-=PCTechTalk=- Re: Backup and latest Ghost (12.0)
- From: GMan <gman.pctt@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:29:44 -0500
Roger,
I have never had the pleasure of reading my words rewritten with so much
clarity and joy (or brandy) as I have with this. They say that the loss of
one sense heightens all others. Well, I think the loss of your nimble
fingers may have only heightened your mental clarity and sense of, well,
let's call it composure.
Additional comments interspersed below
Peace,
G
http://tinyurl.com/ynlcr7
"The only dumb questions are the ones we fail to ask!"
----- Original Message -----
From: "RMB White" <roguer@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 7:58 PM
Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: Backup and latest Ghost (12.0)
> GMan!
>
> there is SOME progress to report. For ease of reference I have reverted
> to YOUR original instructions as under and assigned LETTERS to each
> paragraph
>
> I have done two more complete restores (each time improving on the
> previous) and need to make three points
>
> Firstly due to my arthritic and clumsy fingers I have difficulty
> dragging. Often I find I have dropped something important half-way
> across the drag, it has disappeared into a black hole and I have to
> spend many minutes searching for and recovering it. I have therefore
> changed your instructions as you will see.
>
> Secondly, re my "sense of adventure and threshold for pain" the answer
> is "unlimited and robust". I AGREE entirely with your caution AND that
> the Order of Service should be FULL BACKUP>test result>if satisfactory,
> FORMAT Drive 0>RESTORE backup.
>
> Alternatively use WinXP installation Disc (if I can acquire one) for
> DUAL Boot on ONE of the External Drive PARTITIONS (please confirm this
> is feasible and will NOT wipe all partitions)
>
> Secondly I seem to lose the plot around your paras S,T, and U about
> which more anon.
>
> Thirdly I have constructed the following based on your instructions
>
> _BACKUP "Menu du Jour"._
>
> 1. a) take Grabzilla Screenshot of Desktop AND print it, so if all else
> goes pear-shaped, you can put it on the wall to remember what life USED
> to be like!
> b) REBOOT COMPUTER IN SAFE MODE .... V. Important
>
> 2. Open Win Explorer>Tools>Folder Options>View tab>
> CHECK
> a) Show hidden Files
> b) Display the contents of system folders>
> UNCHECK
> c) Display Simple Folder view in Explorers folder list
> d) Hide extensions for unknown File types
> e) Hide protected Operating system Files (Recommended)
>
> 3. Ignore Files starting with $ sign
>
> 4. Make a) Folder "C drive SPECIAL at 17.2.08" in H Drive (this becomes
> TARGET file).
> b) sub-folders of a) for Documents and Settings, "All
> users" and "User" + Program Files + Windows
>
> 5. In Win Explorer uncheck "-" for "My Docs"> check "+" for "My
> Computer"> check "+" for "C"> single click "Documents and Settings">"All
> users" "Edit" (this becomes SOURCE folder) Copy to folder">C drive
> SPECIAL...."> H>Docs and settings>"All users">"Copy"
>
> 6. watch little folders flying across screen until sleepy; have brandy.
>
> 7. Return to find copying halted, with message "Cannot copy User.dat. It
> is in use by another person or program"> "OK"
>
> 8. Open TARGET file>track to last file copied>enter it's name and
> address +"Pest 1" in Navigator's Log Book (= hard copy)
>
> 9. Open SOURCE file>find Pest(which surprisingly is in "C/Docs and
> settings/User" ONLY)>highlight (single click) REMAINDER of SOURCE
> file>"Edit">"Copy to folder">TARGET File>"Copy"
>
> 10. See flying folders again; have another brandy
>
> 11. Return to see copying halted again
>
> 12. Repeat steps 8 to 10 (naming this "Pest 2")
>
> 13 Continue for Pests 3 to ??
>
> 14. Repeat with Program Files
>
> 15. Repeat with Drive E and F
>
> 16. Have LARGE brandy
>
> NOTE (for me) TARGET FILE WILL BE REDUNDANT AS SOON AS YOU MAKE
> /SEND/RECEIVE/EMAIL,DOCS,PICS (ANYTHING) so must REPEAT backup
> immediately BEFORE FORMAT/NEW boot.
>
Practice runs are great teachers! You have now graduated to Backups 201 -
Advanced. Go to the head of the class.
