[triadtechtalk] Re: triadtechtalk Digest V7 #83

  • From: brian <brian99@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: triadtechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2006 17:35:18 -0700

Armando,

Thanks for the reply; I was thinking it was going to be too complicated when there were no replies.

Years ago you or Chuck was suggesting the use of Xcopy or Xcopy32 to do some kind of copying.
I didn't have a clue what it was about or how to perform the procedure.
But I knew if I didn't understand what I was doing I would probably end up in a lost of trouble.


Well, now that know at least a little more and I was able to follow the logic and meaning of the steps you provided.

I think I could follow the steps, but when it comes to reinstalling all my programs......WOW...It would take days and days. So I think it is best to pass again.

However, I am sure glad you showed me how to do the Xcopy32.
I think I will be able to some how use it when I finally change to Vista.

I looked at my Xcopy32 switches and found all of them you listed except for V.
Could it be I have a different DOS version or will the switch work anyway?
I am thinking of using Xcopy32 to experiment and copy some files to see how it really works.


BRIAN
******

Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:53:57 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
From: Armando Barreiro <avbsantos@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [triadtechtalk] Re: Win98: Saving a good copy

It would seem as if the TTT gang is busy keeping XP up to snuff, Brian. Perhaps 
you've asked too many questions
in one message. (LOL)

I'll not answer in the order in which you placed your questions, but I'll give 
you MO on what I would do.

First, you can use Windows 98 to clone 98, ME, 2K and XP. Granted, I do not use 
NTFS; Windows 98 cannot address it. By using 98 to clone I save $$$. I can 
clone to another partition in the same HDD, or to another HDD.

To use windows 98 to clone a system that is not formatted in NTFS do this:
1) Boot Windows 98 in Safe Mode.
2)Open a DOS session and ignore the warning stating that running a DOS session 
in Safe Mode can be detrimental.
3)At the C:\windows>  prompt type this, without quotes:

xcopy32 [drive_to_be_imaged]:\*.* [drive_or_partition_to_store_image]:\*.* 
/s/e/r/v/k/f/c/h

For instance C: is Windows 98 and you have a partition in I:\
xcopyy32 C:\*.* I:\*.* /s/e/r/v/k/f/c/h

to restore this clone do this:
xcopy32 I:\*.* C:\*.* /s/e/r/v/k/f/c/h

First you copied from C: to I: . Now you copy from I: to C: to replace it.
For more see <http://www.duxcw.com/digest/Howto/hd/cpyhd/cpyhd2.htm>

I've used this method for XP and 2K as well; as previously stated, I don't use 
NTFS.
NTFS, basically, allows for larger files than what FAT32 can address.

If you do an "in situ" method for 98, it will leave all your installed programs 
and all the other junk
that led you to try to fix 98 in the first place.

IMO, reformat and reinstall 98.
Then reinstall all your updates.
Do a clean installation. Use total uninstall to add programs to your new 
installation.
Clone your fresh installation with all the stuff that makes you happy and save 
it. You can use it
in the future to make a new start without having to redownload
all the windows updates and patches available now. Future relased patches,
if any, will be the only ones you'll need later.

As to what can go wrong? Everything! That is why any of the programs
sold for cloning a system will always warn you to have a backup before you
proceed. If you bought it to make an image , pray tell me, how can you have
a previous backup or image?

IOW, have a backup of your personal folders, your WAB and saved messages,
your previously downloaded programs and anything else that you would not
like to lose(pictures, music, etc.).

Armando

"Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials."- Lin Yutang
-----Original Message-----


From: brian <brian99@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Jul 9, 2006 4:49 PM
To: triadtechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [triadtechtalk] Win98: Saving a good copy

As mentioned in an earlier posting, I am planning on using Win98 until 2007 when Vista is released.
At that time I would get a new computer with Vista pre-installed.
In the mean time I am trying to keep Win98 in good shape until then or even longer.


Langa mentions backup, reformat, and reinstall Win98 if it is to be continued to be used;
And in another post he also mentions Reinstall Win98 W/O Reformatting. (See Langa clip 1 and Langa clip 2 below.)


As some of you may recall, Armando mentioned a while back that I could do a reinstall of windows to solve some of the problems I was having. As the time I hesitated since I was worried I may cause more problems that I would potentially solve.

However, when Langa mentioned reinstalling Windows with out reformatting, I began thinking it may be worth a try if it is not to difficult and the down side issues are not too great.

So I am considering giving this a try and hope I could get some advise before deciding what to do. especially since Chuck's earlier advise was: "don't try to fix it if it aint broke".

These are the few questions I could think of that may have a bearing on the issue:

1. Is this a good way for me to get a cleaned copy Win98 on my computer?

2. Is it a process that I could do without too much possibility of having something go wrong?

3. Could I use Nero Express 6 the program that I now have installed, that has an "burn Image to disk" as an option, to make the "self-contained backup" that Langa mentions?

4. When Langa says, "the new Windows setup will know nothing of what's already on the drive.", what exactly would be lost and would have to reinstall?

5. I have windows now on the C: drive but have taken the swap file and placed it in a separate folder: C:\WIN386.SWP, will that matters?

6. Are there any precautions or warnings that may apply?

Thanks for the suggestion, comments, and help.

BRIAN
-------------------
Langa clip 1:
That said, yes, you can keep Win98 running cleanly, almost indefinitely:
The very best way I know to try to preserve Win98 is to do one final grand mal cleaning: In shorthand form, you'd
1. reformat, reinstall, and then
2. run Windows Update iteratively until all relevant updates are in place.
3. Run a good Registry cleaner,
4. Defrag the system, and
5. Then make an image backup of the newly-installed, "perfect" setup. Store that image in a safe place.
Then, in the future, if your Win98 setup gets munged when updates and downloads are no longer available, you can always restore the image, and get your Win98 back to that just-installed, perfect setup again.


--------
Langa clip 2:
http://tinyurl.com/ehox2

9) Reinstall Win98 W/O Reformat

One of the nice attributes of Win9x is that you easily can do "in situ" (in place) reinstalls without having to reinstall everything else.

Naturally, you'll want a full backup first. In your case, with an unbootable OS, a self-contained backup option like BootIt (which can run

from a floppy; and access most CDRs on its own;


Once your files are safe, just run the Windows Setup CD again, and have it reinstall in exactly the same place and manner as the original setup. If prompted about formatting the drive, say no.

If the simplest method doesn't work, a variant is to bail out to DOS and delete the \Windows directory/folder. You can then reinstall to a newly-created \Windows directory, and the setup should go smoothly without affecting any of your user files. This more drastic approach does require that you reinstall your other software, though, as the new Windows setup will know nothing of what's already on the drive.

But the good news is that you probably *don't* have to reformat and start over, from scratch!


Other related posts: