Making backups by just copying files

[BillW50]

Okay back when Windows 95 was released, you could dualboot to another
copy and copy just the Windows and Program Files folder to make a backup
of your OS and applications. Is the same still true with Windows XP?
Maybe adding the Documents and Settings folder too?

My plan is to use BartPE to copy the files over to a bootable USB hard
drive. This solves any files in use errors when copying files from
itself, right? Or this problem doesn't occur under Windows XP? Just
Windows 9x and ME?

Why not use a backup program you might ask? I hate them, especially if
they do not create a bootable usable copy. This is also handy to test
your backup copy as well. Plus this method is free and I can do this
with anybodys machine. As often I am asked to help others with no tools
around. LOL

Why not clone the HD? Yeah I have Partition Magic, DriveCopy, etc. But I
want to only make a backup of the OS and programs. Not the rest of the
data. Which is copied elsewhere. Another reason is that the backup
partition isn't large enough for the whole partition.

Next problem is changing the external drive to drive C to work proberly.
Since it will be copied from a working drive C. I guess I can always
turn off the laptop's internal HD through the BIOS. I guess that should
work. :)

Any thoughts and ideas about any of this before I start? TIA

--
Bill

[Andrew E.]

Try running file transfer wizard from xp cd,select files,settings,data,etc
to save,
save to new folder,once its thru,move folder to cd or usb drive...

"BillW50" wrote:

> Okay back when Windows 95 was released, you could dualboot to another
> copy and copy just the Windows and Program Files folder to make a backup
> of your OS and applications. Is the same still true with Windows XP?
> Maybe adding the Documents and Settings folder too?
>
> My plan is to use BartPE to copy the files over to a bootable USB hard
> drive. This solves any files in use errors when copying files from
> itself, right? Or this problem doesn't occur under Windows XP? Just
> Windows 9x and ME?
>
> Why not use a backup program you might ask? I hate them, especially if
> they do not create a bootable usable copy. This is also handy to test
> your backup copy as well. Plus this method is free and I can do this
> with anybodys machine. As often I am asked to help others with no tools
> around. LOL
>
> Why not clone the HD? Yeah I have Partition Magic, DriveCopy, etc. But I
> want to only make a backup of the OS and programs. Not the rest of the
> data. Which is copied elsewhere. Another reason is that the backup
> partition isn't large enough for the whole partition.
>
> Next problem is changing the external drive to drive C to work proberly.
> Since it will be copied from a working drive C. I guess I can always
> turn off the laptop's internal HD through the BIOS. I guess that should
> work. :)
>
> Any thoughts and ideas about any of this before I start? TIA
>
> --
> Bill
>
>

[Pegasus]

"BillW50" > wrote in message
...
> Okay back when Windows 95 was released, you could dualboot to another copy
> and copy just the Windows and Program Files folder to make a backup of
> your OS and applications. Is the same still true with Windows XP? Maybe
> adding the Documents and Settings folder too?
>
> My plan is to use BartPE to copy the files over to a bootable USB hard
> drive. This solves any files in use errors when copying files from itself,
> right? Or this problem doesn't occur under Windows XP? Just Windows 9x and
> ME?
>
> Why not use a backup program you might ask? I hate them, especially if
> they do not create a bootable usable copy. This is also handy to test your
> backup copy as well. Plus this method is free and I can do this with
> anybodys machine. As often I am asked to help others with no tools around.
> LOL
>
> Why not clone the HD? Yeah I have Partition Magic, DriveCopy, etc. But I
> want to only make a backup of the OS and programs. Not the rest of the
> data. Which is copied elsewhere. Another reason is that the backup
> partition isn't large enough for the whole partition.
>
> Next problem is changing the external drive to drive C to work proberly.
> Since it will be copied from a working drive C. I guess I can always turn
> off the laptop's internal HD through the BIOS. I guess that should work.
> :)
>
> Any thoughts and ideas about any of this before I start? TIA
>
> --
> Bill

I don't know what you mean with "This solves any files in use errors when
copying files from itself, right?" but yes, you can use a Bart PE boot CD
to create a bootable clone of your existing Windows installation, provided
that the target disk was formatted under WinXP.

[Bob I]

The USB drive won't be bootable as a Windows XP drive. What you want to
do sounds like it won't work as you currently envision. You could clear
the data, make the image and then restore the data form the backup to
get a smaller image.

BillW50 wrote:

> Okay back when Windows 95 was released, you could dualboot to another
> copy and copy just the Windows and Program Files folder to make a backup
> of your OS and applications. Is the same still true with Windows XP?
> Maybe adding the Documents and Settings folder too?
>
> My plan is to use BartPE to copy the files over to a bootable USB hard
> drive. This solves any files in use errors when copying files from
> itself, right? Or this problem doesn't occur under Windows XP? Just
> Windows 9x and ME?
>
> Why not use a backup program you might ask? I hate them, especially if
> they do not create a bootable usable copy. This is also handy to test
> your backup copy as well. Plus this method is free and I can do this
> with anybodys machine. As often I am asked to help others with no tools
> around. LOL
>
> Why not clone the HD? Yeah I have Partition Magic, DriveCopy, etc. But I
> want to only make a backup of the OS and programs. Not the rest of the
> data. Which is copied elsewhere. Another reason is that the backup
> partition isn't large enough for the whole partition.
>
> Next problem is changing the external drive to drive C to work proberly.
> Since it will be copied from a working drive C. I guess I can always
> turn off the laptop's internal HD through the BIOS. I guess that should
> work. :)
>
> Any thoughts and ideas about any of this before I start? TIA
>

[BillW50]

"Bob I" > wrote in message

> The USB drive won't be bootable as a Windows XP drive. What you want
> to do sounds like it won't work as you currently envision. You could
> clear the data, make the image and then restore the data form the
> backup to get a smaller image.

Why do you say it won't be bootable under XP, Bob I? As I have a 320GB
HD that was bootable in a desktop and I placed it in an external USB HD
case. It has Windows XP installed on it and I hooked up my laptop to the
external HD. And my Gateway MX6124 laptop tries to boot from it. But it
fails, because it was a XP installed from another machine.

