Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.configuration_manage (
More info?)
I'm familiar with Dantz and it is indeed a very powerful piece of software
but as your post suggests you really should be an experienced user.
I find Stomp's Backup MyPC, provided by Veritas and formerly known as Backup
Exec is more than adequate to my own needs especially given this supplements
my imaging software. It's also a little more user friendly than the Dantz
product though I do believe the Dantz product is more versatile and quite
robust.
--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
"KenG" <KenG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3B4DAED6-2143-455E-974C-5187A3A6CB57@microsoft.com...
> Thanks for the added insights. Until I read your latest response, I had
> the
> most diverse set of backup mechanisms and destinations I knew of.
> Congratulations! Although, at times it is a bit difficult to recall
> exactly
> which file or file version is on which date backup, but that's what backup
> browsers are for.
>
> I would like to strongly recommend Dantz Retrospect 6.5 Professional, a
> very
> scalable and sophisticated backup utility. Short of corporate Veritas
> type
> agents, it has the most versatile, powerful and fast backup capabilities
> I've
> found. Be prepared to actually read the manual, as some of it's extensive
> repertoire of options are not intuitive or readily apparent. But when
> you've
> learned it, it a snap to configure and run. I have the "Professional"
> license, which includes up to 2 "Clients" in addition to the Base PC.
> It's a
> bit pricey relative to other apps, and the annual maintenance contract
> (~$130.00/yr.), which I also recommend, isn't cheap either. However, it
> gives you access not only to all updates, but also to new major upgrade
> versions (one's due out 1st quarter of 2005) as well as 8 x 5 (or maybe 6)
> access to customer service and technical advice/support at no additional
> charge. Check it out. Thanks again for an informative and interesting
> exchange!
>
> Ken Grush
>
> "Michael Solomon (MS-MVP)" wrote:
>
>> I would restore from backup. The one sitting on your hard drive is the
>> one
>> with the problem and we're not exactly certain of the cause but it's
>> likely
>> sitting in the profile already on your hard drive.
>>
>> Aside from Outlook, as long as you can get to the old data, I can't think
>> of
>> anything off-hand that would need to be imported. Perhaps the Favorites,
>> there is an import/export function on the File menu in IE and it works
>> great
>> for this.
>>
>> I have a backup computer and I additionally save my data files to a
>> CD-RW.
>> I use several different means of backup, that way if one goes bad, I have
>> additional sets in some other medium. For example, I make a selective
>> backup of my data files using a backup program as well as saving any data
>> file specifically to my hard drive and to a CD-RW. CD-RW disks do go bad
>> eventually so I also keep a copy of all of this on the backup computer.
>> I
>> also create images of my system periodically. One I keep on a separate
>> partition for convenience and another I keep on the backup computer.
>> When I
>> move to a DVD-burner I'll also keep one on a DVD disk.
>>
>> Image files are extremely handy. If you are about to do something you
>> know
>> might cause your system to tank, you can create an image file of your
>> setup.
>> If the system tanks, the imaging software usually has a means of booting
>> and
>> running the image app which would allow you to restore the image file.
>> At
>> the very worst, I might have to reinstall XP, then install the imaging
>> application and then restore the image. Even in that scenario, I'd be up
>> and running again within 30 minutes to an hour.
>>
>> The beauty of System Restore is that it only restores your system
>> settings,
>> sometimes that is desirable. SR was never meant to be a backup
>> application
>> as I'm sure you realize is quite obvious. GoBack has its advantages but
>> since I use image files supplemented by my backup, it's not really an
>> issue
>> for me.
>>
>> Also, if you get a virus or some sort of malware and you don't know
>> precisely when you got it, GoBack can be dangerous because you may simply
>> be
>> restoring an already corrupt setup. I keep images of a clean install of
>> XP,
>> another with a clean install plus my major applications installed and
>> then,
>> I periodically make images of my setup as it is in its current state, all
>> of
>> which is supplemented by my data backups.
>>
>> You would have to visit the Symantec website and check their tech papers,
>> knowledge base or with their tech support about the specific issue you
>> describe.
>>
>> --
>> Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>> Windows Shell/User
>> Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>> DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>>
>> "KenG" <KenG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:072D3F45-7DBC-4BD5-9689-7BFC2ED4B5D1@microsoft.com...
