Re: Restoring System and Boot Problems

Tech Tip: Click here to run a free scan for Windows Errors and optimize PC performance


"Edward W. Thompson" <thomeduk1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23Ucb$BLWHHA.3980@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I backup my complete system to external HDD using True Image. My complete
system is 'spread' across two 80GB HDD and comprises a number of
partitions,
the OS being installed on the 'C' partition. I have Norton 'GoBack'
installed. I think there has been two occasions where I have had to
resort
to 'GoBack', I have never had to reinstall the complete system from the
backup copies on the external HDD. My question is if I ever get to an
'unbootable' system will a restore from the backup copy, using the
bootable
True Image CD to start the system, return the system to its pre-backup
state? I backup the system in 'groups', that is one backup file contains
the 'C' and 'D' drives (OS and programs) and the second file the remaining
partitions which are data and the like.

The reason for this question is twofold. Firstly I don't really
understand
the difference between a 'clone' and a 'backup'. I thought the difference
was the backup was simply a compressed version of a clone but I don't
think
that is correct. Secondly, I have a rather worrying incident recently
when
the machine hung during rebooting with the message to the effect
'operating
system no found'. Rebooting several times did not clear the problem
although the 'post' showed both fixed HDDs. I booted the system using a
'Bart' bootable CD but couldn't access either HDD. After removing the CD.
and rebooting the machine loaded WINXP without incident. I have run a
'diagnostic' test on the drive which reported it to be OK.

If anyone has any ideas on this second issue I would appreciate their
thoughts. For a more complete history of events, prior to the problem I
was
editing a bootable (FAT32) floppy disk (boot order floppy, CD-ROM, HDD).
When I tried to reboot to WINXP Pro (floppy disk removed) the system hung
during POST immediately after accessing the floppy drive. I was as though
the machine expected to find a bootable disk in the drive and when it
didn't
instead of moving on it hung at that point. Does that make sense? It
doesn't to me but that is how I interpreted events.

The only way to be completely sure is to perform a
restoration yourself. If you don't then there is always this
nagging feeling: What if the respondent was wrong, or
did not test his method on his own PC? What if my image
file is corrupted (happens occasionally!). Get a spare disk,
perform a test restoration and see what happens!


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OT-True Image Backup
    ... Make sure the USB drives file system is NTFS and not FAT32.. ... Jaymon is correct in that the disk image you create and save to the D: ... partition of your USB external HDD will have no effect on the other ... Step-by-Step Instructions for Using the Acronis True Image Program to Backup ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: OT-True Image Backup
    ... Make sure the USB drives file system is NTFS and not FAT32.. ... Jaymon is correct in that the disk image you create and save to the D: ... partition of your USB external HDD will have no effect on the other ... Since the disk images you will be creating (at least the initial backup ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: Need help backing up my C: drive
    ... I tried using Windows' backup and restore which works for important data ... consider a disk imaging program such as ... Acronis True Image to clone the contents of your day-to-day working HDD onto ... With both hard drives connected, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Acronis and new disk
    ... with using the disk copying/disk cloning programs such as the MaxBlast ... contents of your 40 GB HDD to your new 120 GB HDD rather than creating a ... Step-by-Step Instructions for Using the Acronis True Image Program to Backup ... With both hard drives connected, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: Adding USB external hard disk drive for cloning with Acronis True Image
    ... especially for disk cloning - disk imaging operations. ... You will need, of course, a USB external enclosure to house a HDD. ... backup device. ... With both hard drives connected, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)