I did copy those 3 folders from my laptop (Windows, Program Files, and
Documents and Settings, and the boot files), but I didn't figure the
boot.ini quite right I don't think. Which number do you change first for
disk 1 vs. disk 0? This machine is a Home version which has no bootcfg,
but I do have access to a Pro version if that helps.

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="External Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut

But you might be right, it just might be too much work to make it work.
Maybe I'll just backup the OS with ntbackup and hope for the best. LOL

--
Bill

[BillW50]

"Pegasus" > wrote in message

> "BillW50" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Okay back when Windows 95 was released, you could dualboot to
>> another copy and copy just the Windows and Program Files folder to
>> make a backup of your OS and applications. Is the same still true
>> with Windows XP? Maybe adding the Documents and Settings folder too?
>>
>> My plan is to use BartPE to copy the files over to a bootable USB
>> hard drive. This solves any files in use errors when copying files
>> from itself, right? Or this problem doesn't occur under Windows XP?
>> Just Windows 9x and ME?
>>
>> Why not use a backup program you might ask? I hate them, especially
>> if they do not create a bootable usable copy. This is also handy to
>> test your backup copy as well. Plus this method is free and I can do
>> this with anybodys machine. As often I am asked to help others with
>> no tools around. LOL
>>
>> Why not clone the HD? Yeah I have Partition Magic, DriveCopy, etc.
>> But I want to only make a backup of the OS and programs. Not the
>> rest of the data. Which is copied elsewhere. Another reason is that
>> the backup partition isn't large enough for the whole partition.
>>
>> Next problem is changing the external drive to drive C to work
>> proberly. Since it will be copied from a working drive C. I guess I
>> can always turn off the laptop's internal HD through the BIOS. I
>> guess that should work. :)
>>
>> Any thoughts and ideas about any of this before I start? TIA
>
> I don't know what you mean with "This solves any files in use errors
> when copying files from itself, right?" but yes, you can use a Bart
> PE boot CD to create a bootable clone of your existing Windows
> installation, provided that the target disk was formatted under WinXP.

Well I already made a bootable BartPE CD. But this in itself will not
restore my OS in case of a disaster (HD faulure, etc). I was trying to
use BartPE CD to just copy the OS files from my laptop to my external
HD. Thus I could use that copy if my laptop internal HD ever fails. Plus
if I am successful, it should be bootable so I can see if it actually
works. As it is terrible making backups and later learn when it is too
late that the backups are no good. :(

--
Bill

[BillW50]

"Andrew E." > wrote in message

> Try running file transfer wizard from xp cd,select
> files,settings,data,etc to save,
> save to new folder,once its thru,move folder to cd or usb drive...

Sounds good Andrew! Although I am trying to backup the OS files and not
the documents, videos, etc. Like if someday the OS and the program files
gets trashed. I need a working backup of them.

--
Bill

[Bob I]

BillW50 wrote:

> "Bob I" > wrote in message
>
>
>> The USB drive won't be bootable as a Windows XP drive. What you want
>> to do sounds like it won't work as you currently envision. You could
>> clear the data, make the image and then restore the data form the
>> backup to get a smaller image.
>
>
> Why do you say it won't be bootable under XP, Bob I? As I have a 320GB
> HD that was bootable in a desktop and I placed it in an external USB HD
> case. It has Windows XP installed on it and I hooked up my laptop to the
> external HD. And my Gateway MX6124 laptop tries to boot from it. But it
> fails, because it was a XP installed from another machine.
>
> I did copy those 3 folders from my laptop (Windows, Program Files, and
> Documents and Settings, and the boot files), but I didn't figure the
> boot.ini quite right I don't think. Which number do you change first for
> disk 1 vs. disk 0? This machine is a Home version which has no bootcfg,
> but I do have access to a Pro version if that helps.
>
> [boot loader]
> timeout=30
> default=multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
> [operating systems]
> multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="External Windows XP Home
> Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
> Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>
> But you might be right, it just might be too much work to make it work.
> Maybe I'll just backup the OS with ntbackup and hope for the best. LOL
>

Have you actually successfully booted that drive as an External from ANY
PC? Windows wasn't configured to work that way, altho the are some
places that have "hacked" it into working.

[BillW50]

"Bob I" > wrote in message

> BillW50 wrote:
>
>> "Bob I" > wrote in message
>>
>>
>>> The USB drive won't be bootable as a Windows XP drive. What you want
>>> to do sounds like it won't work as you currently envision. You could
>>> clear the data, make the image and then restore the data form the
>>> backup to get a smaller image.
>>
>>
>> Why do you say it won't be bootable under XP, Bob I? As I have a
>> 320GB HD that was bootable in a desktop and I placed it in an
>> external USB HD case. It has Windows XP installed on it and I hooked
>> up my laptop to the external HD. And my Gateway MX6124 laptop tries
>> to boot from it. But it fails, because it was a XP installed from
>> another machine. I did copy those 3 folders from my laptop (Windows,
>> Program Files,
>> and Documents and Settings, and the boot files), but I didn't figure
>> the boot.ini quite right I don't think. Which number do you change
>> first for disk 1 vs. disk 0? This machine is a Home version which
>> has no bootcfg, but I do have access to a Pro version if that helps.
>>
>> [boot loader]
>> timeout=30
>> default=multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
>> [operating systems]
>> multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="External Windows XP Home
>> Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>> Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>
>> But you might be right, it just might be too much work to make it
>> work. Maybe I'll just backup the OS with ntbackup and hope for the
>> best. LOL
>
> Have you actually successfully booted that drive as an External from
> ANY PC? Windows wasn't configured to work that way, altho the are some
> places that have "hacked" it into working.

