how to backup or creat a start up disc????? urgent

[Len]

when 1st installed windows XP asked for CDs to back up/start up disc and I
didn't have a CD's to burn to so I said no. I now have some discs but cannot
find out how to restart this option!!!
On this site it tells me to go to accessories then system tools then back up
but there is no back up option!!!!!!!!
this is driving me nuts.
I've got a refurbished computer so it didn't come with a disc so if my
computer goes down I will be left with an empty useless shell!
can some one help please. (I may be able to use a spare hard drive and copy
everything but would this work???? I have a feeling it wouldn't be that
simple! it would only back up files and the operating system wouldn't work!)
thanks for any comments
Len

[peter]

Buy a program like Acronis True Image.
With this program you can "image" your operating System Hard drive to a DVD
or another HD and in case of failure rstore the image.Dont forget to keep
the image up to date

peter
"Len" > wrote in message
...
> when 1st installed windows XP asked for CDs to back up/start up disc and I
> didn't have a CD's to burn to so I said no. I now have some discs but
> cannot
> find out how to restart this option!!!
> On this site it tells me to go to accessories then system tools then back
> up
> but there is no back up option!!!!!!!!
> this is driving me nuts.
> I've got a refurbished computer so it didn't come with a disc so if my
> computer goes down I will be left with an empty useless shell!
> can some one help please. (I may be able to use a spare hard drive and
> copy
> everything but would this work???? I have a feeling it wouldn't be that
> simple! it would only back up files and the operating system wouldn't
> work!)
> thanks for any comments
> Len

[Kerry Brown]

Did you get a manual? If not look for a manual online.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2


"Len" > wrote in message
...
> when 1st installed windows XP asked for CDs to back up/start up disc and I
> didn't have a CD's to burn to so I said no. I now have some discs but
> cannot
> find out how to restart this option!!!
> On this site it tells me to go to accessories then system tools then back
> up
> but there is no back up option!!!!!!!!
> this is driving me nuts.
> I've got a refurbished computer so it didn't come with a disc so if my
> computer goes down I will be left with an empty useless shell!
> can some one help please. (I may be able to use a spare hard drive and
> copy
> everything but would this work???? I have a feeling it wouldn't be that
> simple! it would only back up files and the operating system wouldn't
> work!)
> thanks for any comments
> Len

[Rock]

"Len" wrote

> when 1st installed windows XP asked for CDs to back up/start up disc and I
> didn't have a CD's to burn to so I said no. I now have some discs but
> cannot
> find out how to restart this option!!!
> On this site it tells me to go to accessories then system tools then back
> up
> but there is no back up option!!!!!!!!
> this is driving me nuts.
> I've got a refurbished computer so it didn't come with a disc so if my
> computer goes down I will be left with an empty useless shell!
> can some one help please. (I may be able to use a spare hard drive and
> copy
> everything but would this work???? I have a feeling it wouldn't be that
> simple! it would only back up files and the operating system wouldn't
> work!)
> thanks for any comments

I agree with Peter's suggestion that using a drive imaging program such as
Acronis True Image to image the drive and save that to external media such
as an external USB drive is an excellent idea.

With respect to your issue XP has no built in tool that asks for the
operator to insert CDs to create a backup or recovery disk. This feature
was installed by the vendor from whom you purchased it. You need to ask
their tech support for info on how to do this.

--
Rock [MVP - User/Shell]

[paul]

> With respect to your issue XP has no built in tool that asks for the
> operator to insert CDs to create a backup or recovery disk. This feature
> was installed by the vendor from whom you purchased it. You need to ask
> their tech support for info on how to do this.
>
> --
> Rock [MVP - User/Shell]

I need to make a bootable floppy in order to update my BIOS.
I have not installed a floppy drive yet.
Before I buy one, will I be able to make a bootable floppy from the 'format'
drop down menu in XP Home?
Or does that option no longer exist?

[Rock]

"paul" wrote

>> With respect to your issue XP has no built in tool that asks for the
>> operator to insert CDs to create a backup or recovery disk. This feature
>> was installed by the vendor from whom you purchased it. You need to ask
>> their tech support for info on how to do this.

> I need to make a bootable floppy in order to update my BIOS.
> I have not installed a floppy drive yet.
> Before I buy one, will I be able to make a bootable floppy from the
> 'format' drop down menu in XP Home?
> Or does that option no longer exist?

