Information wanted

[bigdadday]

I'm not embaressed to say that in the puter world I'm still new and it seems that just when I "think" that I'm getting a handle on what is going on some other thing comes out and I have to ask all over again.
This time my question is about when you make a copy of what you have in your puter on a cd-rw for safety sake. If the time does come when ol faithful crashes how does this help me first off and secondly how do I get what is on that cd-rw onto my puter that has either crashed or has had to be reformated?
I would like it so I can print this out so I will know if needed. Hope it doesn't sound silly but if a question isn't asked I will not know the answer. TIA
__________________

[surrealchereal]

If you have back up software use it, or do a little research and get some "good" backup software (sorry I can't suggest some, I love to walk on the edge).
If you have to reformat, install the backup software and it will guide you through the process of recovering your software from the CD.
and may you never need it! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[randy48]

Don't use a CDRW! It's about impossible to re-load a drive from it! Burn it to a CDR instead!

[Bsdboy]

I'm with randy48 on this use CDRs

Bsdboy

[surrealchereal]

Randy is right!!

[vfrxsw]

You can

[Warthog]

I HATE CD-RWs...they are expensive and unreliable. Also, drivers are usually required to read them.

I back up all my files and stuff on a CD-R and on my second hard drive http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif. If you have to reformat, simply install Windows and do the normal procedures for reformatting.

I'm not quite sure what your question is http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif. Once you reformat, simply stick the CD-R in the drive and you will see your files on the cd. A copy and paste maneuver will put those files back on the hard drive.

Ask away if we didn't answer your question.

Warthog

[bigdadday]

YES you have enlightened me on this and will remember from now on to use cdr and not cd-rw's but what use are they then?(cd-rw's) The explanation about the copy/paste is exactly what I wanted to hear so again thnx all. BD

[rlpos]

This is what I do for backup and a clean install of Windows. First load every program that you want on your system without all the garbage. Make sure you have all the drivers for every device that you will be using loaded and everything works like you want it to.Then make a folder and name it Winbak.You can create it on the C drive or on a slave drive if you have one and this is even better. Within this folder create another folder called Windows. Now copy everything on your C drive except Recycle Bin and the Windows folder to the folder named Winbak. Now open the Windows folder on your C drive and empty the Temp folder and the Temporary Internet Files folder.Now copy everything in your windows folder except the 1 file named Win386.swp (This file will not copy,instead will tell you it is a sharing violation) to the windows folder you created in the Winback folder. Now you are set. Burn this folder on your CDR(Winbak) and you have your backup. Now when you want a fresh install simply format your C: drive and load windows as normal. Now boot to a dos prompt and and at the C: prompt simply type"ren windows winold" and then execute (enter). If you have your backup on a slave drive such as D,E,F or from your cdrom type: "copy x:\winbak\windows" (x being your drive)and execute. Reboot to Windows and from windows explorer copy the rest of the files from Winbak folder(except the Windows folder) to your C drive and you have a fresh install with all settings restored just as before.

[This message has been edited by rlpos (edited 06-05-2001).]