sets.

>>

>> No matter what you do, though, be sure to verify the backups.

>>

>> HTH

>> -pk

>>

July 17, 2007

RE: Creating a boot CD

Lex:

Here's the way I look at PC breakdowns. It's always right before I need to

get that important project done, and if I need a new PC, the sale on it was

last week.

Because i have a computer network at home, the wife and i,and the two kids

each have our PC's networked, and another one PC acting as the server, and a

spare laptop, what I do is.

- All important software, i.e. Microsoft office, Quickbooks, Norton Ghost

are installed on more than one machine.

- The server and two other machine have backup software (Norton Ghost)

installed and automtic backups done daily

- I'm making increaisng use of web based storage, and other services, that I

don't use PC based software for many of my day to day opeations anyway.

The advantages of my approach:

- If the PC malfunctions, I don't have to immediately fix any PC, all I have

to do is access the server from another PC. If the "server PC" malfuctions,

it's backup on a USB drive on Norton Ghost can be immediately restored on

another PC already with Norton Ghost installed and running, and this PC

becomes the new server.

- I can start using the spare laptop, and take my time fisxing the broken

PC, or take my time waiting for that "Labor Day sale".

- If need be, i just reinstall the OS, reintall software, and if it's the

server, restore the data files. The advantage is I'm not restoring an image

that may be loaded with viruses and other malware.

Bottomline

Doing it this way, I don't need boot CD's.

Frank Chin

"Lex" wrote:

> I want to create a boot CD for my PC with XP.

>

> It looks difficult, I'm not an IT wizard but am proficient with tinkering

> around and following instructions; I have read articles about how to do this

> and it looks like

>

> a) you can create a boot disc - floppy disc version - if you have a floppy

> drive. If you don't (I don't) you can buy an external floppy drive that links

> in via a USB.

> b) OR, you can go through the process of creating a CD which requires some

> skill.

>

> Other tasks linked to this are:

>

> Creating a copy of XP files with all your preferences saved including

> drivers etc...via Slipstreaming. ALso a bit scary and complex to me. I also

> think there is NO guarantee that it will work and so don't want to waste my

> time (is this true?).

>

> I want to have all of this done so if my computer does get it in the neck,

> I'm prepared - I can reinstall XP with all my settings, have a copy of my

> drivers etc... However, it's a bit more than I bargained for with time and

> expertise - I haven't quite decided if this is over my head.

>

> I know there are some help articles on M website to do with this - I have

> read some of them, but am looking for someone else's comments first.

>

> Does anyone have any constructive comments about what I want to do here?

> Has anyone been through this process? Was it V easy or V difficult?

> Does anyone suggest an alternative to what I want to achieve? A piece of

> software or a professional? ?

>

> ANY constructive comments are very welcome.

>

> Lex

>

July 18, 2007

Re: Creating a boot CD

"Patrick Keenan" <test@dev.null> wrote in message

news:eBY3%23vLyHHA.1568@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

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

> news:D4C8BA2C-59BD-44AA-998B-6CC9F0AA090D@microsoft.com...

>> Thanks very much for your comments - I've just been to see Acronis.

>>

>> I thought this was what I was looking for, i.e. imaging.

>>

>> I think the solution is an external hard-drive for backing up everything

>> Plus a piece of software to help with the copying. But I still think that

>> I

>> need to create a boot disc, as you say on a DVD disc, because that is

>> what

>> I'll need to get things going again if it all goes down. An external

>> back-up

>> hard-drive won't get things going again, it only serves as a place to

>> store

>> data.

>

> Keep in mind that hard disks do fail. One thing you want to avoid is

> relying on only one backup.

>

Indeed, you should have two. A backup isn't a backup unless it's backed up.

>>

>> Do you think that making this type of disc is an simple process?

>

> Yes, it's very easy. Imaging programs use this as a basic restore

> feature. It's a checkbox and OK, and it does it.

>

>>

>> And what does verifying mean?

>

> It means being sure that the backup worked, that the backed-up data is

> valid and matches the original. With non-image backups, you restore

> data to another location and compare it to the original. With imaging,

> you mount the image (which assigns the image a drive letter), and then

> compare the mounted files with the originals. Or, just try opening

> files from the mounted image.

>

Also, of importance is to try to restore the image to a gash disk just to

make sure it works. Images have been known to have whole folder contents

missing or be non restorable due to file permission problems. Always making

the image and restoring from the system on the bootable CD overcomes these

problems.