Well not yet, as this is the only machine (the Gateway MX6124) that I
have here that I am aware of that can boot from an USB HD or a flash
drive (this ability is found in some BIOS). Also if a flash drive is
plugged in on boot, it gives the normal no system found error. I suppose
I can take one of my unused Widnows XP Retail Install disc and see if it
will install and boot from that external drive. But that would be only
useful as a test. :)

--
Bill

[Bob I]

BillW50 wrote:

> "Bob I" > wrote in message
>
>
>> BillW50 wrote:
>>
>>> "Bob I" > wrote in message
>>>
>>>
>>>> The USB drive won't be bootable as a Windows XP drive. What you want
>>>> to do sounds like it won't work as you currently envision. You could
>>>> clear the data, make the image and then restore the data form the
>>>> backup to get a smaller image.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Why do you say it won't be bootable under XP, Bob I? As I have a
>>> 320GB HD that was bootable in a desktop and I placed it in an
>>> external USB HD case. It has Windows XP installed on it and I hooked
>>> up my laptop to the external HD. And my Gateway MX6124 laptop tries
>>> to boot from it. But it fails, because it was a XP installed from
>>> another machine. I did copy those 3 folders from my laptop (Windows,
>>> Program Files,
>>> and Documents and Settings, and the boot files), but I didn't figure
>>> the boot.ini quite right I don't think. Which number do you change
>>> first for disk 1 vs. disk 0? This machine is a Home version which
>>> has no bootcfg, but I do have access to a Pro version if that helps.
>>>
>>> [boot loader]
>>> timeout=30
>>> default=multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
>>> [operating systems]
>>> multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="External Windows XP Home
>>> Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>>> Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>
>>> But you might be right, it just might be too much work to make it
>>> work. Maybe I'll just backup the OS with ntbackup and hope for the
>>> best. LOL
>>
>>
>> Have you actually successfully booted that drive as an External from
>> ANY PC? Windows wasn't configured to work that way, altho the are some
>> places that have "hacked" it into working.
>
>
> Well not yet, as this is the only machine (the Gateway MX6124) that I
> have here that I am aware of that can boot from an USB HD or a flash
> drive (this ability is found in some BIOS). Also if a flash drive is
> plugged in on boot, it gives the normal no system found error. I suppose
> I can take one of my unused Widnows XP Retail Install disc and see if it
> will install and boot from that external drive. But that would be only
> useful as a test. :)
>

No, I'm referring to booting an installed Windows operating system from
the external, not just the installer. It will be looking for an
"internal" drive to put itself on.

[RedForeman]

On May 16, 12:07 pm, "BillW50" > wrote:
> Sounds good Andrew! Although I am trying to backup the OS files and not
> the documents, videos, etc. Like if someday the OS and the program files
> gets trashed. I need a working backup of them.

Bill, I'm not interested in getting into a ****ing contest, but what,
why and how do you expect anyone to help you when you are putting so
many restriction on what you want?

I've read the whole history of this thread, and you've given every
excuse possible why NOT to do things the right way... back up your
disk with ntbackup and be done with it... if you don't dedicate a
whole large capacity drive to your vital data, you get the loss you
deserve... I usually tell anyone who has a backup issue, you've got
to consider how important this stuff is... if it's very important,
then do what's right, the right way... If it's not important, then who
cares how it gets done...

RedForeman

[John Hensley]

On Wed, 16 May 2007 11:28:00 -0500, Bob I > wrote:

>BillW50 wrote:
>
>> "Bob I" > wrote in message
>>
>>
>>> The USB drive won't be bootable as a Windows XP drive. What you want
>>> to do sounds like it won't work as you currently envision. You could
>>> clear the data, make the image and then restore the data form the
>>> backup to get a smaller image.
>>
>>
>> Why do you say it won't be bootable under XP, Bob I? As I have a 320GB
>> HD that was bootable in a desktop and I placed it in an external USB HD
>> case. It has Windows XP installed on it and I hooked up my laptop to the
>> external HD. And my Gateway MX6124 laptop tries to boot from it. But it
>> fails, because it was a XP installed from another machine.
>>
>> I did copy those 3 folders from my laptop (Windows, Program Files, and
>> Documents and Settings, and the boot files), but I didn't figure the
>> boot.ini quite right I don't think. Which number do you change first for
>> disk 1 vs. disk 0? This machine is a Home version which has no bootcfg,
>> but I do have access to a Pro version if that helps.
>>
>> [boot loader]
>> timeout=30
>> default=multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
>> [operating systems]
>> multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="External Windows XP Home
>> Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
>> Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>
>> But you might be right, it just might be too much work to make it work.
>> Maybe I'll just backup the OS with ntbackup and hope for the best. LOL
>>
>
>Have you actually successfully booted that drive as an External from ANY
>PC? Windows wasn't configured to work that way, altho the are some
>places that have "hacked" it into working.

To get copy of Windows XP or 2K booting and running from an external
USB hard drive one only needs to change the start value in service
keys of the drivers that make up the USB stack. The OS will then boot
and run from the drive but Windows will crash with a disk read or
write error if anything is dynamically plugged into the same USB hub
after booting is complete.

To get Windows to run un-interrupted on the USB drive requires adding
a custom driver to the USB stack that prevents new devices from being
recognized after the initial boot. This prevents the USB stack from
being torn down and rebuilt.

I gave a demo of XP running on a USB drive to many of the hard drive
manufacturers at Comdex way back in 2002. At that time there were
only a few hundred thousand USB drives being sold annually and the
drive manufacturers were only willing to pay a few pennies for each
piece of bundled software. Even though the drive manufacturers though
it was way cool it didn't make sense to continue pursuing the product.

Windows running from a user create RescueBoot CD uses a very similar
process for getting a subset of files from an existing installation of
XP or 2K to boot and run from the CD. In the future I'm hoping to
update RescueBoot to automatically create a bootable Windows XP or 2K
USB drive key in addition to the bootable CD.