>> > Thanks again, Michael,
>> >
>> > The only other thing I would appreciate your advice on is whether there
>> > is
>> > any advantage in using a restored copy of the profile folder, albeit 4
>> > weeks
>> > old, over the one sitting on my HD now but with the Ntuser data
>> > corrupted.
>> > The restored version would probably work for log on right away,
>> > assuming
>> > that
>> > I restore the directory names to their original format, as it was
>> > created
>> > before my ill-advised directory name change. But, if I want a
>> > nonrevealing
>> > directory structure, I would have to create a new account with the
>> > desired
>> > name to launch the new directory structure and then copy exisitng
>> > (backup
>> > or
>> > current) configuration and application data into the new directory. I
>> > guess
>> > it's crucial to know if the Ntuser files are the only corrupted part of
>> > the
>> > current folder. As I changed the name of the user account to the
>> > nickname
>> > before changing the directory folder(s) name(s), this is how I planned
>> > to
>> > proceed, logging on as Administrator.
>> >
>> > 1. Rename the existing account to the longer, full name version.
>> > 2. Create a new user account with the desired nickname as its name.
>> > 3. Copy exisitng user account data to the new account --
>> > **this is where I need to know whether it would be better to use a
>> > restored
>> > copy or the current folder. In either case I will need to ensure
>> > Outlook data
>> > is imported from the most current folder.
>> > 4. Log off and log on as the new user.
>> > 5. Import, if it didn't come accross with the "copy and paste", any
>> > Outlook
>> > data
>> > files. I don't use Outlook Express.
>> >
>> > Are there any other "imports" which need to be done?
>> >
>> > I couldn't agree more with your emphasis on regular backups. A number
>> > of
>> > authors have recommended a second HD for this purpose, together with
>> > remotely
>> > stored archived copies, of course, and that is the course I took.
>> >
>> > I would like to use my favorite "restoration" app, GoBack Deluxe,
>> > because
>> > it
>> > has several advantages over the WXP utility. With GoBack, you can
>> > specify
>> > the size and exact location of the restore database (WXP puts restore
>> > "points" on every partition of every drive), and every file on the PC
>> > is
>> > included (WXP focuses on "system" files as I understand it). Of course
>> > backups are needed in case of HD failure or to selectively restore
>> > individual
>> > files and/or file versions. This always worked well for me, being much
>> > easier than restoring from backup. However, I recently followed
>> > recommendations in the Resource Kit and installed the Recovery Console
>> > at
>> > the
>> > root of my system drive. Unfortunately, GoBack has some effect on the
>> > MBR,
>> > blocking access, so it seems to make it impossible to boot into the
>> > Recovery
>> > Console. I get a message that the Console cannot access "KBDUS.DLL"
>> > and
>> > am
>> > told to restart the computer. I was wondering whether there is
>> > anything I
>> > can do to get around this. Currently, the Recovery Console is on the
>> > box
>> > and
>> > working well, but GoBack is uninstalled.
>> >
>> > Thanks again for your help!
>> >
>> > Ken Grush
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "Michael Solomon (MS-MVP)" wrote:
>> >
>> >> You're welcome, Ken.
>> >>
>> >> Sorry if I was a bit cryptic with regard to backups. Having once lost
>> >> three
>> >> hard drives in one year I'm fanatical on the subject to say the
>> >> least.<G>
>> >>
>> >> Completely understandable abut your backup situation and I'm sure this
>> >> recent issue was a bit of a lesson to you if not reinforcement of
>> >> something
>> >> you clearly know, the importance of good, up to date backups.
>> >>
>> >> I'm glad the article was able to help, it often does in situations
>> >> such
>> >> as
>> >> this. I also want to make clear, these newsgroups are peer to peer
>> >> and
>> >> sometimes such admonishments are as much for others who might read the
>> >> thread as they are for those to whom we are responding directly.
>> >>
>> >> Good luck.
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>> >> Windows Shell/User
>> >> Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>> >> DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>> >>
>> >> "KenG" <KenG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:614901C4-3F3A-4471-96FA-F61F2B22B6DE@microsoft.com...
>> >> > Thank you so much for your sage advice, Michael! I actually do have
>> >> > regular
>> >> > unattended backups to a second HD, but because of a software glitch
>> >> > involving
>> >> > repeated full rather than the ordered incremental images, I had just
>> >> > been
>> >> > forced to prune several of the oldest and recreating to backup
>> >> > script.
>> >> > I
>> >> > do
>> >> > have a separate full system backups archived, but from a month ago.
