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    Is it possible to back up my XP installation on/boot from a USB drive?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by SpoDaddy, Dec 30, 2008.

  1. SpoDaddy

    SpoDaddy Notebook Enthusiast

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    Having suffered two hard drive crashes in the past three days, I'm wondering if it's possible to copy my installation/programs/drivers/etc. to a usb drive that I can boot from if another failure happens?
     
    SpoDaddy, Dec 30, 2008
    #1
  2. vinumsv

    vinumsv MobileFreak™

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    hmm you could take a image of your OS Partition this way you could avoid all kind issues with just copying the files

    and i would recommend DriveImageXXL or Acronis Drive Image
     
    vinumsv, Dec 30, 2008
    #2
  3. PcTestCard.com

    PcTestCard.com Notebook Enthusiast

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    Try Qemu app that will allow you to create a bootable USB OS, of course you can install the program just like you did regularly.

    You can use the USB flash disk like a PC local HDD and carry around the XP with you instead of carrying a laptop.

    Hope you find this helpful!
    Bill
     
    PcTestCard.com, Dec 30, 2008
    #3
  4. PhoenixFx

    PhoenixFx Notebook Virtuoso

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    Take a look at BartPE. You can create a minimalistic bootable XP installation for recovery purposes. But running a fully fledged Windows operating system off a memory stick is not practical.
     
    PhoenixFx, Dec 30, 2008
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  5. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Look up an NBR member called Zfactor - in his signature line he has a link to his how-to on setting up a bootable USB drive.
     
    Shyster1, Dec 30, 2008
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  6. SpoDaddy

    SpoDaddy Notebook Enthusiast

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    My goal is to have my XP installation, with all the updates and hardware drivers and programs I use often, backed up so I can just copy it onto a new hard drive instead of installing everything for two days. I also want to be able to boot off the usb drive if the hard drive fails, so that I have some sort of computer access in the time between the hard drive failure and getting a replacement. Can I just copy my C drive onto a USB drive and accomplish that?
     
    SpoDaddy, Dec 30, 2008
    #6
  7. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Shyster1, Dec 30, 2008
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