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    Backup software for XP?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by ravenmorpheus, Jul 19, 2008.

  1. ravenmorpheus

    ravenmorpheus Notebook Deity

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    Ok so today I had a nightmare after messing up a "repair" install of XP Home SP2 and had to do a clean install...

    So please could someone advise me on some software (preferably freeware) that can backup an XP partition that is dual booting with Vista (on a separate partition) and restore that partition in the same way that Vista can with a complete PC backup, i.e. so I don't have to clean install XP and don't lose any installed apps each time and can be used even if I can't get into XP.

    Thanks in advance for any advice. :)
     
    ravenmorpheus, Jul 19, 2008
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  2. vinumsv

    vinumsv MobileFreak™

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    vinumsv, Jul 19, 2008
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  3. Gregory

    Gregory disassemble?

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    As vinumsv pointed out PartImage is an option. It is a power piece of free software. Be careful when using it though. NTFS support is still experimental. I've used it about a dozen times so far. One of those times it couldn't read the image it created. Very frustrating. I worked around that worry by always testing the image before leaving the program by starting the restoration process, then aborting it after it successfully read the file (if it reads the file initially then it should be all set).

    For more detailed instructions using that program read post number 41 in this thread:

    Link to the thread:

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=81828&page=2

    Direct link to the post:

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3369858&postcount=41
    The poster does a good job explaining it.
     
    Gregory, Jul 19, 2008
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  4. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    If you've got an XP disk, you can also install the Win backup utility, ntbackup.exe - which installs by default only on XP Pro, but is also there, hidden on the XP Home disks (it might also be inside one of the ".cat" system files if your system didn't come with disks). On the XP Home disk the installer for it should be ntbackup.msi. For a quickie tut on the matter, go here.
     
    Shyster1, Jul 19, 2008
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  5. ravenmorpheus

    ravenmorpheus Notebook Deity

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    Ah I see, I didn't know the ntbackup.exe would be able to backup my system so I can restore without having to install the OS first, the problem I ran into was I forgot my XP product key (left it at home while I was at the office DOH!) so I couldn't get the OS installed again...
     
    ravenmorpheus, Jul 20, 2008
    #5