>> >> > however,
>> >> > if I restore that version, I'll lose Outlook rules, etc. dating from
>> >> > that
>> >> > date and have to copy or import them from the existing account
>> >> > anyway.
>> >> > The
>> >> > article you recommended was excellent! In creating a brand new
>> >> > account
>> >> > with
>> >> > the desired name (something I would have to do anyway eventually),
>> >> > the
>> >> > recommended procedure will then allow me to copy configuration
>> >> > settings
>> >> > from
>> >> > the old account and import Outlook data. The crucial information
>> >> > was
>> >> > which
>> >> > files from the old profile NOT TO COPY, which, after reading the
>> >> > article
>> >> > and
>> >> > other resources, I now know to be the corrupted components of my
>> >> > original
>> >> > profile. Thanks again for the great information and friendly
>> >> > advice!
>> >> >
>> >> > Ken Grush
>> >> >
>> >> > "Michael Solomon (MS-MVP)" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> The best way to rescue your data is from a backup and since that
>> >> >> data
>> >> >> is
>> >> >> quite important to you, in the future I suggest you start backing
>> >> >> up
>> >> >> and
>> >> >> fairly regularly given the chances you seem to take.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> That said, try treating this as a corrupt user account as
>> >> >> instructed
>> >> >> in
>> >> >> the
>> >> >> following Knowledge Base Article:
>> >> >>
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q318011
>> >> >>
>> >> >> --
>> >> >> Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>> >> >> Windows Shell/User
>> >> >> Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>> >> >> DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "KenG" <KenG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> >> news:94D06159-32BA-47BA-AD7C-34B4C1107904@microsoft.com...
>> >> >> > When I installed WXP, SP2, I initially gave my full name in
>> >> >> > setting
>> >> >> > up
>> >> >> > my
>> >> >> > account, but then changed my account type from "Administrator" to
>> >> >> > "Power
>> >> >> > User" and shortened the account name to my nickname. I then
>> >> >> > created
>> >> >> > another
>> >> >> > "Power User" account for the other user on the PC, initially
>> >> >> > giving
>> >> >> > his
>> >> >> > full
>> >> >> > name as well but then shortening it to his nickname. I then
>> >> >> > renamed
>> >> >> > the
>> >> >> > "PCname/Administrator" account to disguise it. I created
>> >> >> > passwords
>> >> >> > for
>> >> >> > all
>> >> >> > three of the accounts. Everything worked fine, except that the
>> >> >> > directory
>> >> >> > structure under "Documents and Settings" for all accounts EXCEPT
>> >> >> > MY
>> >> >> > INITIAL
>> >> >> > ONE showed the correct new name. My own account persisted in
>> >> >> > showing
>> >> >> > my
>> >> >> > full
>> >> >> > name, which seemd to revealing to me. I tried a number of times
>> >> >> > to
>> >> >> > change
>> >> >> > the name without success: twice "denied access" and once seemed
>> >> >> > to
>> >> >> > take
>> >> >> > the
>> >> >> > change, but then reverted to the original full name with reboot.
>> >> >> > Finally,
>> >> >> > just recently, the system allowed me to rename the relevant
>> >> >> > folders,
>> >> >> > the
>> >> >> > change persisted, but, as I should have known, the original
>> >> >> > profile
>> >> >> > is
>> >> >> > now
>> >> >> > inaccessible.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > When I try to log on as myself, the system creates a new
>> >> >> > "Documents
>> >> >> > and
>> >> >> > Settings" user directory with the name "me(current account
>> >> >> > name)/PCname",
>> >> >> > but
>> >> >> > without ANY OF MY CONFIGURATIONS, even trying to set up Outlook,
>> >> >> > etc.
>> >> >> > from
>> >> >> > scratch. The old (full name) folder structure remains. I tried,
>> >> >> > under
>> >> >> > "Computer Management" > "Local Users and Groups" > "Users" > "My
>> >> >> > account"
>> >> >> >>right click, "Properties" > "Profile" to set the home folder to
>> >> >> >>the
>> >> >> >>old
>> >> >> > (original) one, but it doesn't seem to help. i also changed all
>> >> >> > of
>> >> >> > the
>> >> >> > name
>> >> >> > revisions in the original subdirectory back to their original
>> >> >> > format,
>> >> >> > again
>> >> >> > without success.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Can someone please tell me how to rescue all 256 MB of my user
>> >> >> > data?
>> >> >> > PLEASE!!
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>