>
> 16. Other Pests discovered were
> a) UsrClass.dat/.dat.LOG/.dat.rmbak/.tmp.LOG (all in C/Docs and
> settings/local settings/Application Data/Microsoft/windows)
> b) default, Sam,Security,Software (except .BAK), system,system.LOG
> (all in C/Windows/system32/config)
>
You are discovering many more uncopyable files than I showed in my example
run. This is because you are not ignoring the folders I ignored. I take
full responsibility for not stating that section in type as clearly as it
was in my mind. Since you have learned so much in your practice run, I
imagine that upon re-reading them, you will now understand more clearly what
I meant. If that is not the case, let me know immediately (or after another
practive run learning experience).
>
> 17. NOW, a BIG question please:- Because we are not copying these files
> to the TARGET folder, does this mean that they are not neccessary to the
> RESTORE, because they are produced by the OS new boot??
>
Yes, these files are completely unnecessary. These files are specific to
the old installation which will no longer exist once you reformat. For that
matter, once you reformat, these files will no longer exist either. Yes,
the new installation will create its own copies of these files and they will
be filled with data that applies only to that installation.
>
> NOW, I realise I have committed a capital crime in NOT following you in
> your S, and T, about which I have some questions, please
>
> Q1. in S (line 1) are you referring to the username folder in the SOURCE
> Folder or the TARGET Folder??
>
If you're refering to the paragraph that begins with "Double click on your
own ...", we are still talking about the Source folder. However, your next
two questions give me reason enough to clarify the entire paragraph here.
As you reach the "double click" statement, you should have your Source's
"Documents and Settings" folder selected in the left pane (or at least the
folder will appear open compared to the others) and you'll be looking at the
contents of that folder in the right pane (with at least the All Users
folder highlighted - more if you are not the only user).
With the "double click" statement, you will be double clicking inside the
same folder that you were already in, which is still a part of the Source
drive. This double click should take you inside the folder you double
clicked on. At that point, the left pane will reflect that you have now
selected your own username folder and the right pane will reflect its
contents. (while I hope this next sentence does not overly succeed in
twisting your mind as that is not my intention, I will still caution you to
tread carefully). Since there should not already be a folder inside your
username folder that also uses your username as its name, you should not
have any problem creating a folder there and calling it by the same name as
your username folder. (hmm, better buy some more brandy) If you try to
then make a folder and call it by your own username and it complains that
there is already a folder by that name, it means that you were unsuccessful
in your double click attempt.
>
> Q2. in S (line 4) if I press Enter I am told there is already a folder
> of that name. If I call it a different name, then ...
>
> Q3. in S (line 5) do you want me to Move "this new folder" (which I will
> do using the alternative to "dragging" I have already described) to the
> TARGET Docs and settings folder??
>
In a nutshell, the Target folders I have in the Zip file do not come
equipped with an empty username folder (because everyone's username folder
will be named differently). Therefore, you will have to create it yourself.
Since you are already working in the Source area, it doesn't make sense to
have you move to the Target area, make a folder and then return, I have
provided instructions to let you make the folder where you are and then move
it to where you need it. Unfortunately, you cannot possibly give a new
folder the same name as an already existing folder in the same location, so
you have to move inside the original username folder (double click to go
inside) and THEN create/name it. Once the new one exists, you will then
Move it to the Target area (at the same location & level as the original
one) so that it can hold everything you wish to Copy from your original
username folder.
>
> Q4. in T, MY ntuser.dat (and other ntuser files) appear in the middle of
> about 150 eml files in folder (C/Docs and settings/user" (ONLY)
>
This is because I left out a very important tip for making this much easier.
Once you have made all of the (hidden, etc.) changes to your Folder Options,
click on Apply and then bring Explorer back to the forefront. In Explorer,
go to View > Details and your entirefile list will become much more
organized. Next, click directly on the word "Type" that's being used as a
column heading. If done right, all of your files will become super
organized within this folder. The exe's will be near the top, image files
will collect together closer to the bottom, etc.. I do realise that there
aren't many files in this particular folder, but this is what would happen
if you were in a much more occupied folder of miscellaneous stuff. Finally,
minimize Explorer and then click on the "Apply to All Folders" button near
the top of the Folder Options property sheet. Click OK and every folder
will now use this organization. When you return to the backup work, you
will find that those image files will only be on one side or the other of
the NTUSER file in question, making it much easier to work around the pest
as well as remember where you left off.
>
> Q5. my general query is that I cannot understand HOW the Pest is isolated
>
As explained above, Details mode is the key. A quality practice run will
help clarify.
>
> I hope you can follow my tortuous peregrinations, without tearing out
> too much hair!
>
My hair has been naturally thinning for years and I see no reason to
manually assist in that process now. However, I may go and have myself a
brandy.
>
> Roger W
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