I am trying to use the Windows XP's backup utility (start -> all programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Backup) to backup the whole system to another drive or a large USB flash drive to safeguard myself and the files. However, the backup utility gives error in both cases, ie. it won't backup to another drive (E:\) or usb drive.. The error is exactly like this:
Backup Status
Operation: Backup
Active backup destination: File
Media name: "WindowsXP_Backup.bkf created 5/22/2007 at 8:20 PM"
Backup Status
The files for the recovery diskette could not be created. The operation was aborted.
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The operation did not successfully complete.
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"diskette" means floppy disk. The drives you are trying to use are not floppy disks. Microsoft's backup program only supports floppys for a bootable restore disk.
actually even if I tried using the A: (floppy) drive it gave me same error message. on the other hand, how can I fit the whole system into a 1.44MB floppy?
The recovery diskette is just a bootable disk to get the ball rolling. I have never used Microsoft's backup utility, so I don't really know how well it works. I backup to writable dvd's using the Acronis backup utility. It's not free, but I have used it to restore my entire system after a disk swap.
Actually, I wonder how you can backup to a thumb drive. You must have a small C drive or a very big thumb drive.