backing up files

I have a PC running XP Home. I have some very important files (pictures, games, etc.) that I need to back up, but I have over 22 gigabytes of data that I would need to back up to install Vista Beta 2.
Does the "new" install of Vista Beta 2 back up all your old Windows XP files and data? If so, then how do you restore it?
Or do I have to manually back up my 22 gigs using DVD+R's or DVD+R DL's? I really need to know, because I don't want to waste my time and money backing up my files.

Back up your files to media. Old Windows files are put in a windows.old folder but that does not imply that you can run any kind of restore progam that will put them back where they came from. For that kind of restore you need to use your XP Home backup program after Home has been reinstalled.
Having said that, you should not instlal Vista on a production or primary home computer. Please re-read the following:
From http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx
"Note: This is beta code and should not be used in a production environment or on a main machine in the home. Beta 2 is intended for developers, IT professionals and technology experts to continue or begin their testing of Windows Vista. Before you decide to use Beta 2, you should feel comfortable with installing operating systems, updating drivers, and general PC troubleshooting. Some risks of using beta operating systems include hardware and software incompatibility and system instability. If you have concerns about installing this beta software on your computer, we encourage you to obtain the final release version of Windows Vista when it is available in 2007."
And further:
In addition, once you install Windows Vista Beta 2 (or RC1) you cannot roll back to the previous operating system installation-you will either have to acquire and install the final released edition of Windows Vista or reinstall a previous edition of Windows.
If you do not have a second partition available for Vista (or better a second drive) then I advise you against installing Vista. This is not a consumer preview program, but a customer preview where "customer" is defined as a developer, IT professional, or technology specialist testing Vista for the purpose of improving a product that will one day run on Vista.
"CaffieneAddict" wrote in message

I have a PC running XP Home. I have some very important files (pictures, games, etc.) that I need to back up, but I have over 22 gigabytes of data that I would need to back up to install Vista Beta 2.
Does the "new" install of Vista Beta 2 back up all your old Windows XP files and data? If so, then how do you restore it?
Or do I have to manually back up my 22 gigs using DVD+R's or DVD+R DL's? I really need to know, because I don't want to waste my time and money backing up my files.

Hi,
Manually back them up to removable media. The upgrade is a one-way street, there is no uninstall option. To get back to WinXP you will need to format and do a clean installation.
This is a beta. Do not rely on anything working as expected. Do not install it on any machine containing critical data that you are not willing to lose.
-- Best of Luck,
Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/ Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
"CaffieneAddict" wrote in message

I have a PC running XP Home. I have some very important files (pictures, games, etc.) that I need to back up, but I have over 22 gigabytes of data that I would need to back up to install Vista Beta 2.
Does the "new" install of Vista Beta 2 back up all your old Windows XP files and data? If so, then how do you restore it?
Or do I have to manually back up my 22 gigs using DVD+R's or DVD+R DL's? I really need to know, because I don't want to waste my time and money backing up my files.

Unless things have changed, backup was not automatically installed by Home. It had to be Manually installed from the utilities on the install CD.. XP Pro it was installed
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message

Back up your files to media. Old Windows files are put in a windows.old folder but that does not imply that you can run any kind of restore progam that will put them back where they came from. For that kind of restore you need to use your XP Home backup program after Home has been reinstalled.
Having said that, you should not instlal Vista on a production or primary home computer. Please re-read the following:
From http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx
"Note: This is beta code and should not be used in a production environment or on a main machine in the home. Beta 2 is intended for developers, IT professionals and technology experts to continue or begin their testing of Windows Vista. Before you decide to use Beta 2, you should feel comfortable with installing operating systems, updating drivers, and general PC troubleshooting. Some risks of using beta operating systems include hardware and software incompatibility and system instability. If you have concerns about installing this beta software on your computer, we encourage you to obtain the final release version of Windows Vista when it is available in 2007."
And further:
In addition, once you install Windows Vista Beta 2 (or RC1) you cannot roll back to the previous operating system installation-you will either have to acquire and install the final released edition of Windows Vista or reinstall a previous edition of Windows.
If you do not have a second partition available for Vista (or better a second drive) then I advise you against installing Vista. This is not a consumer preview program, but a customer preview where "customer" is defined as a developer, IT professional, or technology specialist testing Vista for the purpose of improving a product that will one day run on Vista.
"CaffieneAddict" wrote in message I have a PC running XP Home. I have some very important files (pictures, games, etc.) that I need to back up, but I have over 22 gigabytes of data that I would need to back up to install Vista Beta 2.
Does the "new" install of Vista Beta 2 back up all your old Windows XP files and data? If so, then how do you restore it?
Or do I have to manually back up my 22 gigs using DVD+R's or DVD+R DL's? I really need to know, because I don't want to waste my time and money backing up my files.