John Hensley
www.resqware.com

[BillW50]

"RedForeman" > wrote in message
ups.com
> On May 16, 12:07 pm, "BillW50" > wrote:
>> Sounds good Andrew! Although I am trying to backup the OS files and
>> not the documents, videos, etc. Like if someday the OS and the
>> program files gets trashed. I need a working backup of them.
>
> Bill, I'm not interested in getting into a ****ing contest, but what,
> why and how do you expect anyone to help you when you are putting so
> many restriction on what you want?
>
> I've read the whole history of this thread, and you've given every
> excuse possible why NOT to do things the right way... back up your
> disk with ntbackup and be done with it... if you don't dedicate a
> whole large capacity drive to your vital data, you get the loss you
> deserve... I usually tell anyone who has a backup issue, you've got
> to consider how important this stuff is... if it's very important,
> then do what's right, the right way... If it's not important, then who
> cares how it gets done...
>
> RedForeman

Because I always have done things this way and once I've done this, I'll
have the whole thing figured out and I'll be able to do things manually
like I have with Windows 9x and OS/2. As how many people do you know
that can install muliple copies of Windows 95 all in the same partition?
It was actually very easy to do. And having more than one Windows 95, it
was very easy to make a backup with the other one. As no files were in
use. And many claimed it couldn't be done. :)

As for ntbackup, I have heard horror stories that it doesn't always
backup files in use. But you can check the event log to see if it failed
or not. But otherwise you would never know until you tried to restore.
And I will be doing this too, I am sure. But I don't completely trust
ntbackup because others have said it doesn't restore into a bootable OS.
But they never said why? My guess they may have not repaired the MBR or
something.

Right now I am trying to make two partitions into one with this external
320GB. Partition Magic 8 won't touch it in the USB external. Claims the
geometry is different from what it understands. Which is funny since
Partition Magic 8 created those partitions when this drive lived in a
desktop.

So I am trying it now with Paragon Partition Manager 2005. Although I am
having trouble adjusting anything between the two boundies. Meaning I
can adjust the sizes except where the extended partition lives. I can't
make it larger or smaller. But I can with the logical partition within
it though. And the primary partition just before that. I have 6 hours to
go before that finishes. Maybe I can do something more when this job
making the logical partition smaller.

I do have backups for everything. Except for the 120GB worth of TV card
MPEG videos that I recorded. I really don't want to make 25 or more DVDs
just to back those up too. I do have 2 good 80GB HD sitting here that I
could throw in a desktop if I had too. So if I lose anything, it would
be just those. But that would be okay I guess, as I have seen all of
those programs already. :)

--
Bill

[BillW50]

<John Hensley> wrote in message

> To get copy of Windows XP or 2K booting and running from an external
> USB hard drive one only needs to change the start value in service
> keys of the drivers that make up the USB stack. The OS will then boot
> and run from the drive but Windows will crash with a disk read or
> write error if anything is dynamically plugged into the same USB hub
> after booting is complete.
>
> To get Windows to run un-interrupted on the USB drive requires adding
> a custom driver to the USB stack that prevents new devices from being
> recognized after the initial boot. This prevents the USB stack from
> being torn down and rebuilt.
>
> I gave a demo of XP running on a USB drive to many of the hard drive
> manufacturers at Comdex way back in 2002. At that time there were
> only a few hundred thousand USB drives being sold annually and the
> drive manufacturers were only willing to pay a few pennies for each
> piece of bundled software. Even though the drive manufacturers though
> it was way cool it didn't make sense to continue pursuing the product.
>
> Windows running from a user create RescueBoot CD uses a very similar
> process for getting a subset of files from an existing installation of
> XP or 2K to boot and run from the CD. In the future I'm hoping to
> update RescueBoot to automatically create a bootable Windows XP or 2K
> USB drive key in addition to the bootable CD.
>
> John Hensley
> www.resqware.com

Wow impressive John! I'll keep experiementing and I'll keep an eye out
for this. Thanks again.

--
Bill

[Poprivet]

BillW50 wrote:
> Okay back when Windows 95 was released, you could dualboot to another
> copy and copy just the Windows and Program Files folder to make a
> backup of your OS and applications. Is the same still true with
> Windows XP? Maybe adding the Documents and Settings folder too?

XP is different; very different.

>
> My plan is to use BartPE to copy the files over to a bootable USB hard
> drive. This solves any files in use errors when copying files from
> itself, right? Or this problem doesn't occur under Windows XP? Just
> Windows 9x and ME?

XP AFAIK will not boot from a USB device. Have you proven that it can be
done yet?
>
> Why not use a backup program you might ask? I hate them, especially if
> they do not create a bootable usable copy. This is also handy to test
> your backup copy as well. Plus this method is free and I can do this
> with anybodys machine. As often I am asked to help others with no
> tools around. LOL

Sounds fishy and closed minded.
>
> Why not clone the HD? Yeah I have Partition Magic, DriveCopy, etc.
> But I want to only make a backup of the OS and programs. Not the rest
> of the data. Which is copied elsewhere. Another reason is that the
> backup partition isn't large enough for the whole partition.

You need an external drive that's large enough.
>
> Next problem is changing the external drive to drive C to work
> proberly. Since it will be copied from a working drive C. I guess I
> can always turn off the laptop's internal HD through the BIOS. I
> guess that should work. :)
>
> Any thoughts and ideas about any of this before I start? TIA

You can only INSTALL ONE (1) instance of XP on any system. You will not be
able to get them both activated. Well, unless you do something illegal.

Good luck; sounds like a wart on the ass of progress to me.

Pop`

[Poprivet]

BillW50 wrote:
....
use BartPE CD to just copy the OS files from my laptop to my external
> HD. Thus I could use that copy if my laptop internal HD ever fails.
> Plus if I am successful, it should be bootable so I can see if it
> actually works. As it is terrible making backups and later learn when
> it is too late that the backups are no good. :(

It is NOT hard to validate/confirm and prove-out whether a backup restores
correctly or not. What planet are you from?

A Ghost and former ntbackup user during my poorer days.

