Can I save my system files on a DVD?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Carrie
  • Start date Start date
Re: Can I save my system files on a DVD?

When I bought my Dell in 2006 there were no restore cds but I
ordered some from Dell with no problem and all I had to do was pay
shipping.

"Carrie" <starchild@kingcon.com> wrote in message
news:OlhzhjMHJHA.4564@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
Just spent the last few days getting an error message on dialup (I
wrote about in another post, resolved by putting in a new modem) but
got me to thinking...
When I got my DELL XPS 400 (has Win XP "media edition" I think is
"professional"?) I didn't get a restore or backup WIN cd with it.
Apparently they stopped giving them with it, and said you don't need
it, the restore files are built in.
After having the problem with error message, involving a system
file (though replacing the modem fixed it, the file involved was in
drivers IN the system files) I'm wondering if and how I can save the
system files?
I had tried this before, the folder i386. It's too big for a cd so
I saved it on a DVD.
But, the past few days when I got the error message, I dragged it
from the dvd and replaced it and nothing changed (okay, I know, I
needed a new modem but I didn't realize that then, I was trying
everything)
My question is, I have the folder with i386 saved on a DVD, is this
something I could use to replace files at some time in the future?
When I had WIN 98 (I actually got so I knew a little bit about)
there was a scan one could do, showing if any of the window files
were bad and needing replacing. If so, you could put in the WIN 98
cd and point it and it would fix it. Or, go online and find the file
as a download and replace it. There were also system files on the
harddrive (Cab files?) I remember learning on a computer help board
how to reinstal Windows (98) throught the cab files and not the
restore CD (which was faster, and you didn't lose your program
files, etc)
Anyway, is there something I can do, to make sure I have needed WIN
XP files I might need? Is the folder I have saved (i386) enough?
Should it be saved as a folder (which is what I have) or openned up
and saved on a DVD that way? Is there a scan I can do that checks
the WIN XP files on my computer, and if any are bad/missing I could
use the DVD to replace them (or find them somewhere as a download
online)?
Hope my question(s) make sense, I'm not always sure I really
know what I want or mean (LOL)
In a way it amazes me that I can even "talk" computer.
I was thinking of contacting Dell and asking if I could buy a
restore CD for Win XP (my computer) but I know someone who tried to
get a part (a fan) for her computer from them, and they wouldn't
sell itto her because her guarantee/warrenty had run out and she'd
have to renew that before they'd sell her a part.
If I can make a backup DVD ( cds are apparently too small) of my
system while it is working, that might be the same?

Thanks,
Carrie
 
Re: Can I save my system files on a DVD?

Carrie wrote:
> "Big_Al" <BigAl@md.com> wrote in message
> news:%23p$GOEQHJHA.4232@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> Carrie wrote:
>>> I could try, but one of my daughters has a Dell and they wouldn't
>>> sell her a fan for it because the warranty had run out and she didn't
>>> want to buy another one just to get a part.
>>> <snip>
>> Not sure why that happened with your order, but the bezel (plastic around
>> the LCD) broke on mine and I just ordered one about 3 weeks ago.
>> 5$+shipping. Its on my PC now, all fixed up.
>> I googled the internet and found the part number after a bit of research
>> and just processed the order on the web. I found a link for parts and
>> service. No phone call. And my warranty ran our 2 years ago.
>
> I know my daughter was really mad for awhile. She probably shouldn't have
> called them, but did it like you did.
> She called and asked for parts and they wouldn't sell her a fan unless she
> bought a warranty again. She talked to others and sent emails.
> I told her I didn't think she neede to buy it from Dell (it's a cooling
> fan) but she isn't too into computer tech (and works alot so not much free
> time) and thought she needed to get the exact replacement one.
> I think last I knew, she had written emails to people about it and Dell had
> ignored her.
> I could probably find out the model of her computer and put it in search
> (with replacement fan) and get one.
> Just with her working and not using her computer (email) it's easy to just
> put it off.
> I just ran Belarc advisor on mine a few days ago, and it showed the part
> ordering number for Dell (for mine) and even had a link to click on. I don't
> need any parts for it, so I don't know if or how it worked.
>
>>
>>
>
>
I think I put my tag # into their page support page, then got things
like drivers,software,and also parts. Try getting her service tag and
trying to locate it on Dells page under parts (somewhere). Just to
clarify, I found the part on Dell's page, then googled the part to see
what it looked like. Dell had no photos for minor parts. Luckily I
was working with parts that show on ebay etc.
 
Re: Can I save my system files on a DVD?

Carrie,
If decide to buy Acronis True Image,
after you click on the 'Buy' button,
you should see 'Your Shopping Cart'
Down near the bottom there is a 'Coupon Code' box,
enter the follow code: ATIH20

ATIH is an abbreviation for Acronis True Image Home
and 20 means 20% off regular price.

You should get a reduced price ($39.99)
along with 'Disk Director Suite' as a free item.

The old 80% discount code ATIH80 as far as
I know is no longer valid.

