backup program

Btw, I thought about backing up the system drive (C drive) as Broni mentioned and am doing it now. As I haven't installed any backup software yet, I used the program in XP (Accessories> Backup) and as it is in the process of backing up now, creating a .bkf , I wonder how do I use this? There was an option at the start of a.) backup files and b.) restore backup files. Though I'm using option A now, obviously, when my PC crashes and I'd have to use my backup files, I'll use option B. But to reach this program that restores, I'd have to have XP re-installed in the reformatted pc? Or do I copy paste this backup file to the clean slate C drive and it's good to go?

Will it also work if I just copy paste the entire C drive to make my backup copy?

XP Backup is rubbish. Seriously.

That's why Broni recommended Acronis and the other apps. Paragon Backup Express is FREE. You don't just copy and paste files; you need to restore your system from a backup image file.

Thanks for the recommendations, Midknyte. I'll go read them now.

"you need to restore your system from a backup image file. "

Midknyte, meaning XP has to be re-installed first, then system restore? Btw, I'm talking about a PC crash where Windows doesn't load anymore ok.

Re current c drive backup, Windows Backup aborted. Using Macrium I downloaded earlier instead...

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meaning XP has to be re-installed first, then system restore?

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NO. This should be explained on the product sites.

I'm going to use Acronis as an example.

You install Acronis or boot from the Acronis CD. You create a snapshot image file of your OS (.tib is the Acronis file extension). Let's call it XPSP3.tib. You will need a second partition on the drive, or an external drive (I.E. you can't write the image file to the partition you are imaging). So if C: is your OS partition, you would make the XPSP3.tib on your D: partition.

If C: gets messed up, you boot from the Acronis CD to run the recovery. You just point to the XPSP3.tib file and choose the partition to restore to (in your case C: ). After it's done, you should be able to boot back into Windows.

I'd definitely recommend external drive. One of the reason of keeping images is the case of main drive going south.
When I bought new Vista computer, I surely spent couple of weeks cleaning preinstalled garbage, installing my favorite programs, etc. Then, 6 weeks old drive, BAM!, gone.
If not Acronis....

Midknyte, this is what I'm after then? http://macrium.com/webhelp/Starting_...D.asp?nohead=y
I'm supposed to make the Bart PE as it's the one for XP- how do I know if my XP's 32 or 64 bit?

Broni, yup, backup's in an external drive.

I don't use Macrium. If you don't know BartPE, use Acronis or Paragon like I told you.

Most people use 32-bit XP, so it would be unlikely you used XP64.
To check, go to My Computer - properties. Under the System section it would say:
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

Done, Midknyte. I tried so hard to understand BartPE, but good grief, I had to skip it instead to be sure.

Erased the others and installed Paragon. C has been backed up, but I can't seem to make a Recovery Media Builder? I've used 3 flash drives and they all result to "Bootable Flash creation has failed." From what I understand, I need this, right?

Not sure why your bootable flash drives are failing. You can make a bootable CD instead.

Are there any error messages?

Weeird. I re-tried now just to find out and it successfully created on all three flash drives. So, all's good.

Thanks a lot, Midknyte!!

I posted this in a related but old thread, but I guess it's better to post it in a more recent active one. Sorry, didn't want to start a new thread for such a minor question:

Bootup Checkdisk-- is it an indication of something (bad) when this happens all of a sudden or just a routine operation? I've never encountered this using this pc for years until a while ago. I let it finish scanning and after XP loaded, I restarted and it didn't checkdisk anymore. Just want to know if I should be nervous this happened? Thanks!

You mean Chkdsk? You don't need to freak out, but you could run a hard drive diagnostic. Run the drive manufacturer's diags; don't rely on chkdsk.

Yup, Chkdsk. Is the drive manufacturer's diags a tool already in my pc or I've to download it? It's drive description is ST, so I think it's Seagate.

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Is the drive manufacturer's diags a tool already in my pc or I've to download it?

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You would need to download it. UBCD has seatools plus, memory diags and a bunch of other useful stuff. Link is in my signature.

You must burn the iso as an image, then boot from the CD.
http://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htm