HELP XP Pro

[chipwelder]

P.S. Can one make a system restore on a large flash disk... I mean you can set the puter to boot from USB in most circumstances, can't you? barring of course hardware failure...

[chipwelder]

So which system image process should I use, all seem from different angles, I don't want lots of partitions... I have a back-up drive, so I don't mind whacking all the data when the time comes... but all the software is a pain... especially as everybody just adds to the existing process with new usb key numbers and so forth... SO I would like the install to keep all the installed programs... if possible.

http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml

http://www.optimizingpc.com/optimize/systemimage.html
http://www.optimizingpc.com/howtouse/imagebootdisk.html
http://www.optimizingpc.com/howtouse/imagingpartition.html

[BigWoodenSpoon]

You're thinking a live usb or live dvd similar to linux?

I was suggesting creating an image of the virgin install plus your necessary progs and using that as a restore point if yuor system ever goes wonky.

A 32gb usb should be enough to hold most images

[LAV]

I'm with Skinny on this one. Once you have the fresh install done and all drivers etc. installed, make an image / clone. Symantec has Ghost which does a great job, but it's commercial software. Google for "Clonezilla", it's free and does the same job.

[BigWoodenSpoon]

I could throw a spanner in the works here and suggest using a VM

Install all your apps on a VM and mirror the vm's hard disk. Also a lot safer to browse internet and email on a VM.
A bit more complicated to setup but effective.

You do need compatible hardware tho (most new hardware is) and a fairly beefy machine depending on how many VM's you run.

I'm running a laptop, Core I3, 4gb ram and 500gb HDD with win7 pro installed.

VM's: win xp pro, suse linux enterprise 10, Backtrack4 and win7 pro

[BigWoodenSpoon]

If you go the Image route, dont try to restore it to a diff machine lol or if you change hardware you may run into issues

[chipwelder]

I think VM is a bridge too far... I need the processing power for my apps... not everyday, but every week at least...

Like when the guys warranty exchanged my mother board without reloading windoze??? Go figure... that was fun.

I think if Clonezilla comes from Mozilla that is worth a look...

Cdrive is at 7.8GB and counting... the frigging windoze updates...
Have not even installed ArcGIS yet.

[BigWoodenSpoon]

you could create a 10gb non NTFS partition and store the image there, but wont help if HDD fails

[chipwelder]

Final install is 16.5GB... have 32 GB usb... here goes... Clonezilla user page is not very ignoramus friendly... big warning in spite... this should be fun...

[chipwelder]

Well... if I don't understand the Clonezilla quick reference card, I should probably not try expert mode in clonezilla ne....

Problem... in wizard / ignoramus mode, it doesn't "pickup" directories with spaces in the name... like "Documents and Settings" or "Program Files"... this might cause issues... oh well it only became eyrie after two years...  and it only like took two partime days to redo

[BigWoodenSpoon]

http://www.thefreecountry.com/utilities/backupandimage.shtml

Try any one of these.

I do have a program that works brilliantly, but unfortunately it only runs on Linux and of course is CLI driven

[chipwelder]

Thanks! but no thanks, once in two years sitting around fir two days reading while pc is updating, is fine... two days stressing whether or not I irreparably my main puter... is not so much fun... and by then this one should be done and used as a linux box for the domestic's boy.