Backup The Windows XP through the usage of Automated System Recovery
By Petterson Bogdan
Though Windows 7 shown on the place Windows XP is however really utilized by a large amount of users , although extended time usage might damage important registries, quite a few spyware can harm very important Windows libraries which make your OS difficult to use sometimes. When this happens it's better to have a rescue solution. And fortunate there are a number of fine techniques to accomplish it, but I aim to tell regarding Automated System Recovery process (or ASR method) which arrives incorporated Windows XP Professional itself. The plus is that you do not need to install some specialized package and it is not challenging to figure out that.
All you need is: a formatted floppy disk, the Windows XP Professional CD and enough free space to the location where you want to save the backup file.
The utility is named backup and it can be found in Start Programs Accessories Backup. If you want a shortcut you just type Start Run : ntbackup, which is the name of the this Windows utility. After you start it and the
welcome screen shows you you select the Advanced Mode. In the Advanced Mode of the Backup Utility you have three alternatives to choose: Backup Wizard, Restore Wizard and Automated System Recovery Wizard. The first option is if you want to do a more detailed of the directories and partitions, for example if you have special files to another location. The second is used to restore an already made backup. The third is used to make a copy of the entire Windows Operating System which is usually located on C: partition. If by any circumstance your OS is placed elsewhere(another drive) you can choose the first option and select manually from the drives.
If you select Automated System Recovery Wizard you are prompted on the next window screen only about the destination of the backup file where it would be created. You are free to decide about the name and the destination of this file. It requires only to have enough free drive space. Finishing the Automated System Recovery Preparation Wizard is just the last step. When you click on Finish the program will begin processing and then the backup operation will begin. The backup is made in one single file which is having *.bkf extension. The process can take about 10 minutes but could be also less. After the image of Windows file system is completed you are prompted to insert the floppy disk. This is needed if your system fails to boot and you must boot from the Windows XP installation CD. The diskette will help you start the rescue program and restore your backup image.
After all it's done you can remove the diskette from its drive. You can also do scheduled automated backups with Schedule Jobs.
