Re: Cannot copy files in use?

You think you can teach the idiot anything, be my guest. Is there a
particular reason you're talking to me instead?

Of *course* there are a multitude of ways to decently backup an XP system,
some better and some worse, some free, some not, etc., ad infinitum. But
idiot came through the gate with his tunes firmly jammed into his brain, and
instead insisted on a method that is doomed to failure. Why help such a
fool? Derision is much more entertaining.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

<jameshanley39@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:0047c498-ee90-4391-a7ab-655d541500c8@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On 13 Jul, 01:39, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:
The term "full system backup" is used lots, but you're right, I was only
concerned with the
%systemdrive% partition. And it was made clear, very early on, that the
whole reason he started this thread is that he was trying to COPY files
to
another location in order to "clone (sic)" his system partition. It's
when
he insisted that he could do it in Win98 so he should be able to do it in
XP, and refused to believe that it wouldn't work when told so, that he
earned the title "Idiot".

I have no patience for idiots. That simple. I'd prefer he COPY his files
to
another partition, wipe the existing one, and then try restoring the
system.
Learn the hard way. Or maybe never be able to get back online ever again.
That would be good for the world as a whole. Such WILLFULL idiocy
deserves
nothing less than a total yanking of computer privileges.

The point of this thread isn't how to successfully back up XP, it's about
a
stubborn idiot who obviously knows nothing about Windows XP and yet
refuses
to believe those who know what they are talking about, which group
obviously
includes you. Who whines about how he refuses to pay twenty pounds for a
solution that will actually work and get him back his system when it
falls
on its face. Who insists (STILL!!) that there's no difference between
Win9x
and WinXP. To me, that's just more idiocy. If the data/system is worth
backing up, if having it disappear on him would constitute a disaster,
then
quibbling over a few pounds is just another form of idiocy.

No, when a poster starts out by insisting he already knows all the
answers,
he deserves nothing but derision. He certainly does NOT deserve any real
assistance.
<snip>

Pointless though giving him endless derision and not technical
answers.

He is -effectively- asking the question, of why a file backup/copy
won't work.

Do you have a technical answer for him?

I suspect that it can be done, but people don't do it because
cloning or reinstalling works. And file backup has issues that they
don't want to know about.

Here are a few
-files in use / some files that won't copy for that kind of reason,
but that has been discussed.
-attributes (though familiariy with xcopy and xxcopy would deal with
that, I guess something like xcopy C:\ G:\ /K /H )
-I suppose that NTFS might store other information about files such as
permissions of users to access them. The kind of thing one might get
a small view of when right clicking a file or folder and going to
properties - one gets a view of these things if SFS is turned off.
xcopy may copy that , I don't know.
One could always convert to FAT32 and do it. Though
a)Win XP , it's recommended , to be run on NTFS not FAT32 (and you may
need some payware like partition magic, to convert it NTFS to FAT32)
b)Say you to convert it to FAT32, do the copy, and then convert to
NTFS. Converting an existing Win XP system from FAT32 to NTFS , has
some security issue or something. (prob not an issue for most people.
I recall converting my system FAT32 to NTFS with the convert command
and not noticing any problem)

- The master boot record.
if that were not right for some reason, one could always boot up the
recovery console and try the 3 (win xp recovery console) muskateers
FIXMBR,FIXBOOT,BOOTCFG /REBUILD


- explorer can be a pain in the ass. It won't leave you alone for the
copy that takes hours. You can click Yes, and it will prompt you again
to click Yes. You can hold shift and click yes. Then go out and come
back and it will have prompted you again. Most people have not learnt
xcopy, and most nowadays can't even use copy (most that can, knew
MSDOS).


People have done far far trickier hacks than file copying an OS (they
have booted windows off USB e.g. a usb flash drive!). Thte only reason
they don't file copy an OS, is because cloning works so well. And
reinstalling works without the mentioned "issues" of a file copy. And
you can have unattended installations.

Another file copy issue, is that unless there is some hack, Win NT
(e.g. Win XP) won't work on a motherboard with a different chipset.
Win 9X (e.g. Win98) Did.

One could always do a win xp repair installation afterwards if there
were problems, and that would smooth things out.

This bazzer character is clearly willing to experiment, and isn't an
"end user" type that is afraid of messing things up. He probably likes
getting into a pickle and picking his way out of it, especially when
others say it can't be done and don't give technical reasons why

I've done some things - as experiments - to better understand how the
machine works.

There are free ways to clone though, so no reason why one would have
to go for a file backup - which turns into a hack.
Some people - many techies - like to be able to do everything - or at
least fundamental operations - with freeware or software built into
windows. Though with imaging and partitions, most use partition magic
and norton/acronis. Freeware cloning software is a new thing and has
yet to gain trust. Still, there are cloning utilities from hard drive
manufacturers - apparently, though I don't know any techies that use
those, I have heard that they work well.



.

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