Re: Reconfig WindowsBackup so doesn't require diskette for Restore Fil

lewisma9 wrote:
Hello:
I am getting desperate. I can't find this information anywhere. I
want to use Windows Backup Utility [NTBACKUP] but I keep stumbling
over the last required step: After completing the backup to my
Firelite SmartDrive USB external harddrive, Windows requires a
diskette in the A: drive for copying the Restore utility files. But
my laptop doesn't have a diskette drive, and Windows won't accept any
alternatives! I've tried to get it to copy the Restore files to a
CD, and then to a USB diskette drive. But it doesn't allow me any
other options than its default to an A: diskette drive. I have
Windows XP Pro SP2 on an HP Compaq Presario V2000 laptop. Please
don't repeat the saw that Windows Backup is useless etc etc -
I'm tired of this kind of unhelpful response. Those who know how to
use it say it works just great, and I want to make up my own mind by
trying it. I will greatly appreciate your help with this. Thanks.

I'm not looking at the program, so if I've not made sense when you try it,
post back; I'll do a step by step.
A very intelligent attitude, BTW about figuring it out for yourself on
the worthiness; EXCAXTLY the right thing to do!

It's defaulted to a floppy, and, you cannot use ntbackup to write to CDs.
So:

1. Back up to the hard drive. Then COPY the files over to a CD or DVD.

2. From the Wizard;
When you're presented with the A: Drive option, there is a drop down and a
Browse button, I either one gets the same results: Using either one will
tell you it's going to back up to Drive A. Try it: It'll then give you an
error message, and put up an Explorer like window that will let you choose
any drive that exists on your computer. Choose a drive and a folder, and go
from there; you'll be done.
Personally, I'd experiment by telling it to let YOU decide what to back
up, and choose only one file so you can test it quickly, including test out
restoring that same file.

IFF you have a good packet-writing software for your CD/DVD drive,
you -might- be able to back up directly to the CD/DVD, but until you've
tested it, I wouldn't. There are many temporary files created during a
backup, and unless the writing software is smart enough to handle it, the
CD/DVD will quickly fill up with those temporary files and you'll run out of
room quickly on the DVD! Not all packet-writing software is created equal,
so unless you know for sure, TEST first!
IFF you're using the XP's basic DVD writing app, you definitely can NOT
backup straight to the DVD; you must backup to a hard drive and then copy it
to the DVD. Or CD.
XP's backup will also not compress files - which can be a problem if
you're worried about the number of DVDs and all that. It'll only compress
if writing to a tape drive. If you have a 3rd party writing app though, you
may be able to compress. Personally I like it that it's not compressable;
fewer chances for error, and the files, even without the backup app, can be
recovered by simply copying them from the backup media and renaming them to
get rid of the .bkf TLD.

HTH
Pop`


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