Correct. But if he knows about backups then he either installed ntbackup or bought a third party backup program. That, at least, was my reading.
"John Barnes" wrote in message

Unless things have changed, backup was not automatically installed by Home. It had to be Manually installed from the utilities on the install CD.. XP Pro it was installed
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message Back up your files to media. Old Windows files are put in a windows.old folder but that does not imply that you can run any kind of restore progam that will put them back where they came from. For that kind of restore you need to use your XP Home backup program after Home has been reinstalled.
Having said that, you should not instlal Vista on a production or primary home computer. Please re-read the following:
From http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx
"Note: This is beta code and should not be used in a production environment or on a main machine in the home. Beta 2 is intended for developers, IT professionals and technology experts to continue or begin their testing of Windows Vista. Before you decide to use Beta 2, you should feel comfortable with installing operating systems, updating drivers, and general PC troubleshooting. Some risks of using beta operating systems include hardware and software incompatibility and system instability. If you have concerns about installing this beta software on your computer, we encourage you to obtain the final release version of Windows Vista when it is available in 2007."
And further:
In addition, once you install Windows Vista Beta 2 (or RC1) you cannot roll back to the previous operating system installation-you will either have to acquire and install the final released edition of Windows Vista or reinstall a previous edition of Windows.
If you do not have a second partition available for Vista (or better a second drive) then I advise you against installing Vista. This is not a consumer preview program, but a customer preview where "customer" is defined as a developer, IT professional, or technology specialist testing Vista for the purpose of improving a product that will one day run on Vista.
"CaffieneAddict" wrote in message I have a PC running XP Home. I have some very important files (pictures, games, etc.) that I need to back up, but I have over 22 gigabytes of data that I would need to back up to install Vista Beta 2.
Does the "new" install of Vista Beta 2 back up all your old Windows XP files and data? If so, then how do you restore it?
Or do I have to manually back up my 22 gigs using DVD+R's or DVD+R DL's? I really need to know, because I don't want to waste my time and money backing up my files.

Home backup wouldn't write to DVD's so I assumed he had some other backup program to use.
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message

Correct. But if he knows about backups then he either installed ntbackup or bought a third party backup program. That, at least, was my reading.
"John Barnes" wrote in message Unless things have changed, backup was not automatically installed by Home. It had to be Manually installed from the utilities on the install CD.. XP Pro it was installed
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message Back up your files to media. Old Windows files are put in a windows.old folder but that does not imply that you can run any kind of restore progam that will put them back where they came from. For that kind of restore you need to use your XP Home backup program after Home has been reinstalled.
Having said that, you should not instlal Vista on a production or primary home computer. Please re-read the following:
From http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx
"Note: This is beta code and should not be used in a production environment or on a main machine in the home. Beta 2 is intended for developers, IT professionals and technology experts to continue or begin their testing of Windows Vista. Before you decide to use Beta 2, you should feel comfortable with installing operating systems, updating drivers, and general PC troubleshooting. Some risks of using beta operating systems include hardware and software incompatibility and system instability. If you have concerns about installing this beta software on your computer, we encourage you to obtain the final release version of Windows Vista when it is available in 2007."
And further:
In addition, once you install Windows Vista Beta 2 (or RC1) you cannot roll back to the previous operating system installation-you will either have to acquire and install the final released edition of Windows Vista or reinstall a previous edition of Windows.
If you do not have a second partition available for Vista (or better a second drive) then I advise you against installing Vista. This is not a consumer preview program, but a customer preview where "customer" is defined as a developer, IT professional, or technology specialist testing Vista for the purpose of improving a product that will one day run on Vista.
"CaffieneAddict" wrote in message I have a PC running XP Home. I have some very important files (pictures, games, etc.) that I need to back up, but I have over 22 gigabytes of data that I would need to back up to install Vista Beta 2.
Does the "new" install of Vista Beta 2 back up all your old Windows XP files and data? If so, then how do you restore it?
Or do I have to manually back up my 22 gigs using DVD+R's or DVD+R DL's? I really need to know, because I don't want to waste my time and money backing up my files.

