How to locate & install the backup utility?

My computer came with Windows XP already installed so I do not have the
original CD; I just bought an Iomega 500G external hard drive for backup
purposes and I am unable to figure out how to backup automatically, as
microsoft wishes me to use the WinXP cd to install this program. Is there a
place to download this program from so that I can use it and not have to just
pick and choose what to backup? I have a store on ebay and it is very
important I back up my files weekly.
thanks

Talira wrote:

I have a store on ebay and it is very
important I back up my files weekly.

Then spend a few bucks and get a REAL backup utility.

On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:15:01 -0800, Talira
wrote:

My computer came with Windows XP already installed so I do not have the
original CD; I just bought an Iomega 500G external hard drive for backup
purposes and I am unable to figure out how to backup automatically, as
microsoft wishes me to use the WinXP cd to install this program. Is there a
place to download this program from so that I can use it and not have to just
pick and choose what to backup? I have a store on ebay and it is very
important I back up my files weekly.


XP Home?

Backup is installed automatically on XP Professional, but not on XP
Home. If you have the complete XP Home CD, find backup on the CD, in
\ValueAdd\MSFT\NTBACKUP and install it yourself by doubleclicking the
file ntbackup.msi.

If you don't have an XP CD, you can download ntbackup.msi at
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/software/ntbackup.msi Also see
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=302894

However, note that, as backup software goes, Windows XP's backup
program is probably the poorest available. I think it's well worth
spending a few extra dollars to buy a better third-party product, such
as the excellent Acronis TrueImage. That's especially true if your
computer is used for business purposes.


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

FWIW, you might consider having a look here -

http://www.cobian.se/

HTH Tony.

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:15:01 -0800, Talira
wrote:

My computer came with Windows XP already installed so I do not have the
original CD; I just bought an Iomega 500G external hard drive for backup
purposes and I am unable to figure out how to backup automatically, as
microsoft wishes me to use the WinXP cd to install this program. Is
there a
place to download this program from so that I can use it and not have to
just
pick and choose what to backup? I have a store on ebay and it is very
important I back up my files weekly.


XP Home?

Backup is installed automatically on XP Professional, but not on XP
Home. If you have the complete XP Home CD, find backup on the CD, in
\ValueAdd\MSFT\NTBACKUP and install it yourself by doubleclicking the
file ntbackup.msi.

If you don't have an XP CD, you can download ntbackup.msi at
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/software/ntbackup.msi Also see
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=302894

However, note that, as backup software goes, Windows XP's backup
program is probably the poorest available. I think it's well worth
spending a few extra dollars to buy a better third-party product, such
as the excellent Acronis TrueImage. That's especially true if your
computer is used for business purposes.


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"Talira" wrote in message
...
My computer came with Windows XP already installed so I do not have the
original CD; I just bought an Iomega 500G external hard drive for backup
purposes and I am unable to figure out how to backup automatically, as
microsoft wishes me to use the WinXP cd to install this program. Is there
a
place to download this program from so that I can use it and not have to
just
pick and choose what to backup? I have a store on ebay and it is very
important I back up my files weekly.
thanks


Talira:
While the XP operating system does include a backup utility, it's neither
very user-friendly nor very good as a comprehensive backup program. You
really should consider a third-party backup program such as the Acronis True
Image program suggested by Ken Blake. It's especially crucial for you to
have a comprehensive backup program since you're running a business and the
data on your day-to-day working hard drive (HDD) is obviously vital to you.

So...

A disk cloning/disk imaging program such as the mentioned Acronis True Image
can be used in routine fashion to "clone" the contents of your internal HDD
to your USB 500 GB external HDD. In that way you would have, for all
practical purposes, an exact duplicate of your source drive (your day-to-day
working HDD) including the operating system, your programs/applications, and
all your user-created data. What better backup system can one have?

So that in the event your internal HDD was no longer usable because it
became defective or the operating system became so corrupt that the drive
would be dysfunctional, you could clone the contents of your USBEHD back to
that internal HDD (assuming it was mechanically/electronically
non-defective) or a new HDD should it be needed. Thus, you entire system
would be restored to its former functional state.