[Pegasus]

"BillW50" > wrote in message
...
> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>
>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Okay back when Windows 95 was released, you could dualboot to
>>> another copy and copy just the Windows and Program Files folder to
>>> make a backup of your OS and applications. Is the same still true
>>> with Windows XP? Maybe adding the Documents and Settings folder too?
>>>
>>> My plan is to use BartPE to copy the files over to a bootable USB
>>> hard drive. This solves any files in use errors when copying files
>>> from itself, right? Or this problem doesn't occur under Windows XP?
>>> Just Windows 9x and ME?
>>>
>>> Why not use a backup program you might ask? I hate them, especially
>>> if they do not create a bootable usable copy. This is also handy to
>>> test your backup copy as well. Plus this method is free and I can do
>>> this with anybodys machine. As often I am asked to help others with
>>> no tools around. LOL
>>>
>>> Why not clone the HD? Yeah I have Partition Magic, DriveCopy, etc.
>>> But I want to only make a backup of the OS and programs. Not the
>>> rest of the data. Which is copied elsewhere. Another reason is that
>>> the backup partition isn't large enough for the whole partition.
>>>
>>> Next problem is changing the external drive to drive C to work
>>> proberly. Since it will be copied from a working drive C. I guess I
>>> can always turn off the laptop's internal HD through the BIOS. I
>>> guess that should work. :)
>>>
>>> Any thoughts and ideas about any of this before I start? TIA
>>
>> I don't know what you mean with "This solves any files in use errors
>> when copying files from itself, right?" but yes, you can use a Bart
>> PE boot CD to create a bootable clone of your existing Windows
>> installation, provided that the target disk was formatted under WinXP.
>
> Well I already made a bootable BartPE CD. But this in itself will not
> restore my OS in case of a disaster (HD faulure, etc).

Why not? I've done it several times, using just this method!

[John Hensley]

On Wed, 16 May 2007 14:53:36 -0500, "BillW50" > wrote:

><John Hensley> wrote in message

>> To get copy of Windows XP or 2K booting and running from an external
>> USB hard drive one only needs to change the start value in service
>> keys of the drivers that make up the USB stack. The OS will then boot
>> and run from the drive but Windows will crash with a disk read or
>> write error if anything is dynamically plugged into the same USB hub
>> after booting is complete.
>>
>> To get Windows to run un-interrupted on the USB drive requires adding
>> a custom driver to the USB stack that prevents new devices from being
>> recognized after the initial boot. This prevents the USB stack from
>> being torn down and rebuilt.
>>
>> I gave a demo of XP running on a USB drive to many of the hard drive
>> manufacturers at Comdex way back in 2002. At that time there were
>> only a few hundred thousand USB drives being sold annually and the
>> drive manufacturers were only willing to pay a few pennies for each
>> piece of bundled software. Even though the drive manufacturers though
>> it was way cool it didn't make sense to continue pursuing the product.
>>
>> Windows running from a user create RescueBoot CD uses a very similar
>> process for getting a subset of files from an existing installation of
>> XP or 2K to boot and run from the CD. In the future I'm hoping to
>> update RescueBoot to automatically create a bootable Windows XP or 2K
>> USB drive key in addition to the bootable CD.
>>
>> John Hensley
>> www.resqware.com
>
>Wow impressive John! I'll keep experiementing and I'll keep an eye out
>for this. Thanks again.

If you want to try to get your USB drive booting Windows you can find
the names of the drivers in the USB stack using the Device Manager. If
you look at the entries under the USB controllers you will find the
names of the drivers by clicking on the "Driver Details" button on the
Drivers property page.

You can locate the service associated with each driver by searching
for the driver name in registry under:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es

For example in XP you find the service key for usbhub.sys is named
usbhub. Sometimes the driver is specified in the service key without
tne .sys extension and sometime the name of the service key is used to
identify the driver file. For example the service TDTCP does not have
an ImagePath value the name of the driver is tdtcp.sys.

After finding the service key for the driver you will need to set the
"Start" value to 0 (zero) which tells Windows the driver is needed for
booting the OS.

Good luck,
John Hensley
www.resqware.com

[BillW50]

"Pegasus" > wrote in message

> "BillW50" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Well I already made a bootable BartPE CD. But this in itself will not
>> restore my OS in case of a disaster (HD faulure, etc).
>
> Why not? I've done it several times, using just this method!

How? With that Drive Copy utility? Mine doesn't work until I register
it. Or did you just copy the files over?

--
Bill

[Pegasus]

"BillW50" > wrote in message
...
> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>
>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Well I already made a bootable BartPE CD. But this in itself will not
>>> restore my OS in case of a disaster (HD faulure, etc).
>>
>> Why not? I've done it several times, using just this method!
>
> How? With that Drive Copy utility? Mine doesn't work until I register it.
> Or did you just copy the files over?
>
> --
> Bill

Using xcopy.exe with lots of switches under a Bert PE boot.

[BillW50]

"Poprivet" > wrote in message

> BillW50 wrote:
>> Okay back when Windows 95 was released, you could dualboot to another
>> copy and copy just the Windows and Program Files folder to make a
>> backup of your OS and applications. Is the same still true with
>> Windows XP? Maybe adding the Documents and Settings folder too?
>
> XP is different; very different.

Remember people do the impossible only because they weren't told ahead
of time that it was impossible in the first place. :P

>> My plan is to use BartPE to copy the files over to a bootable USB
>> hard drive. This solves any files in use errors when copying files
>> from itself, right? Or this problem doesn't occur under Windows XP?
>> Just Windows 9x and ME?
>
> XP AFAIK will not boot from a USB device. Have you proven that it
> can be done yet?

I have partly. But John Hensley has fully. :)

From: John Hensley
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Subject: Re: Making backups by just copying files
Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 15:04:15 -0400


>> Why not use a backup program you might ask? I hate them, especially
>> if they do not create a bootable usable copy. This is also handy to
>> test your backup copy as well. Plus this method is free and I can do
>> this with anybodys machine. As often I am asked to help others with
>> no tools around. LOL
>
> Sounds fishy and closed minded.

Quite the opposite.

Professionals: Have tested a full server restore in the last 6 months
Amateurs: Carry on backing up but they have no idea if the tapes will
restore!

And 35% of restores didn't work correctly.

http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/Litmus/backup.htm

>> Why not clone the HD? Yeah I have Partition Magic, DriveCopy, etc.
>> But I want to only make a backup of the OS and programs. Not the rest
>> of the data. Which is copied elsewhere. Another reason is that the
>> backup partition isn't large enough for the whole partition.
>
> You need an external drive that's large enough.

