Tricky Questions

[user]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (More info?)

(Sorry if more than one copy has been received) I have recently had a system
crash in which the computer went into an endless reboot. Unfortunately, I
didn’t back up my information so now that everything is back on track again,
I will take precautions, but there are some things I’m not so sure about
listed below. Please can you answer the questions below as detailed as you
can. In backup questions, I refer to Ntbackup. Also please state for each
question weather windows has to be running in order to perform backup after
system crash.


Please do *not* use complex words as I know nothing about computers and
assume that I am an idiot.
Please also specify how to do these things.
I apologize if some questions are asked twice.

I run an ancient dell with about 360Mhz of something and a 194MB RAM and is
Pentium 2 so backup is really slow. I only have one hard disk which is
actually in the computer (C:\). I run XP Pro.

What is system state information?

What is windows GUI?

Should I use or even install windows recovery console if I have no knowledge
of MS DOS or if I am not a very good computer user?

What is a partition and what is a systemdrive partition?

What is hard disk configuration information?

What is user data?

What is a volume?

Does backing up C:\ drive also back up information such as program
registration numbers?

What good will backing up the registry do?

How can I, if I can, back up the registry?

Can you make a bootable backups with personal file exclusions (such as if I
have music files worth 10GB that would take too much time to back up) as I
only needed all the applications with registration codes running within 30
mins of a total computer crash?

Is there a way to run a full system backup without backing up all the files
within the removable hard drive I am backing up to?

Can you make incremental backups of your entire system?

If you have deleted information, .will the incremental backup still take
note of this in the backup next time I run it?

Can you make incremental backups of bootable backups if it is possible?

What is Page file usage and Kernel memory? (on task manager)

Could I get my applications with registration codes and perhaps small
amounts of my personal files running if I made a backup of my C:\ drive and
reformatted in windows XP after a total system crash?

Is it possible to create a full system backup and restore it to how the
system was with no windows running such as in the event of a total system
crash.

Will ASR be any good to me if it doesn’t restore applications?

Is there any other alternative means of windows backup that can save me time
that I can use that is not mentioned? (Please state what it will do.)

Also, why is WMP10 running in a foreign language and is there any resolution?

Thanks very much : )

 

[testy]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (More info?)

Sorry only one question per customer, more than that then go to night
school.

Testy

"; )" <@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C3AE5356-8ABE-456B-87E4-2B666836FFC3@microsoft.com...
> (Sorry if more than one copy has been received) I have recently had a
> system
> crash in which the computer went into an endless reboot. Unfortunately, I
> didn't back up my information so now that everything is back on track
> again,
> I will take precautions, but there are some things I'm not so sure about
> listed below. Please can you answer the questions below as detailed as you
> can. In backup questions, I refer to Ntbackup. Also please state for each
> question weather windows has to be running in order to perform backup
> after
> system crash.
>
>
> Please do *not* use complex words as I know nothing about computers and
> assume that I am an idiot.
> Please also specify how to do these things.
> I apologize if some questions are asked twice.
>
> I run an ancient dell with about 360Mhz of something and a 194MB RAM and
> is
> Pentium 2 so backup is really slow. I only have one hard disk which is
> actually in the computer (C:\). I run XP Pro.
>
> What is system state information?
>
> What is windows GUI?
>
> Should I use or even install windows recovery console if I have no
> knowledge
> of MS DOS or if I am not a very good computer user?
>
> What is a partition and what is a systemdrive partition?
>
> What is hard disk configuration information?
>
> What is user data?
>
> What is a volume?
>
> Does backing up C:\ drive also back up information such as program
> registration numbers?
>
> What good will backing up the registry do?
>
> How can I, if I can, back up the registry?
>
> Can you make a bootable backups with personal file exclusions (such as if
> I
> have music files worth 10GB that would take too much time to back up) as I
> only needed all the applications with registration codes running within 30
> mins of a total computer crash?
>
> Is there a way to run a full system backup without backing up all the
> files
> within the removable hard drive I am backing up to?
>
> Can you make incremental backups of your entire system?
>
> If you have deleted information, .will the incremental backup still take
> note of this in the backup next time I run it?
>
> Can you make incremental backups of bootable backups if it is possible?
>
> What is Page file usage and Kernel memory? (on task manager)
>
> Could I get my applications with registration codes and perhaps small
> amounts of my personal files running if I made a backup of my C:\ drive
> and
> reformatted in windows XP after a total system crash?
>
> Is it possible to create a full system backup and restore it to how the
> system was with no windows running such as in the event of a total system
> crash.
>
> Will ASR be any good to me if it doesn't restore applications?
>
> Is there any other alternative means of windows backup that can save me
> time
> that I can use that is not mentioned? (Please state what it will do.)
>
> Also, why is WMP10 running in a foreign language and is there any
> resolution?
>
> Thanks very much : )
>
>

 

[Sandman]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (More info?)