Buy or get an older IDE hard drive - a 40GB sells for $40, a buck per GB, so you might want a larger HDD. Then buy/try an imaging program (downloadable Acronis True Image Home was selling for $20 at Newegg) and have fun. The price is a joke compared with the troubles of recovering partitions, files, DVD's etc. Without an image of your present setup don't venture in testing Vista Beta; at some 50 Mill lines of code Vista has I doubt it will work flawlessly even in the final retail version, so be prepared :) Michael
ffieneAddict" wrote in message

I have a PC running XP Home. I have some very important files (pictures, games, etc.) that I need to back up, but I have over 22 gigabytes of data that I would need to back up to install Vista Beta 2.
Does the "new" install of Vista Beta 2 back up all your old Windows XP files and data? If so, then how do you restore it?
Or do I have to manually back up my 22 gigs using DVD+R's or DVD+R DL's? I really need to know, because I don't want to waste my time and money backing up my files.

"CaffieneAddict" wrote in message

I have a PC running XP Home. I have some very important files (pictures, games, etc.) that I need to back up, but I have over 22 gigabytes of data that I would need to back up to install Vista Beta 2.
Does the "new" install of Vista Beta 2 back up all your old Windows XP files and data? If so, then how do you restore it?
Or do I have to manually back up my 22 gigs using DVD+R's or DVD+R DL's? I really need to know, because I don't want to waste my time and money backing up my files.

Backing up your computer is never a waste of time or money. Even if you don't intend to install Vista you need a backup.
-- Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User www.VistaHelp.ca

Good point.
"John Barnes" wrote in message

Home backup wouldn't write to DVD's so I assumed he had some other backup program to use.
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message Correct. But if he knows about backups then he either installed ntbackup or bought a third party backup program. That, at least, was my reading.
"John Barnes" wrote in message Unless things have changed, backup was not automatically installed by Home. It had to be Manually installed from the utilities on the install CD.. XP Pro it was installed
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message Back up your files to media. Old Windows files are put in a windows.old folder but that does not imply that you can run any kind of restore progam that will put them back where they came from. For that kind of restore you need to use your XP Home backup program after Home has been reinstalled.
Having said that, you should not instlal Vista on a production or primary home computer. Please re-read the following:
From http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx
"Note: This is beta code and should not be used in a production environment or on a main machine in the home. Beta 2 is intended for developers, IT professionals and technology experts to continue or begin their testing of Windows Vista. Before you decide to use Beta 2, you should feel comfortable with installing operating systems, updating drivers, and general PC troubleshooting. Some risks of using beta operating systems include hardware and software incompatibility and system instability. If you have concerns about installing this beta software on your computer, we encourage you to obtain the final release version of Windows Vista when it is available in 2007."
And further:
In addition, once you install Windows Vista Beta 2 (or RC1) you cannot roll back to the previous operating system installation-you will either have to acquire and install the final released edition of Windows Vista or reinstall a previous edition of Windows.
If you do not have a second partition available for Vista (or better a second drive) then I advise you against installing Vista. This is not a consumer preview program, but a customer preview where "customer" is defined as a developer, IT professional, or technology specialist testing Vista for the purpose of improving a product that will one day run on Vista.
"CaffieneAddict" wrote in message I have a PC running XP Home. I have some very important files (pictures, games, etc.) that I need to back up, but I have over 22 gigabytes of data that I would need to back up to install Vista Beta 2.
Does the "new" install of Vista Beta 2 back up all your old Windows XP files and data? If so, then how do you restore it?
Or do I have to manually back up my 22 gigs using DVD+R's or DVD+R DL's? I really need to know, because I don't want to waste my time and money backing up my files.

I currently have a PC running Windows XP and I would like to download the Windows Vista. But I am afraid that all my important files (such as music, pictures, and games) will get lost in the "clean installation" process. I have heard from people in this forum that the "upgrade" install is crappy. Do I have to backup all my files on DVD+R's? or does the new install of Vista backup all my files from WinXP automatically for restoration in Vista? I just don't want to waste all my time and money manually backing up my files on DVD's.

First things first: The time period for registering for the opportunity to be a Beta Tester for Windows Vista is over. If you are already registered, you may have a small window of time to download the software.
You should, as a matter of course, always back up your important files, whether you are testing stuff or not. I do a full back-up nightly! Buy an external, USB/Firewire hard drive that's about double your system hard drive size and back up to it on a regular basis. It will someday save your sanity.
No, Vista does not back-up your computer for you. It doesn't make partitions for you. It is meant as a test only, not for reliable use, and certainly not meant to be the only computer someone has access to.
"CaffieneAddict" wrote in message I currently have a PC running Windows XP and I would like to download the Windows Vista. But I am afraid that all my important files (such as music, pictures, and games) will get lost in the "clean installation" process. I have heard from people in this forum that the "upgrade" install is crappy. Do I have to backup all my files on DVD+R's? or does the new install of Vista backup all my files from WinXP automatically for restoration in Vista? I just don't want to waste all my time and money manually backing up my files on DVD's.