The external HD is 320GB. The internal one is only 60GB. But the
external one has 120GB of mpeg videos from the TV card alone. Plus
Paragon Partition Manager 2005 isn't allowing the extended part to be
resized. As the option is greyed out. Part the logical partition can be
resized within the extended. Not that does me any good though. And
Partition Magic 8 won't touch it in the external case. Claims the
geometery is wrong. Yet Partition Magic 8 was the one that partitioned
and formatted it in a desktop. Go figure!

>> Next problem is changing the external drive to drive C to work
>> proberly. Since it will be copied from a working drive C. I guess I
>> can always turn off the laptop's internal HD through the BIOS. I
>> guess that should work. :)
>>
>> Any thoughts and ideas about any of this before I start? TIA
>
> You can only INSTALL ONE (1) instance of XP on any system. You will
> not be able to get them both activated. Well, unless you do
> something illegal.
> Good luck; sounds like a wart on the ass of progress to me.
>
> Pop`

Yup, I tell people they have to buy an extra license for their backup
copy too. :P

But seriously, I have one OEM version that came with this Gateway laptop
and I have two other retail Windows XP boxes still shrinkwrapped along
with my Wal-Mart receipt. So I am still in good shape you think? ;)

--
Bill

[BillW50]

"Pegasus" > wrote in message

> "BillW50" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>>
>>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> Well I already made a bootable BartPE CD. But this in itself will
>>>> not restore my OS in case of a disaster (HD faulure, etc).
>>>
>>> Why not? I've done it several times, using just this method!
>>
>> How? With that Drive Copy utility? Mine doesn't work until I
>> register it. Or did you just copy the files over?
>
> Using xcopy.exe with lots of switches under a Bert PE boot.

Oh okay, one clever batch file will handle that. Thanks! And you have
restored with xcopy too and everything including Windows XP was fine?

--
Bill

[BillW50]

<John Hensley> wrote in message

> If you want to try to get your USB drive booting Windows you can find
> the names of the drivers in the USB stack using the Device Manager. If
> you look at the entries under the USB controllers you will find the
> names of the drivers by clicking on the "Driver Details" button on the
> Drivers property page.
>
> You can locate the service associated with each driver by searching
> for the driver name in registry under:
>
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es
>
> For example in XP you find the service key for usbhub.sys is named
> usbhub. Sometimes the driver is specified in the service key without
> tne .sys extension and sometime the name of the service key is used to
> identify the driver file. For example the service TDTCP does not have
> an ImagePath value the name of the driver is tdtcp.sys.
>
> After finding the service key for the driver you will need to set the
> "Start" value to 0 (zero) which tells Windows the driver is needed for
> booting the OS.
>
> Good luck,
> John Hensley
> www.resqware.com

Much thanks John! I really appreciate it. You don't know how much time
you just saved me. :)

--
Bill

[Pegasus]

"BillW50" > wrote in message
...
> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>
>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>>>
>>>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> Well I already made a bootable BartPE CD. But this in itself will
>>>>> not restore my OS in case of a disaster (HD faulure, etc).
>>>>
>>>> Why not? I've done it several times, using just this method!
>>>
>>> How? With that Drive Copy utility? Mine doesn't work until I
>>> register it. Or did you just copy the files over?
>>
>> Using xcopy.exe with lots of switches under a Bert PE boot.
>
> Oh okay, one clever batch file will handle that. Thanks! And you have
> restored with xcopy too and everything including Windows XP was fine?
>
> --
> Bill

I certainly have.

There is little advantage in using a batch file. Batch files
are great when you have several complex commands
or when you wish to automate a task. Neither seems
to apply in your case, hence it's probably faster to type
your command at the Command Prompt.

[BillW50]

"Pegasus" > wrote in message

> "BillW50" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>>
>>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>>>>
>>>>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> Well I already made a bootable BartPE CD. But this in itself will
>>>>>> not restore my OS in case of a disaster (HD faulure, etc).
>>>>>
>>>>> Why not? I've done it several times, using just this method!
>>>>
>>>> How? With that Drive Copy utility? Mine doesn't work until I
>>>> register it. Or did you just copy the files over?
>>>
>>> Using xcopy.exe with lots of switches under a Bert PE boot.
>>
>> Oh okay, one clever batch file will handle that. Thanks! And you have
>> restored with xcopy too and everything including Windows XP was fine?
>
> I certainly have.
>
> There is little advantage in using a batch file. Batch files
> are great when you have several complex commands
> or when you wish to automate a task. Neither seems
> to apply in your case, hence it's probably faster to type
> your command at the Command Prompt.

Oh many thanks! This is the info I needed to know.

Xcopy the 3 folders should cover the OS and programs. The data I have
covered under another program which syncs data to other computers on the
network.

Windows
Program Files
Documents and Settings

--
Bill

[Terry]

On 5/16/2007 7:31 PM On a whim, BillW50 pounded out on the keyboard

> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>
>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>>>
>>>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>>>>>
>>>>>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>> Well I already made a bootable BartPE CD. But this in itself will
>>>>>>> not restore my OS in case of a disaster (HD faulure, etc).
>>>>>> Why not? I've done it several times, using just this method!
>>>>> How? With that Drive Copy utility? Mine doesn't work until I
>>>>> register it. Or did you just copy the files over?
>>>> Using xcopy.exe with lots of switches under a Bert PE boot.
>>> Oh okay, one clever batch file will handle that. Thanks! And you have
>>> restored with xcopy too and everything including Windows XP was fine?
>> I certainly have.
>>
>> There is little advantage in using a batch file. Batch files
>> are great when you have several complex commands
>> or when you wish to automate a task. Neither seems
>> to apply in your case, hence it's probably faster to type
>> your command at the Command Prompt.
>
> Oh many thanks! This is the info I needed to know.
>
> Xcopy the 3 folders should cover the OS and programs. The data I have
> covered under another program which syncs data to other computers on the
> network.
>
> Windows
> Program Files
> Documents and Settings
>

Bill,

Have you heard about xxcopy? Do a search for it. You may find it able
to do all you want.