Are you the original poster or someone else? If someone else you should
create a new post, not ask a new question in a reply to someone else's
issue.

--
Rock [MVP - User/Shell]

[Ayush]

Replied to [paul]s message :
> I need to make a bootable floppy in order to update my BIOS.
> I have not installed a floppy drive yet.
> Before I buy one, will I be able to make a bootable floppy from the 'format'
> drop down menu in XP Home?
> Or does that option no longer exist?


Yes. Just Format the floppy > Copy the files > Set your BIOS to boot from Floppy > If
the files on Floppy are correct then it should boot...

[Len]

Thanks for your input... I will contact my vendor to ask about this.
technically I think this feature was installed I had just answer 'no' when
asked to complete this back up/start up, but I (foolishly) thought it would
be an option I could restart at a later date!
An earlier post told me to try a certain type of software but unfortunately
I am skint so cannot afford to buy any software at the moment so not an
option that I am open to at the moment.. I'll have to have a look around for
any 'free' options if my Vendor doesn't have any answers to my dilemma.
thanks for your time. x

"Rock" wrote:

> "Len" wrote
>
> > when 1st installed windows XP asked for CDs to back up/start up disc and I
> > didn't have a CD's to burn to so I said no. I now have some discs but
> > cannot
> > find out how to restart this option!!!
> > On this site it tells me to go to accessories then system tools then back
> > up
> > but there is no back up option!!!!!!!!
> > this is driving me nuts.
> > I've got a refurbished computer so it didn't come with a disc so if my
> > computer goes down I will be left with an empty useless shell!
> > can some one help please. (I may be able to use a spare hard drive and
> > copy
> > everything but would this work???? I have a feeling it wouldn't be that
> > simple! it would only back up files and the operating system wouldn't
> > work!)
> > thanks for any comments
>
> I agree with Peter's suggestion that using a drive imaging program such as
> Acronis True Image to image the drive and save that to external media such
> as an external USB drive is an excellent idea.
>
> With respect to your issue XP has no built in tool that asks for the
> operator to insert CDs to create a backup or recovery disk. This feature
> was installed by the vendor from whom you purchased it. You need to ask
> their tech support for info on how to do this.
>
> --
> Rock [MVP - User/Shell]
>
>

[Rock]

"Len" wrote

> Thanks for your input... I will contact my vendor to ask about this.
> technically I think this feature was installed I had just answer 'no' when
> asked to complete this back up/start up, but I (foolishly) thought it
> would
> be an option I could restart at a later date!
> An earlier post told me to try a certain type of software but
> unfortunately
> I am skint so cannot afford to buy any software at the moment so not an
> option that I am open to at the moment.. I'll have to have a look around
> for
> any 'free' options if my Vendor doesn't have any answers to my dilemma.
> thanks for your time. x
>
> "Rock" wrote:
>
>> "Len" wrote
>>
>> > when 1st installed windows XP asked for CDs to back up/start up disc
>> > and I
>> > didn't have a CD's to burn to so I said no. I now have some discs but
>> > cannot
>> > find out how to restart this option!!!
>> > On this site it tells me to go to accessories then system tools then
>> > back
>> > up
>> > but there is no back up option!!!!!!!!
>> > this is driving me nuts.
>> > I've got a refurbished computer so it didn't come with a disc so if my
>> > computer goes down I will be left with an empty useless shell!
>> > can some one help please. (I may be able to use a spare hard drive and
>> > copy
>> > everything but would this work???? I have a feeling it wouldn't be that
>> > simple! it would only back up files and the operating system wouldn't
>> > work!)
>> > thanks for any comments
>>
>> I agree with Peter's suggestion that using a drive imaging program such
>> as
>> Acronis True Image to image the drive and save that to external media
>> such
>> as an external USB drive is an excellent idea.
>>
>> With respect to your issue XP has no built in tool that asks for the
>> operator to insert CDs to create a backup or recovery disk. This feature
>> was installed by the vendor from whom you purchased it. You need to ask
>> their tech support for info on how to do this.

Ok, good luck. Some allow you to do it later, some don't, and some will
sell you a recovery CD or installation CD for a small cost. You really
should have an installation CD rather than a recovery disk. There is so
much more you can do with it, but with a recovery CD you're normally locked
into a restore to the as received from the factory condition.

--
Rock [MVP - User/Shell]