Create an image of Win-XP

[mis3]

I am looking for ways to create an image of my Windows partition (with fresh install of WinXP-Prof and some applications) into another partition or CDRW so that I can bring it back later on.

You see, I like to keep my system clean and I usually format my Windows partition once every 2-3 months. To install Win-XP and some of my applications usually takes 3-4 hours.

I am looking for ways to shorten this time.

 

[Zlash]

Can probably use Ghost but you shouldn't have to do that with XP at all.

<font color=red>:</font color=red> <font color=white>:</font color=white> <font color=blue>:</font color=blue>

 

[btvillarin]

Personally, I find Drive Image 5.0 user-friendly. You don't need to use the floppy disks to boot to DOS, when you want to image your partition. You can also schedule image backups, if you'd like that as well.

I know that Windows XP is stable, but sometimes, you can never be too sure. System Restore does only restore the registry, but doesn't delete the files left over.

Anyway, I'd have two images: one perfect image with just the system and its updates, and another image with the apps and their latest updates.

I thought you'd like these links as well:
<A HREF="http://www.langa.com/backups/backups.htm" target="_new">Fast Easy Backups for Win98/ME/NT/2K/XP (Langa.com)</A>
<A HREF="http://www.informationweek.com/LP/columnists/langa/2001/03.htm" target="_new">System Setup Secrets (another Fred Langa article)</A>

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[mis3]

What I do is first I partition my HDD into "C" and "D". I then stored all the updated drivers and misc. files in "D". Once in a while, before I re-install Windows, I will copy all my documents and backup all my emails in "D", then I will format "C" and re-install Windows.

Now, to re-install Windows and my applications usually take 3-4 hours, I am looking for ways to do this faster. What I like to do is after a fresh install of Windows-XP and my applications, I would make an image of everything in "D". The next time I do a fresh install, I will format "C" and use this image in "D" to copy everything back to "C".

Can DriveImage help? I will dedicate probably 5-6 GB in drive "D" just for this purpose.

 

[btvillarin]

That's exactly what I do. Except, I have two hard drives. One is for WinXP, the other is for the paging file in one partition and any personal data in the other. If I were you, I'd just keep your data in your non-OS partition (D drive).

Drive Image will definitely help you with this. So, go get it...

<font color=red><A HREF="http://www.btvillarin.com" target="_new">btvillarin.com</A> - My Windows XP-based Website</font color=red>

 

[mis3]

Can you please explain exactly how does this work?
After I format my HDD and the image is in "D", how do I bring it back to "C"?

 

[Toejam31]

There are two ways, once the image is created.

One ... boot the computer with a startup disk, and then load the DOS portion of the <A HREF="http://www.powerquest.com/driveimage/" target="_new">Drive Image</A> program with a second disk. Then the image on the (D partition can be accessed, and placed on (C. This formats at same time, so it isn't necessary to preformat before placing an image on the partition.

The second method is easier. Create the image, place it on the (D partition, and then burn it to CD-R disks. The compression level of the image can be adjusted, and the image spanned into files, each section of which can fit neatly on a CD-R disks. The first disk in the series is bootable, and is accessible by simply changing the first bootable device in the BIOS to CD-ROM. After the image is on the partition, change the bootable order back to the hard drive.

I prefer to do both, so there are two ways to restore an image.

The reason I prefer the second method is because an NTFS partition isn't visible from DOS without a <A HREF="http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/NTFSDOS.shtml" target="_new">third-party driver</A>, unlike with FAT32. A downloadable read-only driver is free, but the read/write driver is not.

The point is moot if the file system is FAT32.

Note: Burning an image directly to CD-R disks isn't advisable, as this often causes corruption. When creating an image, always place it on a separate partition, and then burn to the CD-R disks. This will avoid the problem.

The hands-down best software for burning images to CD-R disks is <A HREF="http://www.nero.com/en/index2.htm" target="_new">Nero</A>, from Ahead software.

Toejam31

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<font color=purple>"Some push the envelope. Some just lick it. And some can't find the flap."</font color=purple>

 

[Toejam31]

Hey, bt ... how's it going, dude? !!! Long time, no talk.

I'm about to put together a new system for myself at the end of the month. It's going to be pretty killer!

Check out my bull-dog ugly, overpriced <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=11-124-010-01.JPG/11-124-010-02.JPG/11-124-010-03.JPG/11-124-010-04.JPG/11-124-010-05.JPG/11-124-010-06.JPG/11-124-010-07.JPG/11-124-010-08.JPG/11-124-010-09.JPG/11-124-010-10.JPG" target="_new">can</A>. I really don't have time to do a lot of modding, so this is perfect for me. The only real downside ... the price. But I didn't get myself anything for Christmas last year, so I bit the bullet, and promised myself I'd never be such a freakin' idiot again. I tried to convince myself to get something else, but I just couldn't resist. It was like checking out a babe with a plain face and a J Lo butt. LOL!

It looks much better in person, and I've already Turtle-waxed it twice. With a blue cold-cathode light kit, it'll glow in the dark.

Toey

<font color=red>My Rig:</font color=red> <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=6847" target="_new"><font color=green>Toejam31's Tantalizing Tantric Toy</font color=green></A>
<font color=red>Second Rig:</font color=red> <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=15942" target="_new"><font color=green>Toey's Dynamite DDR Duron</font color=green></A>
__________________________________________________________

<font color=purple>"Some push the envelope. Some just lick it. And some can't find the flap."</font color=purple>

 

[mis3]

Wait. I have Norton SystemWorks 2002 which contains Norton Ghost. I should be able to do all you mentioned above in Norton Ghost.

What do you think?

 

[Toejam31]

Same difference. Ghost should work fine.

Toejam31

<font color=red>My Rig:</font color=red> <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=6847" target="_new"><font color=green>Toejam31's Tantalizing Tantric Toy</font color=green></A>
<font color=red>Second Rig:</font color=red> <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=15942" target="_new"><font color=green>Toey's Dynamite DDR Duron</font color=green></A>
__________________________________________________________

<font color=purple>"Some push the envelope. Some just lick it. And some can't find the flap."</font color=purple>

 

[btvillarin]

Thanks for replying to him, Toey. I couldn't do it in time...

Dude, what's in your system? Get some pics up when you get that done, alright? I wanna check it out. I'll bet it's dope.

Later,
Bryan

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