Network Solution for Windows – Windows system, Linux system, Ubuntu server configuration tip

To create a Windows XP System Recovery Disk is not very problematic today.
If you have Windows XP Professional the task become very simple. You don’t need to install new software and the steps are simple. The Backup program from System Tools has all you need to do this. You can backup and restore any media and an entire partition but what we want to show you is the option Automated System Recovery Wizard (ASR) from the Backup program.

The ASR wizard allows you to create a two part backup of your system which is a floppy disk that contains your system settings, and another media or drive which store the backup of the system C: partition. This means that all the Windows files, Registry settings, all programs and configurations can be fully recovered after a system crash.

First you must create a floppy disk. To do that you must open the Backup program from Programs –> Accessories –>  System Tools –> Backup. “Welcome to the Backup or Restore Wizard” appears. Select the Advanced mode or if you are already in Advanced mode select “Automated System Recovery Wizard”.  The Wizard start and welcomes you by telling you a small briefing of the ASR process. After you click on Next you must select the destination of the backup. The file can take at least 2 GB or more in size depending on how many data, programs, settings you have, so you must change the destination. You can put any partition where you have some empty space, but don’t choose A:\ because it will not fit or C:\ partition because in case of recovery the C:\ partition will be formatted and written with the backup file. Click on Next and it appears the screen of the completion of ASR preparation. After you click on Finish the process begins and a backup of your system is created at the location where you specified previously. First is created a list with the files and then it start making the image disk file. A window with the status of the process appears. The process take a while, 15 minutes or even more. You can enjoy a coffee.

After the completion you’ll be also asked to insert a floppy disk which will be used to restore the backup disk image in case of a major system failure when you boot from the Windows XP installation CD. The floppy disk is used just to restore the backup file from your hard disk which is the image of the operating system and it must be formatted. Click OK and the window is showing that files for the ASR diskette are copied. When it’s finished press on OK and remove the floppy from the drive. You have successfully created a Windows Automated System Recovery Disk and a backup file in case of a Windows failure.

Here you can see how to use a Restore Disk and recover the ASR backup disk image in a disaster situation.