")" <@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C3AE5356-8ABE-456B-87E4-2B666836FFC3@microsoft.com...
> (Sorry if more than one copy has been received) I have recently had a
system
> crash in which the computer went into an endless reboot. Unfortunately, I
> didn't back up my information so now that everything is back on track
again,
> I will take precautions, but there are some things I'm not so sure about
> listed below. Please can you answer the questions below as detailed as you
> can. In backup questions, I refer to Ntbackup. Also please state for each
> question weather windows has to be running in order to perform backup
after
> system crash.
>
>
> Please do *not* use complex words as I know nothing about computers and
> assume that I am an idiot.
> Please also specify how to do these things.
> I apologize if some questions are asked twice.
>
> I run an ancient dell with about 360Mhz of something and a 194MB RAM and
is
> Pentium 2 so backup is really slow. I only have one hard disk which is
> actually in the computer (C:\). I run XP Pro.
>
> What is system state information?
>
> What is windows GUI?
graphic user interface...how your window borders etc look.
>
> Should I use or even install windows recovery console if I have no
knowledge
> of MS DOS or if I am not a very good computer user?
Have never gotten this to work...you judge.
>
> What is a partition and what is a systemdrive partition?
the section of your hard drive the Windows Xp is on...
>
> What is hard disk configuration information?
what the file system is etc.
>
> What is user data?
>
> What is a volume?
the knob next to the 'change station' knob
>
> Does backing up C:\ drive also back up information such as program
> registration numbers?
>
> What good will backing up the registry do?
only if you mess with a lot of extra programs you have no idea if they are
legit.
>
> How can I, if I can, back up the registry?
READ your HELp file.. it wass included with your copy of XP
>
> Can you make a bootable backups with personal file exclusions (such as if
I
> have music files worth 10GB that would take too much time to back up) as I
> only needed all the applications with registration codes running within 30
> mins of a total computer crash?
>
> Is there a way to run a full system backup without backing up all the
files
> within the removable hard drive I am backing up to?
>
> Can you make incremental backups of your entire system?
it is called System restore
>
> If you have deleted information, .will the incremental backup still take
> note of this in the backup next time I run it?
>
> Can you make incremental backups of bootable backups if it is possible?
>
> What is Page file usage and Kernel memory? (on task manager)
Let Windows manage this and don't ask again.
>
> Could I get my applications with registration codes and perhaps small
> amounts of my personal files running if I made a backup of my C:\ drive
and
> reformatted in windows XP after a total system crash?
>
> Is it possible to create a full system backup and restore it to how the
> system was with no windows running such as in the event of a total system
> crash.
>
> Will ASR be any good to me if it doesn't restore applications?
it does.... usually.
>
> Is there any other alternative means of windows backup that can save me
time
> that I can use that is not mentioned? (Please state what it will do.)
>
> Also, why is WMP10 running in a foreign language and is there any
resolution?
>
> Thanks very much : ) Question........for a guy who claims to be a
neophyte, you sure have a lot of questions about stuff a casual user would
NOT have(?) Are you putting US on?
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (More info?)

Get a PC/Windows book for beginners and read it from cover to cover.
--
Cheers,

Guy

** Stress - the condition brought about by having to
** resist the temptation to beat the living daylights
** out of someone who richly deserves it.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (More info?)

")" <@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C3AE5356-8ABE-456B-87E4-2B666836FFC3@microsoft.com...
> (Sorry if more than one copy has been received) I have recently had a
system
> crash in which the computer went into an endless reboot. Unfortunately, I
> didn't back up my information so now that everything is back on track
again,
> I will take precautions, but there are some things I'm not so sure about
> listed below. Please can you answer the questions below as detailed as you
> can. In backup questions, I refer to Ntbackup. Also please state for each
> question weather windows has to be running in order to perform backup
after
> system crash.
>
>
> Please do *not* use complex words as I know nothing about computers and
> assume that I am an idiot.
> Please also specify how to do these things.
> I apologize if some questions are asked twice.
>
> I run an ancient dell with about 360Mhz of something and a 194MB RAM and
is
> Pentium 2 so backup is really slow. I only have one hard disk which is
> actually in the computer (C:\). I run XP Pro.
>
> What is system state information?

