Is it safe to proceed?

[dickhob]

I need to REBUILD (not recover) my C drive. I've been using it for a long time (3+yrs) and I do a lot of testing/developing on the system. I won't go into more detail, but it is time for a rebuild.

I 'm using an external USB hard drive and ATI 11 (build 8053). I've done full data backups on my email and my documents with no apparent problem. I've tried to back up a large approx 25gb folder. It took three tries. First two got hung up around 45% complete with file corruption errors, and I had to reboot to close/clear TI. I noted where the problem was and deleted the offending files/folders.

The thrid try came to a successful completion but with a corrupt error msg. The msg was generated at exactly the same time as the file complete msg was logged.

I've checked the backups and as best I can tell, I can find everything just fine, but after poking around this forum for the past few hours I'm a bit concerned about trying to recover my data and finding it will not recover.

I guess I'm looking for some reassurances that if I reformat my hard drive and reload Windows XP and software, I will be able to get my data back safely. From some of the posts here, it sounds like it is a bit of a crap shoot, and I'm not willing to take that kind of a gamble. I have years of data that would be difficult or impossible to replace.

I bought ATI because I was under the impression that it was a solid piece of software. I'm not that comfortable after reading this forum.

In the opinion of some of the more experienced members- is it safe to proceed???????

Also as a side question. Where is the log and other critical data kept (I am assuming with the backup file)? I don't want to find out I've wiped out critical data from my hard drive AFTER I've formated it.

Sorry for the long post, but this has really got me concerned.

Thanks
Dick

[LenC]

I would not use TI to backup my data prior to wiping out the hard drive and starting over. I would just copy the files directly to my external hard drive for safe keeping. Using TI or any other program that stores files in a proprietary format just introduces another chance for a problem.

[DwnNdrty]

Instead of wiping the original drive, use a spare drive to do a restore. If it is successful you're good to go. If it isn't you still have the original. But I agree that for data only simply copy it using Windows Explorer to your backup drive.

[Xpilot]

If you want to proceed in a failsafe manner you could consider this approach. First prepare a slipstreamed CD of your XP installation CD to bring it up to SP3 specification. This gives a much better starting point than seperately down loading and installing the 100 or more Windows updates.

Before doing anything else run CHKDSK R on your existing drives. Then remove the old drive from the computer and install it in the USB enclosure.
Take the drive you have removed from the USB drive and, if it is of suitable spec, install it in the computer in place of the old drive.

Now run the XP SP3 installation using the slipstreamed CD. Install the programs you require.
You can then connect up the USB drive and copy across all the old data that you require. Do not format the old drive until you are quite happy that you have transferred everything that you need.

When happy with the new set up make a full image and store it on the USB drive if there is room or format the drive to give the space you need.

Another approach would be to use the slipstreamed XP SP3 to do a repair install on your existing hard drive. None of your data will be affected and the XP install will be as fresh as a daisy.

As LenC has indicated I would not use True Image just to shift data from one place to another especially as the TI route has indicated errors.

Xpilot

[dickhob]

Thank you all for getting back so quickly. I'm going to go with Xpilots suggestions, but I am not familiar with making a slipstream CD. I am computer literate, but the steps involved to make the CD I simply do not know. If you could provide some explanation or a few links that would be very much appreciated. BTW this is an HP media center system with a logical D partition containing all the original (XP media center) installation software.

Thanks again
Dick

[Xpilot]

Here is a choice of three methods for producing a slipstreamed XP install cd.
http://lifehacker.com/386526/slipstream-service-pack-3-into-your-windows-xp-installation-cd

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/xpsp3_slipstream.asp

http://www.lancelhoff.com/2008/03/12/how-to-slipstream-service-pack-3-into-windows-xp/

If you decide that a slipstreamed CD is not worth the effort make a not of this site if your new installation chokes on the normal Windows updates.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

Hmm.. having read the bit about the installation software being on D drive rather than a CD rather changes things. I do believe you can still create a slipstreamed CD but I have never done it myself.

I would also be guessing if I said you could run the D drive installation from the USB drive to the new main drive. I do not see any reason why it would not work and because the original drive is only being read it should be safe but I have not done this in practice.

Xpilot

[dickhob]

xpilot
Thanks for the links I'll check them out.

I did a google search on slipstream and found
http://www.nliteos.com/


There are a bunch of Utube vedios as well.

Guess I know how I'm spending the rest of the night.

Thanks again
Dick