July 19, 2007

Re: Creating a boot CD

Thanks for your comments. I'm getting closer to figuring this out.

What is a 'gash disc'? by the way.

Regards

Lex

"M.I.5¾" wrote:

>

> "Patrick Keenan" <test@dev.null> wrote in message

> news:eBY3%23vLyHHA.1568@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

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

> > news:D4C8BA2C-59BD-44AA-998B-6CC9F0AA090D@microsoft.com...

> >> Thanks very much for your comments - I've just been to see Acronis.

> >>

> >> I thought this was what I was looking for, i.e. imaging.

> >>

> >> I think the solution is an external hard-drive for backing up everything

> >> Plus a piece of software to help with the copying. But I still think that

> >> I

> >> need to create a boot disc, as you say on a DVD disc, because that is

> >> what

> >> I'll need to get things going again if it all goes down. An external

> >> back-up

> >> hard-drive won't get things going again, it only serves as a place to

> >> store

> >> data.

> >

> > Keep in mind that hard disks do fail. One thing you want to avoid is

> > relying on only one backup.

> >

>

> Indeed, you should have two. A backup isn't a backup unless it's backed up.

>

> >>

> >> Do you think that making this type of disc is an simple process?

> >

> > Yes, it's very easy. Imaging programs use this as a basic restore

> > feature. It's a checkbox and OK, and it does it.

> >

> >>

> >> And what does verifying mean?

> >

> > It means being sure that the backup worked, that the backed-up data is

> > valid and matches the original. With non-image backups, you restore

> > data to another location and compare it to the original. With imaging,

> > you mount the image (which assigns the image a drive letter), and then

> > compare the mounted files with the originals. Or, just try opening

> > files from the mounted image.

> >

>

> Also, of importance is to try to restore the image to a gash disk just to

> make sure it works. Images have been known to have whole folder contents

> missing or be non restorable due to file permission problems. Always making

> the image and restoring from the system on the bootable CD overcomes these

> problems.

>

July 19, 2007

RE: Creating a boot CD

Thanks FrankChin

Seems like you have a nice setup that has options if something happens. Plus

you never have to be computerless for very long and you can fix problems at

your own pace.

The Multiple PC approach is one I am going to go down; it makes sense and I

need more than 1 anyway.

Using Norton Ghost - excellent.

Online storeage for back up - also sounds excellent.

It seems to me that taking a ghost of the OS with changes is the way to go.

Does this mean that a boot disc is redundant? I don't know for sure that it

does.

What I don't understand is 'start using the spare laptop'. How do you start

one computer using another? I'd love to know. Plus, isn't there a risk that

if one has malware, that starting it with another exposes it to the risks of

the same malware?

Regards

lex

"FrankChin" wrote:

> Lex:

>

> Here's the way I look at PC breakdowns. It's always right before I need to

> get that important project done, and if I need a new PC, the sale on it was

> last week.

>

> Because i have a computer network at home, the wife and i,and the two kids

> each have our PC's networked, and another one PC acting as the server, and a

> spare laptop, what I do is.

>

> - All important software, i.e. Microsoft office, Quickbooks, Norton Ghost

> are installed on more than one machine.

> - The server and two other machine have backup software (Norton Ghost)

> installed and automtic backups done daily

> - I'm making increaisng use of web based storage, and other services, that I

> don't use PC based software for many of my day to day opeations anyway.

>

> The advantages of my approach:

>

> - If the PC malfunctions, I don't have to immediately fix any PC, all I have

> to do is access the server from another PC. If the "server PC" malfuctions,

> it's backup on a USB drive on Norton Ghost can be immediately restored on

> another PC already with Norton Ghost installed and running, and this PC

> becomes the new server.

> - I can start using the spare laptop, and take my time fisxing the broken

> PC, or take my time waiting for that "Labor Day sale".

> - If need be, i just reinstall the OS, reintall software, and if it's the

> server, restore the data files. The advantage is I'm not restoring an image

> that may be loaded with viruses and other malware.

>

> Bottomline

>

> Doing it this way, I don't need boot CD's.

>

> Frank Chin

>

> "Lex" wrote:

>

> > I want to create a boot CD for my PC with XP.

> >

> > It looks difficult, I'm not an IT wizard but am proficient with tinkering

> > around and following instructions; I have read articles about how to do this

> > and it looks like

> >

> > a) you can create a boot disc - floppy disc version - if you have a floppy

> > drive. If you don't (I don't) you can buy an external floppy drive that links

> > in via a USB.