It's the current state of the machine - what is installed and what versions,
and what is running at the time.

>
> What is windows GUI?

Graphical User Interface, everything you see on the screen, all the windows
and text and buttons and checkboxes.

>
> Should I use or even install windows recovery console if I have no
knowledge
> of MS DOS or if I am not a very good computer user?

Probably not. The recovery console can be highly useful if you know how to
use it, but can be frustrating or dangerous (to thesystem) if you are not.
It's an advanced tool.

> What is a partition and what is a systemdrive partition?

A partition is a defined area on a physical disk. The partition is then
formatted to make a usable drive, such as C: or D:. You can have more than
one partition on a single disk.

The systemdrive partition simply has the operating system on it. It's
usually the drive you boot from.
>
> What is hard disk configuration information?

It's the settings such as partition and format information.

> What is user data?

The stuff you create, write - for example documents, email, addresses,
favourites - and your account information.

> What is a volume?

A volume is another type of defined area, like a partition. Volumes can
include several physical disks, or just one.

>
> Does backing up C:\ drive also back up information such as program
> registration numbers?

The answer to this is "maybe". This information is often stored in the
registry in an encrypted format, and the registry may or may not be backed
up. Even if it is, getting this back can be iffy.

> What good will backing up the registry do?

It can help you get back information needed to make your system work, but
recovering and applying this is not a novice repair.

>
> How can I, if I can, back up the registry?

Start Regedit, highlight the very top, and go to File, Export. Give it a
name, and do *not* run it unless you really really need to. You can also
manually copy off the registry hive files but again this is not a novice
procedure. This can be useful if your system is prone to registry
corruption - but if that's the case there are better approaches, like fixing
the problem.
==

I'll bypass the next questions as I don't use the XP backup utility. There
are much better products available at reasonable prices.

> Can you make a bootable backups with personal file exclusions (such as if
I
> have music files worth 10GB that would take too much time to back up) as I
> only needed all the applications with registration codes running within 30
> mins of a total computer crash?
>
> Is there a way to run a full system backup without backing up all the
files
> within the removable hard drive I am backing up to?
>
> Can you make incremental backups of your entire system?
>
> If you have deleted information, .will the incremental backup still take
> note of this in the backup next time I run it?
>
> Can you make incremental backups of bootable backups if it is possible?
>
> What is Page file usage and Kernel memory? (on task manager)

These are temporary working files or memory blocks that you should not back
up, ever.

> Could I get my applications with registration codes and perhaps small
> amounts of my personal files running if I made a backup of my C:\ drive
and
> reformatted in windows XP after a total system crash?

The short answer is maybe. The long answer depends on how you made the
backup. Simple backups may not create a bootable system.

> Is it possible to create a full system backup and restore it to how the
> system was with no windows running such as in the event of a total system
> crash.

Yes, but probably not with Windows Backup.

>
> Will ASR be any good to me if it doesn't restore applications?
>
> Is there any other alternative means of windows backup that can save me
time
> that I can use that is not mentioned? (Please state what it will do.)

Yes. Use a combination of system imaging and user backup. Create a system
image with a product like Norton Ghost or Drive Image.

Create this image immediately after final system configuration - the OS is
installed and updated, apps are installed and directories set, email is
configured but no email is present. Create the image before any other user
data is added. Use this as your base image. With this, you can if
necessary pop in a replacement hard disk and get a new system running in a
very short time.

Update the image whenever major changes are made, but note that re-imaging
will include user data.

Next, use a good backup program and select only the user-data directories,
such as My Documents, favourites, any email folders and address books (NOTE:
Outlook Express stores these items in *different folders* that are often set
to *hidden*). Identifty application data that falls outside these areas
and expressly include it. In case of crashes, simply use the backup
program included in the restored image and restore the data from your
backup.

> Also, why is WMP10 running in a foreign language and is there any
resolution?

Couldn't tell you. Have you changed language settings?

> Thanks very much : )

HTH
-pk