I have vista installed on a system that has about an extra 200 GB of data on
it, and want to do a system state backup to a CD/DVD, but it appears the only
option I have is to back up the whole drive (which will take 20+ DVDs). This
is not an acceptable option for me....

Is there a way to manually copy the system state info, say from a restore
point set or something so that I can back it up?

If not, how long till there will be (SP1 maybe)? I will be without a Backup
of the system state till then.... please add an advanced option on the backup
center to allow us to choose files/system state manually if we choose. This
is a big step back in some ways from NTBackup.....

you cannot backup a restore point like that...

listen.. because what you say is a common problem here is a general
guideline so you will know:

The best way is to have 2 partitions on a disk... say you leave 40 -50 gb
for only windows and programs, and you leave the rest of the drive
(150gb) for all your files....

then you use a program that backs up and compresses the data to save them on
dvds.... that would enable you to save everything in 3 or 4 dvds...

I personally use ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE home 10 that is vista compatible.. I
have not used the vista backup yet though....

have in mind that acronis and also the windows backup supports incremental
backups.. this means the second time you backup the data, only the changes
will be written.

What other nice option with this 2 partition configuration is that you can
backup the main partition with windows onto the other partition..
in that way you don't even need to burn dvds.. since the data is saved on
the second partition....

of course if all your drive dies from say some catastrophic failure then the
second partition will be lost too...

but im just giving you an illustration of how to manage your files best..
tis is what I do and it has saved me of much hassle..

I have even found a way to move all my important folders like my documents
and emails to the second parition...

Please tell me if this helps... and if you need any clarification holler....

:-)


"Westley" <Westley@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A7B5219B-09EB-401C-A073-8975C5ECDB28@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
>I have vista installed on a system that has about an extra 200 GB of data
>on
> it, and want to do a system state backup to a CD/DVD, but it appears the
> only
> option I have is to back up the whole drive (which will take 20+ DVDs).
> This
> is not an acceptable option for me....
>
> Is there a way to manually copy the system state info, say from a restore
> point set or something so that I can back it up?
>
> If not, how long till there will be (SP1 maybe)? I will be without a
> Backup
> of the system state till then.... please add an advanced option on the
> backup
> center to allow us to choose files/system state manually if we choose.
> This
> is a big step back in some ways from NTBackup.....
>
>[/color]

Sorry for butting it, but what I like to ask is whether saving all user
files to a second hard disk (as opposed to a partition) would be a better
idea.

As for backing up user files, wouldn't it be a better idea to save copies of
the files (rather than so-called backups) onto an external hard drive be
better?

I am using Windows XP at the moment and I can back up all My documents
(including subfolders) by using an xcopy command at the command prompt to
directly copy all my user files onto a 2.5 inch external drive. And I use a
word document file to do all this -- by using a copy and paste command at
the DOS prompt. To make the initial 1st xcopy job I delete certain
parameters but after this I use the xcopy command leaving all the parameters
intact thus eliminating the copying of files that have NOT changed since the
last xcopy job.

All this back-up business leaves me cold. Who wants a compacted backing up
when a simple xcopy command will do the job just as well. I read somewhere
that the best way to take notes in space is to use an ordinary pencil as
opposed to fancy pens that work in outer space.

Keep it simple should be our motto.

BUT having said all this, may I just ask whether the xcopy command is
actually available in Vista? Good question, no?!

As for the operating system and other installed software, wouldn't it be
again be better to just make a full copy of the 1st hard drive on the
computer? After all hard disks are quite inexpensive these days. Why bother
with CDs and DVDs?

