Comments on: How to Create a Backup Image in Windows Vista and Windows XP

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:58:39 +0000

Thanks, Jason, for your explanation of writing the backup image to the hard drive first. I had a blank DVD in my DVD player, and it was driving me nuts why the Backup Utility couldn’t see it.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:51:29 +0000

I have the same problem as Tim. I have Home Premium and no system disk. If I get hold of one (legally of course) will I be able to do as Jason suggests in comment #7?

Or is there something else I need to do?

Thanks for any suggestions.

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 19:15:01 +0000

I have Vista Home Premium and it has the file backup tool, but no system backup tool. It says “Back up files” but not “entire computer.”

This computer didn’t come with a recovery disk when new. It is a laptop and I’m wondering if I have any recourse if my hard drive fails?

Thanks for any suggestions,

By: Christopher

Christopher — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:22:54 +0000

How do i create a recovery disk if i dont have a floppy drive.

By: Jason Ensinger

Jason Ensinger — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:52:33 +0000

A full system backup in Windows XP should always create a bootable floppy to restore with in case of system failure. It is not clear if you are actually supplying a blank floppy disk when requested. If you are not, supplying one would be the easiest way around the problem. If you do not want to create a bootable floppy for your backup, you could replace step 4 with the instructions below.

Select the Let me choose what to back up option and click Next. For the Items to Back Up, expand My Computer and check the local hard drives and System State boxes and click next. The rest of the backup process should be the same except you will not be prompted for a floppy.

By: John Tee

John Tee — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 13:55:52 +0000

Followed your instructions to BackUp using XP home edition – no problems til I pressed the finish button – message appears telling me that Boot Disk could not be created and program aborted. Tried several times, same message each time. How come the program never tried to do the backUp first ?? Can I get around this in any way
I have a CD and DVD drive as well as Floppy drive

By: Jason Ensinger

Jason Ensinger — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:10:12 +0000

If the backup program is not listed in System tools, I am guessing that you are using Windows XP Home. If that is the case, you must install the backup program manually from the XP Home CD by executing ‘\VALUEADD\MSFT\NTBACKUP\Ntbackup.msi’. It should be available after performing the installation.

By: Robert McCollum

Robert McCollum — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:46:43 +0000

What if you don’t have the backup program listed in the System Tools?

By: shujah

shujah — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:29:05 +0000

Use WinPE to boot (what is this boot means please explain )
shujah

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 02:52:39 +0000

what I forgot to mention is that there are USB floppy drives out there also.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 02:50:55 +0000

Use WinPE to boot.
Use either a CD/DVD
or a USB key/stick that is bootable.
The laptop will need to support booting from USB, otherwise use the CD/DVD.

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:03:24 +0000

Many machines, especially lap tops don’t have floppy disk drives any more so what is the procedure to boot on that case.

By: Rudy

Rudy — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:56:26 +0000

Which video covers back up in depth? Interested in the command line approach detailed for the system administrator with command line options a kin to:
“You also have the option to backup only select documents and files”.

thanks

rudy