> > b) OR, you can go through the process of creating a CD which requires some

> > skill.

> >

> > Other tasks linked to this are:

> >

> > Creating a copy of XP files with all your preferences saved including

> > drivers etc...via Slipstreaming. ALso a bit scary and complex to me. I also

> > think there is NO guarantee that it will work and so don't want to waste my

> > time (is this true?).

> >

> > I want to have all of this done so if my computer does get it in the neck,

> > I'm prepared - I can reinstall XP with all my settings, have a copy of my

> > drivers etc... However, it's a bit more than I bargained for with time and

> > expertise - I haven't quite decided if this is over my head.

> >

> > I know there are some help articles on M website to do with this - I have

> > read some of them, but am looking for someone else's comments first.

> >

> > Does anyone have any constructive comments about what I want to do here?

> > Has anyone been through this process? Was it V easy or V difficult?

> > Does anyone suggest an alternative to what I want to achieve? A piece of

> > software or a professional? ?

> >

> > ANY constructive comments are very welcome.

> >

> > Lex

> >

July 19, 2007

Re: Creating a boot CD

=?Utf-8?B?TGV4?= wrote:

>

> I want to create a boot CD for my PC with XP.

http://boot-land.net/winbuilder/

http://www.bootdisk.com/txtfiles/wbuilder.txt

http://nu2.nu/pebuilder

http://reatogo.de/

--

http://www.bootdisk.com/

July 20, 2007

Re: Creating a boot CD

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

news:B890E5BA-C809-42E4-A40E-A5C518017762@microsoft.com...

> Thanks for your comments. I'm getting closer to figuring this out.

>

> What is a 'gash disc'? by the way.

>

A disk that you can experiment on to check that you can do something and

verify that it works, but you have no intention of actually using it for

anything serious so it doesn't matter if you bugger it up. Most often an

old disk that you replaced with something bigger (I have a not so small pile

of them - the smallest at just 20 MB!).

I also have a disk with a bare bones XP operating system on, with all device

drivers, but no applications. It's useful sometimes when you can't get

something to work on the main disk. It helps you to find out what is wrong.

For example: I once couldn't get the bundled software supplied with a

Philips DVD writer to install. The installer program just wouldn't even run

just giving a totally unhelpful "Serious Error" message. Using my bare

bones system, I managed to discover that the installer program wouldn't run

if any Hewlett Packard printer was installed (one of their drivers was the

problem).

> Regards

> Lex

>

> "M.I.5¾" wrote:

>

>>

>> "Patrick Keenan" <test@dev.null> wrote in message

>> news:eBY3%23vLyHHA.1568@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

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

>> > news:D4C8BA2C-59BD-44AA-998B-6CC9F0AA090D@microsoft.com...

>> >> Thanks very much for your comments - I've just been to see Acronis.

>> >>

>> >> I thought this was what I was looking for, i.e. imaging.

>> >>

>> >> I think the solution is an external hard-drive for backing up

>> >> everything

>> >> Plus a piece of software to help with the copying. But I still think

>> >> that

>> >> I

>> >> need to create a boot disc, as you say on a DVD disc, because that is

>> >> what

>> >> I'll need to get things going again if it all goes down. An external

>> >> back-up

>> >> hard-drive won't get things going again, it only serves as a place to

>> >> store

>> >> data.

>> >

>> > Keep in mind that hard disks do fail. One thing you want to avoid is

>> > relying on only one backup.

>> >

>>

>> Indeed, you should have two. A backup isn't a backup unless it's backed

>> up.

>>

>> >>

>> >> Do you think that making this type of disc is an simple process?

>> >

>> > Yes, it's very easy. Imaging programs use this as a basic restore

>> > feature. It's a checkbox and OK, and it does it.

>> >

>> >>

>> >> And what does verifying mean?

>> >

>> > It means being sure that the backup worked, that the backed-up data is

>> > valid and matches the original. With non-image backups, you restore

>> > data to another location and compare it to the original. With

>> > imaging,

>> > you mount the image (which assigns the image a drive letter), and then

>> > compare the mounted files with the originals. Or, just try opening

>> > files from the mounted image.

>> >

>>

>> Also, of importance is to try to restore the image to a gash disk just to

>> make sure it works. Images have been known to have whole folder contents

>> missing or be non restorable due to file permission problems. Always

>> making

>> the image and restoring from the system on the bootable CD overcomes

>> these

>> problems.