JS

"Carrie" <starchild@kingcon.com> wrote in message
news:%23pJrQeQHJHA.3456@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:eRw2uUQHJHA.3668@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Carrie wrote:
>>> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>>> news:e$$uimOHJHA.1304@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>> I've changed your post format to plain text (not HTML) format, which is
>>>> customary for newsgroups, Carrie (it's an option in OE). I had a
>>>> couple
>>>> of suggestions:
>>>
>>> Oh, it says rich text (html) in the format?
>>> I didn't set it that way on purpose. Usually if I click to reply
>>> to
>>> a post that's in that mine tries to respond the same and a box comes up
>>> asking if I want to send it that way and I click NO and it changes back
>>> to
>>> plain text.
>>> So, if it got sent in html (rich text) I have no idea why.
>>
>> Well, just make sure it's only set that way for the OE News option (you
>> probably won't want it that way (plain text) for the Mail option).
>>
>>>>
>>>> 1) You can get Acronis True Image (ATI) to make partition backups
>>>> (using
>>>> imaging) to another drive, as an excellent system backup (or restore)
>>>> plan. Much better than simply using CDs or DVDs, I feel (plus it has
>>>> nearly unlimited space, and is much faster)
>>
>> And if you buy this (ATI) in the package, it already comes on a bootable
>> CD, which can be handy sometimes.
>>
>>>> 2) In addition to using System Restore (if needed), you can also use a
>>>> freebie program called ERUNT, that backs up (or restores) the
>>>> registry -
>>>> it works just like scanreg /restore did in Windows98.
>>>>
>>>> 3) If your Dell is like some other Dells, as a last recourse, there is
>>>> always the fallback option of using the Dell System Restore option to
>>>> roll
>>>> the entire system back to the state it was in when the computer was
>>>> shipped, but this is a pretty drastic restoration method (you'll lose
>>>> everything added since). (It's hidden on your hard drive in a hidden
>>>> partition, and can be invoked at boot up by hitting the right keys).
>>>
>>> I thought here was something like this, but I didn't know where it was
>>> or
>>> how to find it.
>>> With the WIN 98 ones I've had I either used a boot up floppy or
>>> restore
>>> CD.
>>> When I got this Dell, I had a floppy drive put in and have never used
>>> it
>>> (LOL) I thought I could go over my old floppies and save stuff, put it
>>> on
>>> CDs but they don't seem to pick up or open in this.
>>
>> On my Dell desktop computer, if I boot up while pressing the Ctrl-F11
>> keys, that option appears. But again, it's last resort measure, as
>> you'll lose everything added since the factory shipped it. You can
>> check and see if it's there, just don't go through with it!
>
> Thanks
> I know, it's a last resort meature. One of my previous ones (HP Brio) had
> Win 98 SE and one time I restored it, and things wouldn't set up right
> (drivers, etc) so I did it several times over a few days.
> It finally came on right (I know, another time and other problems)
> I was so used to 98, and went from that (well 98SE) to XP I haven't paid
> much attention to this, unless something doesn't seem right, like recently
> with the modem not working.
> With 98 you could remove I.E. and get an option to repair it, I don't
> think they have this now in XP?
> Most of the time I just leave it alone and hope it takes care of itself,
> and most of the time it does (LOL)
>
>
>
>>
>>>>
>>>> "Carrie" <starchild@kingcon.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:OlhzhjMHJHA.4564@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>> Just spent the last few days getting an error message on dialup (I
>>>> wrote
>>>> about in another post, resolved by putting in a new modem) but got me
>>>> to
>>>> thinking...
>>>> When I got my DELL XPS 400 (has Win XP "media edition" I think is
>>>> "professional"?) I didn't get a restore or backup WIN cd with it.
>>>> Apparently they stopped giving them with it, and said you don't need
>>>> it,
>>>> the restore files are built in.
>>>> After having the problem with error message, involving a system file
>>>> (though replacing the modem fixed it, the file involved was in drivers
>>>> IN
>>>> the system files) I'm wondering if and how I can save the system files?
>>>> I had tried this before, the folder i386. It's too big for a cd so I
>>>> saved
>>>> it on a DVD.
>>>> But, the past few days when I got the error message, I dragged it from
>>>> the
>>>> dvd and replaced it and nothing changed (okay, I know, I needed a new
>>>> modem but I didn't realize that then, I was trying everything)
>>>> My question is, I have the folder with i386 saved on a DVD, is this
>>>> something I could use to replace files at some time in the future?
>>>> When I had WIN 98 (I actually got so I knew a little bit about) there
>>>> was
>>>> a scan one could do, showing if any of the window files were bad and
>>>> needing replacing. If so, you could put in the WIN 98 cd and point it
>>>> and
>>>> it would fix it. Or, go online and find the file as a download and
>>>> replace
>>>> it. There were also system files on the harddrive (Cab files?) I
>>>> remember
>>>> learning on a computer help board how to reinstal Windows (98) throught
>>>> the cab files and not the restore CD (which was faster, and you didn't
>>>> lose your program files, etc)
>>>> Anyway, is there something I can do, to make sure I have needed WIN XP
>>>> files I might need? Is the folder I have saved (i386) enough? Should it
>>>> be
>>>> saved as a folder (which is what I have) or openned up and saved on a
>>>> DVD
>>>> that way? Is there a scan I can do that checks the WIN XP files on my
>>>> computer, and if any are bad/missing I could use the DVD to replace
>>>> them
>>>> (or find them somewhere as a download online)?
>>>> Hope my question(s) make sense, I'm not always sure I really know
>>>> what
>>>> I want or mean (LOL)
>>>> In a way it amazes me that I can even "talk" computer.
>>>> I was thinking of contacting Dell and asking if I could buy a
>>>> restore
>>>> CD for Win XP (my computer) but I know someone who tried to get a part
>>>> (a
>>>> fan) for her computer from them, and they wouldn't sell itto her
>>>> because
>>>> her guarantee/warrenty had run out and she'd have to renew that before
>>>> they'd sell her a part.
>>>> If I can make a backup DVD ( cds are apparently too small) of my
>>>> system
>>>> while it is working, that might be the same?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Carrie
>>
>>
>
>
 
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