(It can make partitions. It can also delete them. See the Advanced Options.)
"Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message

First things first: The time period for registering for the opportunity to be a Beta Tester for Windows Vista is over. If you are already registered, you may have a small window of time to download the software.
You should, as a matter of course, always back up your important files, whether you are testing stuff or not. I do a full back-up nightly! Buy an external, USB/Firewire hard drive that's about double your system hard drive size and back up to it on a regular basis. It will someday save your sanity.
No, Vista does not back-up your computer for you. It doesn't make partitions for you. It is meant as a test only, not for reliable use, and certainly not meant to be the only computer someone has access to.
"CaffieneAddict" wrote in message I currently have a PC running Windows XP and I would like to download the Windows Vista. But I am afraid that all my important files (such as music, pictures, and games) will get lost in the "clean installation" process. I have heard from people in this forum that the "upgrade" install is crappy. Do I have to backup all my files on DVD+R's? or does the new install of Vista backup all my files from WinXP automatically for restoration in Vista? I just don't want to waste all my time and money manually backing up my files on DVD's.

During installation?
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message (It can make partitions. It can also delete them. See the Advanced Options.)
"Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message

First things first: The time period for registering for the opportunity to be a Beta Tester for Windows Vista is over. If you are already registered, you may have a small window of time to download the software.
You should, as a matter of course, always back up your important files, whether you are testing stuff or not. I do a full back-up nightly! Buy an external, USB/Firewire hard drive that's about double your system hard drive size and back up to it on a regular basis. It will someday save your sanity.
No, Vista does not back-up your computer for you. It doesn't make partitions for you. It is meant as a test only, not for reliable use, and certainly not meant to be the only computer someone has access to.
"CaffieneAddict" wrote in message I currently have a PC running Windows XP and I would like to download the Windows Vista. But I am afraid that all my important files (such as music, pictures, and games) will get lost in the "clean installation" process. I have heard from people in this forum that the "upgrade" install is crappy. Do I have to backup all my files on DVD+R's? or does the new install of Vista backup all my files from WinXP automatically for restoration in Vista? I just don't want to waste all my time and money manually backing up my files on DVD's.

Yes. :)
-- Jane, not plain ;) 64bit enabled ;) Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;) "Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message

During installation?
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message (It can make partitions. It can also delete them. See the Advanced Options.)
"Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message First things first: The time period for registering for the opportunity to be a Beta Tester for Windows Vista is over. If you are already registered, you may have a small window of time to download the software.
You should, as a matter of course, always back up your important files, whether you are testing stuff or not. I do a full back-up nightly! Buy an external, USB/Firewire hard drive that's about double your system hard drive size and back up to it on a regular basis. It will someday save your sanity.
No, Vista does not back-up your computer for you. It doesn't make partitions for you. It is meant as a test only, not for reliable use, and certainly not meant to be the only computer someone has access to.
"CaffieneAddict" wrote in message I currently have a PC running Windows XP and I would like to download the Windows Vista. But I am afraid that all my important files (such as music, pictures, and games) will get lost in the "clean installation" process. I have heard from people in this forum that the "upgrade" install is crappy. Do I have to backup all my files on DVD+R's? or does the new install of Vista backup all my files from WinXP automatically for restoration in Vista? I just don't want to waste all my time and money manually backing up my files on DVD's.

Cool
"Jane C" wrote in message Yes. :)
-- Jane, not plain ;) 64bit enabled ;) Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;) "Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message

During installation?
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message (It can make partitions. It can also delete them. See the Advanced Options.)
"Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote in message First things first: The time period for registering for the opportunity to be a Beta Tester for Windows Vista is over. If you are already registered, you may have a small window of time to download the software.
You should, as a matter of course, always back up your important files, whether you are testing stuff or not. I do a full back-up nightly! Buy an external, USB/Firewire hard drive that's about double your system hard drive size and back up to it on a regular basis. It will someday save your sanity.
No, Vista does not back-up your computer for you. It doesn't make partitions for you. It is meant as a test only, not for reliable use, and certainly not meant to be the only computer someone has access to.
"CaffieneAddict" wrote in message I currently have a PC running Windows XP and I would like to download the Windows Vista. But I am afraid that all my important files (such as music, pictures, and games) will get lost in the "clean installation" process. I have heard from people in this forum that the "upgrade" install is crappy. Do I have to backup all my files on DVD+R's? or does the new install of Vista backup all my files from WinXP automatically for restoration in Vista? I just don't want to waste all my time and money manually backing up my files on DVD's.