Backing up complete system in XP

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  1. Posts : 913
    Windows 7 x64 Professional
       #1

    Backing up complete system in XP


    I know this is a Windows 7 forum but perhaps someone here can help. My wife has given me permission to use her laptop to experiment with Ubuntu and Ubuntu variations on the condition that when she gets it back it will exactly as she left it. So... is there a way to back up the entire OS with installed programs, settings, personal files, etc? I know about dualbooting but in case something goes awry it would be handy to just be able to pop in a disc(s) and replace everything where it was. Thanks
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  2. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #2

    bigseb said:
    My wife has given me permission to use her laptop to experiment with Ubuntu and Ubuntu variations on the condition that when she gets it back it will exactly as she left it. So... is there a way to back up the entire OS with installed programs, settings, personal files, etc?
    Yes. It's called "imaging".

    You can do it with Windows 7 built-in imaging or with other applications such as Macrium Reflect Free Edition, Acronis True Image, or EaseUS Todo Backup Free.

    You need to store the image file somewhere other than the C drive--typically to an external drive. After you make the image, you can later "restore" it, which returns the system to the state it was in on at the time the image was made.

    It works pretty well, but isn't foolproof. You are best advised to make a separate backup of your wife's data files.
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  3. Posts : 1,379
    Win7 Pro 32-bit, Win8 Pro 32-bit
       #3

    Second the recommendation for Macrium Reflect. Have used that personally for years and never had it fail me.

    They have a free version you can download. Be sure to use the option to create a Linux boot CD. That way, when you go to restore, simply hook up the hard drive with the backups, boot from the CD, run the restore -- and the PC will be back to the state it was when you made the backup.
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  4. Posts : 913
    Windows 7 x64 Professional
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Cool. Will it work on XP Pro too?
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  5. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #5

    bigseb said:
    Cool. Will it work on XP Pro too?
    I'd certainly think so--never heard that it wouldn't.

    Mark Phelps is right about the Linux recovery disc. You can't restore the image without it. You make the Linux disc within Macrium. Be sure to test the recovery disk to ensure that it boots and finds your image file and partitions.
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  6. Posts : 913
    Windows 7 x64 Professional
    Thread Starter
       #6

    So this Macrium creates a Linux recovery disc? Or is that a separate thing altogether? Does it create the backup image of the XP system?

    Sorry if I sound a bit dense but a basic step by step would help.

    Thanks again.
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  7. Posts : 475
    Windows 7 Pro x64 -- PCLinuxOS KDE4 FullMonty 2011
       #7

    You could just run Ubunta off of a cd/dvd or usb stick to get the feel for it then install if you like what you see. Instructions are at the home of Ubunta & are easy to follow.
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  8. Posts : 4,161
    Windows 7 Pro-x64
       #8

    I'll say one thing for Ubuntu, you'll be learning a whole new language.
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  9. Posts : 913
    Windows 7 x64 Professional
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Hipster and Carwiz:

    I am familiar with Ubuntu, been running it on/off since 9.04 but the latest one is quite different visually, I want to see how much I can do with it, particularly regarding Wine. Can't do that while running off the disc...
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  10. Posts : 4,161
    Windows 7 Pro-x64
       #10

    Well, all I can say is your brass is shinier than mine. :) I gave up on it way back. Seemed every time I turned on the machine, there were 140GB of updates. And I was on dial-up back then.
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