But please don't ask me whether I do my backups (or xcopies etc)
systematically 'cause I don't. There!!!
--
choronik
=======
"Tiberius" <James@tiberius.kirk> wrote in message
news:e2y68fznHHA.1220@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> you cannot backup a restore point like that...
>
> listen.. because what you say is a common problem here is a general
> guideline so you will know:
>
> The best way is to have 2 partitions on a disk... say you leave 40 -50 gb
> for only windows and programs, and you leave the rest of the drive
> (150gb) for all your files....
>
> then you use a program that backs up and compresses the data to save them
> on dvds.... that would enable you to save everything in 3 or 4 dvds...
>
> I personally use ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE home 10 that is vista compatible.. I
> have not used the vista backup yet though....
>
> have in mind that acronis and also the windows backup supports incremental
> backups.. this means the second time you backup the data, only the changes
> will be written.
>
> What other nice option with this 2 partition configuration is that you can
> backup the main partition with windows onto the other partition..
> in that way you don't even need to burn dvds.. since the data is saved on
> the second partition....
>
> of course if all your drive dies from say some catastrophic failure then
> the second partition will be lost too...
>
> but im just giving you an illustration of how to manage your files best..
> tis is what I do and it has saved me of much hassle..
>
> I have even found a way to move all my important folders like my documents
> and emails to the second parition...
>
> Please tell me if this helps... and if you need any clarification
> holler....
>
> :-)
>
>
> "Westley" <Westley@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:A7B5219B-09EB-401C-A073-8975C5ECDB28@microsoft.com...[color=green]
>>I have vista installed on a system that has about an extra 200 GB of data
>>on
>> it, and want to do a system state backup to a CD/DVD, but it appears the
>> only
>> option I have is to back up the whole drive (which will take 20+ DVDs).
>> This
>> is not an acceptable option for me....
>>
>> Is there a way to manually copy the system state info, say from a restore
>> point set or something so that I can back it up?
>>
>> If not, how long till there will be (SP1 maybe)? I will be without a
>> Backup
>> of the system state till then.... please add an advanced option on the
>> backup
>> center to allow us to choose files/system state manually if we choose.
>> This
>> is a big step back in some ways from NTBackup.....
>>
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

Indeed a second drive or an external would be far better...

I just supposed that because he did not mention it as an alternative way to
backup his files,
that he does not have a second drive.....

its my assumption, I may be wrong....

I have 3 drives on my main computer and 2 drives on my secondary computer
that i work on...

but even on those I have the first drives partitioned as i said...

its always wise to keep windows and program files separate from personal
files...

My real configuration is like this:

C= 1st partition of first drive, windows and programs and nothing else
D= 2nd partition of first drive, second OS dual booted with first (I have
Vista and XP here)
E= one whole big disk of personal data like work, my documents emails
etc....
F= one whole disk for backups music and videos

but if someone has only one disk having 2 partitions is wiser than one.

"choronik" <choronik@tvco.net> wrote in message
news:%23xSUAZ0nHHA.4960@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> Sorry for butting it, but what I like to ask is whether saving all user
> files to a second hard disk (as opposed to a partition) would be a better
> idea.
>
> As for backing up user files, wouldn't it be a better idea to save copies
> of the files (rather than so-called backups) onto an external hard drive
> be better?
>
> I am using Windows XP at the moment and I can back up all My documents
> (including subfolders) by using an xcopy command at the command prompt to
> directly copy all my user files onto a 2.5 inch external drive. And I use
> a word document file to do all this -- by using a copy and paste command
> at the DOS prompt. To make the initial 1st xcopy job I delete certain
> parameters but after this I use the xcopy command leaving all the
> parameters intact thus eliminating the copying of files that have NOT
> changed since the last xcopy job.
>
> All this back-up business leaves me cold. Who wants a compacted backing up
> when a simple xcopy command will do the job just as well. I read
> somewhere that the best way to take notes in space is to use an ordinary
> pencil as opposed to fancy pens that work in outer space.
>
> Keep it simple should be our motto.
>
> BUT having said all this, may I just ask whether the xcopy command is
> actually available in Vista? Good question, no?!
>
> As for the operating system and other installed software, wouldn't it be
> again be better to just make a full copy of the 1st hard drive on the
> computer? After all hard disks are quite inexpensive these days. Why
> bother with CDs and DVDs?
>
> But please don't ask me whether I do my backups (or xcopies etc)
> systematically 'cause I don't. There!!!
> --
> choronik
> =======
> "Tiberius" <James@tiberius.kirk> wrote in message
> news:e2y68fznHHA.1220@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...[color=green]
>> you cannot backup a restore point like that...
>>
>> listen.. because what you say is a common problem here is a general
>> guideline so you will know:
>>
>> The best way is to have 2 partitions on a disk... say you leave 40 -50 gb
>> for only windows and programs, and you leave the rest of the drive
>> (150gb) for all your files....
>>
>> then you use a program that backs up and compresses the data to save them
>> on dvds.... that would enable you to save everything in 3 or 4 dvds...
>>
>> I personally use ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE home 10 that is vista compatible.. I
>> have not used the vista backup yet though....
>>
>> have in mind that acronis and also the windows backup supports
>> incremental backups.. this means the second time you backup the data,
>> only the changes will be written.
>>
>> What other nice option with this 2 partition configuration is that you
>> can backup the main partition with windows onto the other partition..
>> in that way you don't even need to burn dvds.. since the data is saved on
>> the second partition....
>>
>> of course if all your drive dies from say some catastrophic failure then
>> the second partition will be lost too...
>>
>> but im just giving you an illustration of how to manage your files best..
>> tis is what I do and it has saved me of much hassle..
>>
>> I have even found a way to move all my important folders like my
>> documents and emails to the second parition...
>>
>> Please tell me if this helps... and if you need any clarification
>> holler....
>>
>> :-)
>>
>>
>> "Westley" <Westley@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:A7B5219B-09EB-401C-A073-8975C5ECDB28@microsoft.com...[color=darkred]
>>>I have vista installed on a system that has about an extra 200 GB of data
>>>on
>>> it, and want to do a system state backup to a CD/DVD, but it appears the
>>> only
>>> option I have is to back up the whole drive (which will take 20+ DVDs).
>>> This
>>> is not an acceptable option for me....
>>>
>>> Is there a way to manually copy the system state info, say from a
>>> restore
>>> point set or something so that I can back it up?
>>>
>>> If not, how long till there will be (SP1 maybe)? I will be without a
>>> Backup
>>> of the system state till then.... please add an advanced option on the
>>> backup
>>> center to allow us to choose files/system state manually if we choose.
>>> This
>>> is a big step back in some ways from NTBackup.....
>>>
>>>[/color]
>>
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