>>

September 1, 2008

RE: Creating a boot CD

I'm doing same thing I want to make a recovery set for my windows xp I'm a

gateway the darn thing never came with a xp setup so I found a download to do

just that but not sure how to start I have the 6 disks when I was prompt to

specify the drive I put D cause thats the drive my writer is in and after

that nothing please help.

"Lex" wrote:

> I want to create a boot CD for my PC with XP.

>

> It looks difficult, I'm not an IT wizard but am proficient with tinkering

> around and following instructions; I have read articles about how to do this

> and it looks like

>

> a) you can create a boot disc - floppy disc version - if you have a floppy

> drive. If you don't (I don't) you can buy an external floppy drive that links

> in via a USB.

> b) OR, you can go through the process of creating a CD which requires some

> skill.

>

> Other tasks linked to this are:

>

> Creating a copy of XP files with all your preferences saved including

> drivers etc...via Slipstreaming. ALso a bit scary and complex to me. I also

> think there is NO guarantee that it will work and so don't want to waste my

> time (is this true?).

>

> I want to have all of this done so if my computer does get it in the neck,

> I'm prepared - I can reinstall XP with all my settings, have a copy of my

> drivers etc... However, it's a bit more than I bargained for with time and

> expertise - I haven't quite decided if this is over my head.

>

> I know there are some help articles on M website to do with this - I have

> read some of them, but am looking for someone else's comments first.

>

> Does anyone have any constructive comments about what I want to do here?

> Has anyone been through this process? Was it V easy or V difficult?

> Does anyone suggest an alternative to what I want to achieve? A piece of

> software or a professional? ?

>

> ANY constructive comments are very welcome.

>

> Lex

>

September 1, 2008

Re: Creating a boot CD

Kyle wrote:

> I'm doing same thing I want to make a recovery set for my windows xp I'm a

> gateway the darn thing never came with a xp setup so I found a download to do

> just that but not sure how to start I have the 6 disks when I was prompt to

> specify the drive I put D cause thats the drive my writer is in and after

> that nothing please help.

>

> "Lex" wrote:

>

>> I want to create a boot CD for my PC with XP.

>>

>> It looks difficult, I'm not an IT wizard but am proficient with tinkering

>> around and following instructions; I have read articles about how to do this

>> and it looks like

>>

>> a) you can create a boot disc - floppy disc version - if you have a floppy

>> drive. If you don't (I don't) you can buy an external floppy drive that links

>> in via a USB.

>> b) OR, you can go through the process of creating a CD which requires some

>> skill.

>>

>> Other tasks linked to this are:

>>

>> Creating a copy of XP files with all your preferences saved including

>> drivers etc...via Slipstreaming. ALso a bit scary and complex to me. I also

>> think there is NO guarantee that it will work and so don't want to waste my

>> time (is this true?).

>>

>> I want to have all of this done so if my computer does get it in the neck,

>> I'm prepared - I can reinstall XP with all my settings, have a copy of my

>> drivers etc... However, it's a bit more than I bargained for with time and

>> expertise - I haven't quite decided if this is over my head.

>>

>> I know there are some help articles on M website to do with this - I have

>> read some of them, but am looking for someone else's comments first.

>>

>> Does anyone have any constructive comments about what I want to do here?

>> Has anyone been through this process? Was it V easy or V difficult?

>> Does anyone suggest an alternative to what I want to achieve? A piece of

>> software or a professional? ?

>>

>> ANY constructive comments are very welcome.

>>

>> Lex

>>

Kyle,

I assume you mean the 6 floppy disks......therefore the drive

you want to enter is'A:'.

--

Semper Fi

September 1, 2008

Re: Creating a boot CD

Uh!! i'm lost well I found out that since I made them before when I bought

the pc I can't make a second set grr! I have a cd drive no floppy my driver

for that is d but the command prompt to the download that has the software to

make those six recovery sets I don't understand how to make or use.

"Ed Mc" wrote:

> Kyle wrote:

> > I'm doing same thing I want to make a recovery set for my windows xp I'm a

> > gateway the darn thing never came with a xp setup so I found a download to do

> > just that but not sure how to start I have the 6 disks when I was prompt to

> > specify the drive I put D cause thats the drive my writer is in and after

> > that nothing please help.

> >

> > "Lex" wrote:

> >

> >> I want to create a boot CD for my PC with XP.

> >>

> >> It looks difficult, I'm not an IT wizard but am proficient with tinkering

> >> around and following instructions; I have read articles about how to do this

> >> and it looks like

> >>

> >> a) you can create a boot disc - floppy disc version - if you have a floppy

> >> drive. If you don't (I don't) you can buy an external floppy drive that links

> >> in via a USB.