--
Terry

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

[Pegasus]

"Terry" > wrote in message
...
> On 5/16/2007 7:31 PM On a whim, BillW50 pounded out on the keyboard
>
>> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>>
>>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>>>>
>>>>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>>> Well I already made a bootable BartPE CD. But this in itself will
>>>>>>>> not restore my OS in case of a disaster (HD faulure, etc).
>>>>>>> Why not? I've done it several times, using just this method!
>>>>>> How? With that Drive Copy utility? Mine doesn't work until I
>>>>>> register it. Or did you just copy the files over?
>>>>> Using xcopy.exe with lots of switches under a Bert PE boot.
>>>> Oh okay, one clever batch file will handle that. Thanks! And you have
>>>> restored with xcopy too and everything including Windows XP was fine?
>>> I certainly have.
>>>
>>> There is little advantage in using a batch file. Batch files
>>> are great when you have several complex commands
>>> or when you wish to automate a task. Neither seems
>>> to apply in your case, hence it's probably faster to type
>>> your command at the Command Prompt.
>>
>> Oh many thanks! This is the info I needed to know.
>>
>> Xcopy the 3 folders should cover the OS and programs. The data I have
>> covered under another program which syncs data to other computers on the
>> network.
>>
>> Windows
>> Program Files
>> Documents and Settings
>>
>
> Bill,
>
> Have you heard about xxcopy? Do a search for it. You may find it able to
> do all you want.
>
> --
> Terry

While xxcopy.exe is a great program, it offers no advantage in
the OP's situation over native xcopy.exe.

[John Hensley]

On Wed, 16 May 2007 20:42:36 -0500, "BillW50" > wrote:

><John Hensley> wrote in message

>> If you want to try to get your USB drive booting Windows you can find
>> the names of the drivers in the USB stack using the Device Manager. If
>> you look at the entries under the USB controllers you will find the
>> names of the drivers by clicking on the "Driver Details" button on the
>> Drivers property page.
>>
>> You can locate the service associated with each driver by searching
>> for the driver name in registry under:
>>
>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es
>>
>> For example in XP you find the service key for usbhub.sys is named
>> usbhub. Sometimes the driver is specified in the service key without
>> tne .sys extension and sometime the name of the service key is used to
>> identify the driver file. For example the service TDTCP does not have
>> an ImagePath value the name of the driver is tdtcp.sys.
>>
>> After finding the service key for the driver you will need to set the
>> "Start" value to 0 (zero) which tells Windows the driver is needed for
>> booting the OS.
>>
>> Good luck,
>> John Hensley
>> www.resqware.com
>
>Much thanks John! I really appreciate it. You don't know how much time
>you just saved me. :)

I just re-read your original message in this thread and thought I
might be able to offer some additional hints in getting the Windows XP
files to the USB drive and then booting from it.

If you download the RescueBoot beta from
www.resqware.com/Beta/beta.aspx it will automatically create a
bootable clean install archive of Windows in a separate directory
structure on your existing system drive and then update your boot.ini
with a new RescueBoot OS menu entry to allow you to select to boot
from the archived copy of Windows. After rebooting and selecting the
RescueBoot option on the boot menu you will be running from the
archived copy of Windows and you'll have access to all of the normal
OS files without having to worry about them being in use.

You can also use the RescueBoot Wizard to transfer the bootable
Windows archive from your hard drive onto CDR/RW media giving you
something like Bart's PE on steroids with most of the functionality of
a clean install of Windows XP when booting and running from the CD.

After booting from RescueBoot or Bart's PE you can use Xcopy to copy
the files but this will cause you problems later because Xcopy doesn't
copy the security descriptors on the files correctly. I would
recommend downloading the Windows 2003 Resource Kit and using RoboCopy
to copy your files to the USB drive so that you retain the correct
security descriptors on the files.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9d467a69-57ff-4ae7-96ee-b18c4790cffd&displaylang=en

If you eventually are able to boot off of the USB hard drive you will
find that the USB drive will still have its original drive letter as
will your original Windows system drive. This means that all of the
paths in the registry will be pointing to the wrong drive. To get
around this you will need to swap the drive letter assignments in the
registry on the USB drive under the key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices

If your USB is normally drive E: you do something like this. Rename
the value "\DosDevices\E:" to "Tmp". Next rename "\DosDevices\C:" to
"\DosDevices\E:" and then rename "Tmp" to "\DosDevices\C:".

After copying all of the files to the USB drive you can run RegEdit
and load the SYSTEM registry hive that was copied to the USB drive and
then make these changes before booting from the USB drive.

Now when you boot from the USB drive it will appear as drive C: and
your original Windows drive will appear as E:. This is what RescueBoot
does when creating it's bootable CD so that the emulated disk Windows
is running from on the CD appears as drive C: and your original
Windows drive appears as the last free drive letter that is available
such as Z:

John Hensley
www.resqware.com

[Poprivet]

Pegasus wrote:
> "Terry" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 5/16/2007 7:31 PM On a whim, BillW50 pounded out on the keyboard
>>
>>> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>>>
>>>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>>>>>
>>>>>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>>>> Well I already made a bootable BartPE CD. But this in itself
>>>>>>>>> will not restore my OS in case of a disaster (HD faulure,
>>>>>>>>> etc).
>>>>>>>> Why not? I've done it several times, using just this method!
>>>>>>> How? With that Drive Copy utility? Mine doesn't work until I
>>>>>>> register it. Or did you just copy the files over?
>>>>>> Using xcopy.exe with lots of switches under a Bert PE boot.
>>>>> Oh okay, one clever batch file will handle that. Thanks! And you
>>>>> have restored with xcopy too and everything including Windows XP
>>>>> was fine? I certainly have.
>>>>
>>>> There is little advantage in using a batch file. Batch files
>>>> are great when you have several complex commands
>>>> or when you wish to automate a task. Neither seems
>>>> to apply in your case, hence it's probably faster to type
>>>> your command at the Command Prompt.
>>>
>>> Oh many thanks! This is the info I needed to know.
>>>
>>> Xcopy the 3 folders should cover the OS and programs. The data I
>>> have covered under another program which syncs data to other
>>> computers on the network.
>>>
>>> Windows
>>> Program Files
>>> Documents and Settings
>>>
>>
>> Bill,
>>
>> Have you heard about xxcopy? Do a search for it. You may find it
>> able to do all you want.
>>
>> --
>> Terry
>
> While xxcopy.exe is a great program, it offers no advantage in
> the OP's situation over native xcopy.exe.