"Westley" <Westley@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A7B5219B-09EB-401C-A073-8975C5ECDB28@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
>I have vista installed on a system that has about an extra 200 GB of data
>on
> it, and want to do a system state backup to a CD/DVD, but it appears the
> only
> option I have is to back up the whole drive (which will take 20+ DVDs).
> This
> is not an acceptable option for me....
>
> Is there a way to manually copy the system state info, say from a restore
> point set or something so that I can back it up?
>
> If not, how long till there will be (SP1 maybe)? I will be without a
> Backup
> of the system state till then.... please add an advanced option on the
> backup
> center to allow us to choose files/system state manually if we choose.
> This
> is a big step back in some ways from NTBackup.....
>
>[/color]


Nova Backup has this capability. The latest version is Vista compatible.

[url]http://www.novastor.com/pcbackup/backup/n_backup.html[/url]

I haven't tried just backing up the system state then restoring it with
Vista. They do have a fully working trial if you want to try it.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
[url]http://www.vistahelp.ca[/url]

"Tiberius" <James@tiberius.kirk> wrote:
[color=blue]
> I personally use ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE home 10 that is vista
> compatible..[/color]

I can personally agree that Acronis True Image is absolutely GREAT and
works perfectly and it's well worth the price BUT!!!

YOU CAN GET IT FREE!

Note: Only if you have a Seagate or Maxtor harddrive.

Go to Seagate's website or go here:

[url]http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/[/url]

If you have a Seagate drive download DiskWizard, if you have a Maxtor
drive download MaxBlast, each contains Acronis True Image now.

If you have more than one harddrive, only one need be Seagate/Maxtor,
if you have another brand of harddrive, Acronis is still worth the
price. For a home PC it's only $49.95 from Acronis, $29.95 from
Newegg.com and less from Amazon.com.

ill try it out to see


thanks


"XS11E" <xs11eNO@SPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns993C57680CCFExs11eyahoocom@127.0.0.1...[color=blue]
> "Tiberius" <James@tiberius.kirk> wrote:
>[color=green]
>> I personally use ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE home 10 that is vista
>> compatible..[/color]
>
> I can personally agree that Acronis True Image is absolutely GREAT and
> works perfectly and it's well worth the price BUT!!!
>
> YOU CAN GET IT FREE!
>
> Note: Only if you have a Seagate or Maxtor harddrive.
>
> Go to Seagate's website or go here:
>
> [url]http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/[/url]
>
> If you have a Seagate drive download DiskWizard, if you have a Maxtor
> drive download MaxBlast, each contains Acronis True Image now.
>
> If you have more than one harddrive, only one need be Seagate/Maxtor,
> if you have another brand of harddrive, Acronis is still worth the
> price. For a home PC it's only $49.95 from Acronis, $29.95 from
> Newegg.com and less from Amazon.com.
>[/color]