The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
The best way to back up/image an XP install?
Peter Principle
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So I just had to reinstall XP and I forgot how long this crap takes.
Once I get my basic set up the way I want it, is there a good way to somehow put an image of my drive on e.g. a DVD disk? That way if I run into trouble or if XP is just getting slow I drop the DVD in the drive (or whatevs) and presto, I have a fresh, new install?
Once I get my basic set up the way I want it, is there a good way to somehow put an image of my drive on e.g. a DVD disk? That way if I run into trouble or if XP is just getting slow I drop the DVD in the drive (or whatevs) and presto, I have a fresh, new install?
"A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people's business." - Eric Hoffer, _The True Believer_
Peter Principle on
0
Posts
if you do it only once or twice a year, i'd just recommend creating a slipstream XP disk with all the updates (SP3, ALL updates, and the most basic drivers needed)... this means you can install a fresh and up to date XP very quickly b/c we all know it's the security updates that take the longest
after that, you'll have to download and install the latest video card drivers, and the like anyway... and besides the one or two pieces of software that doesn't update often (MS Office, for example)... every other software will release either a major revision or update between your backups anyway, forcing you to download and install from scratch anyway
anyway, just my $.02
That's just a method of creating a new Windows XP disc with SP3 already integrated. While it may save a little time because he won't have to download as many Windows Updates, it doesn't address the other timekillers, like tweaking Windows Firewall, Disabling unneeded Windows Services, installing drivers and apps.
Personally, I just bought a copy of Symantec Ghost a few years ago, and if I do the math on how much it costs versus how much time it's saved me, it's more than paid for itself.
Now when I build a new PC, after I'm done the basic setup I take an image, and burn that image to bootable Ghost DVD. Restoring the image takes a bit longer than a HD to HD ghost, but it's still faster than reinstalling Windows from scratch and I don't have to monitor it, I just start it and walk away for an hour.
i use nlite http://www.nliteos.com/