RE-FORMAT Question...

[NACHTJAGER]

I just bought Maximum PC and they have a how-to explaining how to update your WinXP cd. The question, Is there a program that lets you make a "Back Up Boot Disk"? Meaning after I Re-Format can I make an exact copy of the complete job that is able to be used for further Re-Formats?

Let me know if it can be understood because I confused myself with this one :blink: :blink:
Thanks
Dan

[Psykotik]

I think I get what you mean.

I imagine that Maximum PC were on about slipstreaming Service Pack 2 into the original XP CD (it's all good, mine saves aaaages)

Doing that is a piece of pie as I'm sure you have discovered.

Now you have your "Service Packed" install all up 'n' running, I imagine you want a copy of it "as it is now" that you can simply copy back to the drive when you next reformat?

Norton Ghost offers the same options as Casper XP I believe, (although I think you may be able to copy to CD/DVD or possibly a part of your HDD with Ghost as opposed to just a HDD with Casper) but the following is the method I have used.

The following should work as long as you use the copy on this rig only, and you haven't installed any drivers (I mean ANY)*

*Unless you ever plan to use SATA functionality on your existing motherboard (if it has it) as then you will need to ensure that the correct SATA drivers are installed from the motherboard software bundle (as Windows doesn't have proprietry SATA support)


Download Casper XP 2.0

Install

Take a hard drive with a suitable capacity for keeping a full install of XP on (ie a 10 Gb drive, you could get away with smaller but not much)

Fire up Casper XP (a bit like Norton "Ghost". Casper...Ghost.....Geddit? :p )

Follow the instructions presented.

Casper XP copies the entire drive across to another drive, and keeps everything in it's existing state, so in theory you should be able to boot off this drive.

Install the drive with the copy on it and ensure you can boot off it.

If you can, remove the drive and keep somewhere safe from ESD, H20, PMT and anything else with a suitably terrifying acronym.

When you want to restore your system to the blank "Service Packed" state, simply connect your drive and use Casper again.


Andy

[NACHTJAGER]

Thank you very much thats what I was looking for. And thanks for explaining it all out for me.


As Forrest Gump says "I'm not a smart man"
:)

Thank you again
Dan

[BuffaloBoy]

If you can, remove the drive and keep somewhere safe from ESD, H20, PMT and anything else with a suitably terrifying acronym.
What about PMS? :D

as Windows doesn't have proprietry SATA support
I'm running an 80GB Maxtor DiamondMax SATA drive as my boot drive, never even asked me for drivers

[fivecheebs]

Some boards dont need drivers. I dont remember which motherboards and cant remember how it works. It was a certain intel chipset iirc.

You either have one of those mobos or you need to "press f6 to load 3rd party scsi drivers" at the initial stage of a windows setup.