> >> b) OR, you can go through the process of creating a CD which requires some

> >> skill.

> >>

> >> Other tasks linked to this are:

> >>

> >> Creating a copy of XP files with all your preferences saved including

> >> drivers etc...via Slipstreaming. ALso a bit scary and complex to me. I also

> >> think there is NO guarantee that it will work and so don't want to waste my

> >> time (is this true?).

> >>

> >> I want to have all of this done so if my computer does get it in the neck,

> >> I'm prepared - I can reinstall XP with all my settings, have a copy of my

> >> drivers etc... However, it's a bit more than I bargained for with time and

> >> expertise - I haven't quite decided if this is over my head.

> >>

> >> I know there are some help articles on M website to do with this - I have

> >> read some of them, but am looking for someone else's comments first.

> >>

> >> Does anyone have any constructive comments about what I want to do here?

> >> Has anyone been through this process? Was it V easy or V difficult?

> >> Does anyone suggest an alternative to what I want to achieve? A piece of

> >> software or a professional? ?

> >>

> >> ANY constructive comments are very welcome.

> >>

> >> Lex

> >>

> Kyle,

> I assume you mean the 6 floppy disks......therefore the drive

> you want to enter is'A:'.

>

> --

> Semper Fi

>

September 1, 2008

RE: Creating a boot CD

Kyle wrote:

> I'm doing same thing I want to make a recovery set for my windows xp I'm a

> gateway the darn thing never came with a xp setup so I found a download to

> do just that but not sure how to start I have the 6 disks when I was

> prompt to specify the drive I put D cause thats the drive my writer is in

> and after that nothing please help.

Are you saying that you *did* create a recovery disk set but have lost it?

In that case, contact Gateway and purchase another set. The cost is usually

nominal. There is nowhere you can download anything to create this. I

suspect you are thinking of the 6-floppy disk set tool you can download

from Microsoft. This will not restore your system.

Another avenue is to purchase an external hard drive and Acronis True Image

and image your system. Store the image on the external hard drive. This

will be more expensive initially than just getting the restore disk set

from Gateway, but it will be more useful since TI can do incremental

backups and your image will be *your* set up, just the way you like it,

with all the updates, programs, tweaks, etc. It will then take you anywhere

from 15 minutes to an hour (depending on how large the image is) to restore

your system to exactly the way it was when you imaged it.

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

September 2, 2008

RE: Creating a boot CD

yes I've made one but threw it away back in 2002 when i bought the pc didn't

know how to use the backups I found a download that will allow me to do so

but after i specify the drive thats it nothing more happens.

"Malke" wrote:

> Kyle wrote:

>

> > I'm doing same thing I want to make a recovery set for my windows xp I'm a

> > gateway the darn thing never came with a xp setup so I found a download to

> > do just that but not sure how to start I have the 6 disks when I was

> > prompt to specify the drive I put D cause thats the drive my writer is in

> > and after that nothing please help.

>

> Are you saying that you *did* create a recovery disk set but have lost it?

> In that case, contact Gateway and purchase another set. The cost is usually

> nominal. There is nowhere you can download anything to create this. I

> suspect you are thinking of the 6-floppy disk set tool you can download

> from Microsoft. This will not restore your system.

>

> Another avenue is to purchase an external hard drive and Acronis True Image

> and image your system. Store the image on the external hard drive. This

> will be more expensive initially than just getting the restore disk set

> from Gateway, but it will be more useful since TI can do incremental

> backups and your image will be *your* set up, just the way you like it,

> with all the updates, programs, tweaks, etc. It will then take you anywhere

> from 15 minutes to an hour (depending on how large the image is) to restore

> your system to exactly the way it was when you imaged it.

>

> Malke

> --

> MS-MVP

> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

>

Sign In

Creating a boot CD

Recommended Posts

Guest Lex

Popular Days

Popular Days

Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)

Guest Patrick Keenan

Guest Lex

Guest Jim

Guest Patrick Keenan

Guest FrankChin

Guest M.I.5¾

Guest Lex

Guest Lex

Guest Plato

Guest M.I.5¾

Guest Kyle

Guest Ed Mc

Guest Kyle

Guest Malke

Guest Kyle

Similar Content

Dual Booting

Creating TRUSTEDINSTALLER user

Guide to Creating a Dictionary in Python

Boot not found

New user in rd farm, no UDP created.

Browse

Activity

Site Info