Caveat: No one has mentioned that xcopy nor any copy command can copy the
system files that are "in use". Just cleaning up details.

Pop`

[Pegasus]

"Poprivet" > wrote in message
...
> Pegasus wrote:
>> "Terry" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On 5/16/2007 7:31 PM On a whim, BillW50 pounded out on the keyboard
>>>
>>>> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>>>>
>>>>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>>>>> ...
>>>>>> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>>> "Pegasus" > wrote in message
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> "BillW50" > wrote in message
>>>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>>>>> Well I already made a bootable BartPE CD. But this in itself
>>>>>>>>>> will not restore my OS in case of a disaster (HD faulure,
>>>>>>>>>> etc).
>>>>>>>>> Why not? I've done it several times, using just this method!
>>>>>>>> How? With that Drive Copy utility? Mine doesn't work until I
>>>>>>>> register it. Or did you just copy the files over?
>>>>>>> Using xcopy.exe with lots of switches under a Bert PE boot.
>>>>>> Oh okay, one clever batch file will handle that. Thanks! And you
>>>>>> have restored with xcopy too and everything including Windows XP
>>>>>> was fine? I certainly have.
>>>>>
>>>>> There is little advantage in using a batch file. Batch files
>>>>> are great when you have several complex commands
>>>>> or when you wish to automate a task. Neither seems
>>>>> to apply in your case, hence it's probably faster to type
>>>>> your command at the Command Prompt.
>>>>
>>>> Oh many thanks! This is the info I needed to know.
>>>>
>>>> Xcopy the 3 folders should cover the OS and programs. The data I
>>>> have covered under another program which syncs data to other
>>>> computers on the network.
>>>>
>>>> Windows
>>>> Program Files
>>>> Documents and Settings
>>>>
>>>
>>> Bill,
>>>
>>> Have you heard about xxcopy? Do a search for it. You may find it
>>> able to do all you want.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Terry
>>
>> While xxcopy.exe is a great program, it offers no advantage in
>> the OP's situation over native xcopy.exe.
>
> Caveat: No one has mentioned that xcopy nor any copy command can copy the
> system files that are "in use". Just cleaning up details.
>
> Pop`
>

Not quite. When booting the machine with a Bart PE boot
CD then no files are in use. This is the whole point of booting
the machine with this CD!

[BillW50]

<John Hensley> wrote in message

> On Wed, 16 May 2007 20:42:36 -0500, "BillW50" > wrote:
>
>> <John Hensley> wrote in message
>>
>>> If you want to try to get your USB drive booting Windows you can
>>> find the names of the drivers in the USB stack using the Device
>>> Manager. If you look at the entries under the USB controllers you
>>> will find the names of the drivers by clicking on the "Driver
>>> Details" button on the Drivers property page.
>>>
>>> You can locate the service associated with each driver by searching
>>> for the driver name in registry under:
>>>
>>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es
>>>
>>> For example in XP you find the service key for usbhub.sys is named
>>> usbhub. Sometimes the driver is specified in the service key without
>>> tne .sys extension and sometime the name of the service key is used
>>> to identify the driver file. For example the service TDTCP does not
>>> have an ImagePath value the name of the driver is tdtcp.sys.
>>>
>>> After finding the service key for the driver you will need to set
>>> the "Start" value to 0 (zero) which tells Windows the driver is
>>> needed for booting the OS.
>>>
>>> Good luck,
>>> John Hensley
>>> www.resqware.com
>>
>> Much thanks John! I really appreciate it. You don't know how much
>> time you just saved me. :)
>
> I just re-read your original message in this thread and thought I
> might be able to offer some additional hints in getting the Windows XP
> files to the USB drive and then booting from it.
>
> If you download the RescueBoot beta from
> www.resqware.com/Beta/beta.aspx it will automatically create a
> bootable clean install archive of Windows in a separate directory
> structure on your existing system drive and then update your boot.ini
> with a new RescueBoot OS menu entry to allow you to select to boot
> from the archived copy of Windows. After rebooting and selecting the
> RescueBoot option on the boot menu you will be running from the
> archived copy of Windows and you'll have access to all of the normal
> OS files without having to worry about them being in use.
>
> You can also use the RescueBoot Wizard to transfer the bootable
> Windows archive from your hard drive onto CDR/RW media giving you
> something like Bart's PE on steroids with most of the functionality of
> a clean install of Windows XP when booting and running from the CD.
>
> After booting from RescueBoot or Bart's PE you can use Xcopy to copy
> the files but this will cause you problems later because Xcopy doesn't
> copy the security descriptors on the files correctly. I would
> recommend downloading the Windows 2003 Resource Kit and using RoboCopy
> to copy your files to the USB drive so that you retain the correct
> security descriptors on the files.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9d467a69-57ff-4ae7-96ee-b18c4790cffd&displaylang=en
>
> If you eventually are able to boot off of the USB hard drive you will
> find that the USB drive will still have its original drive letter as
> will your original Windows system drive. This means that all of the
> paths in the registry will be pointing to the wrong drive. To get
> around this you will need to swap the drive letter assignments in the
> registry on the USB drive under the key.
>
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices
>
> If your USB is normally drive E: you do something like this. Rename
> the value "\DosDevices\E:" to "Tmp". Next rename "\DosDevices\C:" to
> "\DosDevices\E:" and then rename "Tmp" to "\DosDevices\C:".
>
> After copying all of the files to the USB drive you can run RegEdit
> and load the SYSTEM registry hive that was copied to the USB drive and
> then make these changes before booting from the USB drive.
>
> Now when you boot from the USB drive it will appear as drive C: and
> your original Windows drive will appear as E:. This is what RescueBoot
> does when creating it's bootable CD so that the emulated disk Windows
> is running from on the CD appears as drive C: and your original
> Windows drive appears as the last free drive letter that is available
> such as Z:
>
> John Hensley
> www.resqware.com

Many thanks John! You're a life and time saver! :)

--
Bill