I've been using Xcopy run from a batch file.
It's got the /D set so that it doesn't copy files
unless the dates are newer and /M sets the
archive bit to off.

The backups can be scheduled too by going
to "system tools" under "accessories" in the
"programs" menu under the "start" menu ...
start
programs
accessories
system tools
scheduled tasks

You can schedule it to repeat by setting
the "advanced options". Be sure that your
account has a password or it probably
will not run.

: -)

____________

If anyone has experience why this is not a good
idea, please post.

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

In article <uzLqf.13948$LB5.5458@fed1read04>,
AKA gray asphalt <goodidea1950@hotmail.com> wrote:
>I've been using Xcopy run from a batch file.
>It's got the /D set so that it doesn't copy files
>unless the dates are newer and /M sets the
>archive bit to off.
>
>The backups can be scheduled too by going
>to "system tools" under "accessories" in the
>"programs" menu under the "start" menu ...
>start
>programs
>accessories
>system tools
>scheduled tasks
>
>You can schedule it to repeat by setting
>the "advanced options". Be sure that your
>account has a password or it probably
>will not run.
>
>: -)
>
>____________
>
>If anyone has experience why this is not a good
>idea, please post.
>
>
>


It's not a usable system backup so you might as well just backup your
data.

I hope you don't copy over your only backup each time.  You need to
flipflop between backups, at least, in case something goes wrong while
the backup is running.

Read www.taobackup.com


--
a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m

Don't blame me. I voted for Gore.

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

That was an interesting article, espcially when
the guy got completely enlightened. The stories
about accidents were even better. I use Drive
Image for the system backups and Xcopy seems
to be working for the hourly "work in progress"
backups, but I do need to alternate, as you say
and have 2 system backups, although it doesn't
take me that long to reinstall programs. I keep
all of the disks and a backup along with my own
set of instructions for things I might forget, like
where serial numbers are. I use one of those hard
cases but it sure wouldn't protect against fire or
like the guy with the safe that got magnetized.
That really is a good site.
Thanks,
: -)

"Al Dykes" <adykes@panix.com> wrote in message news:dogtpr$3gh$1@panix5.panix.com...
> In article <uzLqf.13948$LB5.5458@fed1read04>,
> AKA gray asphalt <goodidea1950@hotmail.com> wrote: 
>
>
> It's not a usable system backup so you might as well just backup your
> data.
>
> I hope you don't copy over your only backup each time.  You need to
> flipflop between backups, at least, in case something goes wrong while
> the backup is running.
>
> Read www.taobackup.com
>
>
> --
> a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m
>
> Don't blame me. I voted for Gore.

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

It has come to my attention that the /D switch
on the attribute command makes it recursive.
This will be a big help.

Btw, the /D switch on Xcopy (without a date)
keeps newer files from being overwritten and
might be more reliable than using the archive bit.

"Al Dykes" <adykes@panix.com> wrote in message news:dogtpr$3gh$1@panix5.panix.com...
> In article <uzLqf.13948$LB5.5458@fed1read04>,
> AKA gray asphalt <goodidea1950@hotmail.com> wrote: 
>
>
> It's not a usable system backup so you might as well just backup your
> data.
>
> I hope you don't copy over your only backup each time.  You need to
> flipflop between backups, at least, in case something goes wrong while
> the backup is running.
>
> Read www.taobackup.com
>
>
> --
> a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m
>
> Don't blame me. I voted for Gore.

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

In article <uzLqf.13948$LB5.5458@fed1read04>,
AKA gray asphalt <goodidea1950@hotmail.com> wrote:
>If anyone has experience why this is not a good
>idea, please post.

Is your backup method copying out the contents of your Windows registry?
If not, you are not saving the preferences and customizations you have
made to Windows, and to most of your software applications. In fact,
you will have to reinstall most of your software applications after a
system recovery.

When Windows is running, the registry files are "open" and "in use" so
most file copy applications are not capable of copying them out.  Backup
software has dedicated logic to take care of the registry. I doubt that
Xcopy has this capability.
--
David Arnstein                    |
arnstein+usenet@pobox.com         |

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

But you are right. I don't use xcopy for system backups
though. I've had pretty good luck with Drive Image. Even
if Xcopy did back up the registry and other files, I don't
think it would be restorable. At least that's what I've read;
ie the files have to be on the exact same position on the
disk, not just present. Maybe that's why some files can't
be moved when we do a defrag.

I'm mostly worried about losing the huge number of
pics and their organization files which are Photoshop
Elements for me right now.

I do think that it might be possible to clone a partition
and remap it using 'boot remapper', I think it's called
from Norton (used to be Powerquest). But I haven't
tried it although I almost always have a dual boot system
with very similar files on both iterations of XP.

"David Arnstein" <arnstein@panix.com> wrote in message news:dokv64$m96$1@reader1.panix.com..
.
> In article <uzLqf.13948$LB5.5458@fed1read04>,
> AKA gray asphalt <goodidea1950@hotmail.com> wrote: 
>
> Is your backup method copying out the contents of your Windows registry?
> If not, you are not saving the preferences and customizations you have
> made to Windows, and to most of your software applications. In fact,
> you will have to reinstall most of your software applications after a
> system recovery.
>
> When Windows is running, the registry files are "open" and "in use" so
> most file copy applications are not capable of copying them out.  Backup
> software has dedicated logic to take care of the registry. I doubt that
> Xcopy has this capability.
> --
> David Arnstein                    |
> arnstein+usenet@pobox.com         |

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

Presumably you are using Xcopy because its cheap i.e. free. There are some
superb (and also free) backup solutions that can do everything you ask and
more. Try www.softswift.com for example.

Richard

"AKA gray asphalt" <goodidea1950@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uzLqf.13948$LB5.5458@fed1read04...
> I've been using Xcopy run from a batch file.
> It's got the /D set so that it doesn't copy files
> unless the dates are newer and /M sets the
> archive bit to off.
>
> The backups can be scheduled too by going
> to "system tools" under "accessories" in the
> "programs" menu under the "start" menu ...
> start
> programs
> accessories
> system tools
> scheduled tasks
>
> You can schedule it to repeat by setting
> the "advanced options". Be sure that your
> account has a password or it probably
> will not run.
>
> : -)
>
> ____________
>
> If anyone has experience why this is not a good
> idea, please post.
>
>
>

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

That's a small part of it. Mostly because it is so simple and
has no installation and doesn't take any RAM and I've always
liked writing batch files and doing things in DOS or whatever
its called now.

I'll check out the program you suggest. Thanks : -)

"Richard" <richard@ntbackup.us> wrote in message news:43b557df$0$63063$ed2e19e4@ptn-nntp-rea
der04.plus.net...
> Presumably you are using Xcopy because its cheap i.e. free. There are some
 superb (and also free) backup solutions that can do
> everything you ask and more. Try www.softswift.com for example.
>
> Richard
>
> "AKA gray asphalt" <goodidea1950@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:uzLqf.
13948$LB5.5458@fed1read04... 
>
>

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

When I go to DOS and type ntbackup, there is an error
message saying that the program doesn't exist. Am I missing
something? XP home.
: -) Thanks

"AKA gray asphalt" <goodidea1950@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:klftf.2589$V.782@fed1rea
d04...
>
> That's a small part of it. Mostly because it is so simple and
> has no installation and doesn't take any RAM and I've always
> liked writing batch files and doing things in DOS or whatever
> its called now.
>
> I'll check out the program you suggest. Thanks : -)
>
> "Richard" <richard@ntbackup.us> wrote in message news:43b557df$0$63063$ed2
e19e4@ptn-nntp-reader04.plus.net... 
>
>

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]