By & large these disk imaging programs when employed for basic disk-to-disk
cloning purposes are relatively simple & straightforward to use and they're
quite effective in maintaining a near-failsafe backup system.

The disk-cloning program that we prefer is the Casper 4.0 program
(http://www.fssdev.com/products/casper/trial/). It's extremely simple to use
even for an inexperienced user, reasonably quick in operation, and quite
effective. There's virtually no learning curve in undertaking the disk
cloning process as one navigates through the few easy-to-understand screens
with a final mouse-click on the button on the screen which will trigger the
disk-cloning process. After undertaking one or two disk-cloning operations
it should take the user no more than 20 seconds or so to get to that point.

The Casper 4.0 program is also capable of scheduling the disk-cloning
process on a daily, weekly, or other time period selected by the user so
that you could arrange for automatic backups at pre-determined times.

There's a trial version available (see above link) although it's somewhat
crippled but it will give you a good idea as to how the program works. And I
can provide further details about the program should you be interested.

The Acronis program also has a trial version available, so take a look at
that one also at http://www.acronis.com.

In any event, give a disk-cloning program some serious consideration.
Anna

"Anna" wrote in message
...

"Talira" wrote in message
...
My computer came with Windows XP already installed so I do not have the
original CD; I just bought an Iomega 500G external hard drive for backup
purposes and I am unable to figure out how to backup automatically, as
microsoft wishes me to use the WinXP cd to install this program. Is
there a
place to download this program from so that I can use it and not have to
just
pick and choose what to backup? I have a store on ebay and it is very
important I back up my files weekly.
thanks


Talira:
While the XP operating system does include a backup utility, it's neither
very user-friendly nor very good as a comprehensive backup program. You
really should consider a third-party backup program such as the Acronis
True Image program suggested by Ken Blake. It's especially crucial for you
to have a comprehensive backup program since you're running a business and
the data on your day-to-day working hard drive (HDD) is obviously vital to
you.

So...

A disk cloning/disk imaging program such as the mentioned Acronis True
Image can be used in routine fashion to "clone" the contents of your
internal HDD to your USB 500 GB external HDD. In that way you would have,
for all practical purposes, an exact duplicate of your source drive (your
day-to-day working HDD) including the operating system, your
programs/applications, and all your user-created data. What better backup
system can one have?

So that in the event your internal HDD was no longer usable because it
became defective or the operating system became so corrupt that the drive
would be dysfunctional, you could clone the contents of your USBEHD back
to that internal HDD (assuming it was mechanically/electronically
non-defective) or a new HDD should it be needed. Thus, you entire system
would be restored to its former functional state.

By & large these disk imaging programs when employed for basic
disk-to-disk cloning purposes are relatively simple & straightforward to
use and they're quite effective in maintaining a near-failsafe backup
system.

The disk-cloning program that we prefer is the Casper 4.0 program
(http://www.fssdev.com/products/casper/trial/). It's extremely simple to
use even for an inexperienced user, reasonably quick in operation, and
quite effective. There's virtually no learning curve in undertaking the
disk cloning process as one navigates through the few easy-to-understand
screens with a final mouse-click on the button on the screen which will
trigger the disk-cloning process. After undertaking one or two
disk-cloning operations it should take the user no more than 20 seconds or
so to get to that point.

The Casper 4.0 program is also capable of scheduling the disk-cloning
process on a daily, weekly, or other time period selected by the user so
that you could arrange for automatic backups at pre-determined times.

There's a trial version available (see above link) although it's somewhat
crippled but it will give you a good idea as to how the program works. And
I can provide further details about the program should you be interested.

The Acronis program also has a trial version available, so take a look at
that one also at http://www.acronis.com.

In any event, give a disk-cloning program some serious consideration.
Anna


Talira,

The Windows Back up program works very well in my opinion. Of course, I have
nothing to sell.
You can download the program from this site:
http://www.myscacc.org/Links.htm Scroll down to the second row column one.