How can I backup my Windows and everything else onto a CD?

[SonyaM32]

Hi everyone it's me again ;D
I just heard another horror story about a computer crashing, and there was no backup CD's etc:
So now I want to backup everything on my computer onto a cd.
I kinda want a Windows XP CD, because sometimes things will ask me to insert Windows XP CD, and I don't have one. It would be my own Windows that's already on my computer that I bought that I want a copy of for myself.
Can someone help me? To either backup everything, or make my Win XP CD?
Thanks :)

[Bubba]

-{ Quote: "or make my Win XP CD?
" }-Who is your PC manufacture ?

[SonyaM32]

emachine :)

[Bubba]

-{ Quote: "emachine :)" }- :-X :lurking:

[SonyaM32]

huh? Does that mean no? ;D

[Bubba]

-{ Quote: "huh? Does that mean no? ;D" }-Well....it means I was hoping you would have said Dell or somebody....unless there is a manufacture name besides e-machine :-\ http://members.shaw.ca/wenpigs/silly/sticktongue.gif

[SonyaM32]

-{ Quote: "Well....it means I was hoping you would have said Dell or somebody....unless there is a manufacture name besides e-machine :-\ http://members.shaw.ca/wenpigs/silly/sticktongue.gif" }-
lol, on the front of my PC and the monitor it says emachine. Can we just say it's a dell? lol ;D
I really don't know who makes emachine. But I think emachine does. :-\ ;D 8)

[LowWaterMark]

I think they are a Gateway sub-brand, but am not sure.

[SonyaM32]

Will it say another manufactuer anywhere else on the computer?

[Bubba]

-{ Quote: "Will it say another manufactuer anywhere else on the computer?" }-Going with LWM's comment about Gateway....do you see a number like T4010, T6520....etc somewhere on the box ? What I am attempting to suggest is that you should be able to get the manufactures original CD....even if you have to put your best foot forward and call them and pretty much persuade them for a CD.

There are definetly good back-up softwares that members will suggest....but....it would still be good to have the original CD's for the machine. If it is indeed eMachines form Gateway (http://www.e4me.com/products/)....I'll look around there site to see if they offer the CD's.

[SonyaM32]

-{ Quote: "Going with LWM's comment about Gateway....do you see a number like T4010, T6520....etc somewhere on the box ? What I am attempting to suggest is that you should be able to get the manufactures original CD....even if you have to put your best foot forward and call them and pretty much persuade them for a CD.

There are definetly good back-up softwares that members will suggest....but....it would still be good to have the original CD's for the machine. If it is indeed eMachines form Gateway (http://www.e4me.com/products/)....I'll look around there site to see if they offer the CD's." }-
Well, I have a cd that came with the machine. I really don't know what it is. But I thought it was some kind of restore, or whatever cd?
Is it also my windows too? Should I put the cd in to see what it is?
I want to backup Windows too.

[Bubba]

-{ Quote: "Should I put the cd in to see what it is?" }-Sure....it's Froggy Friday....go for it :o

[SonyaM32]

Ok, it says on the cd that it is a restore dvd, I put it in and this is what showed.

[Bubba]

-{ Quote: "Ok, it says on the cd that it is a restore dvd, I put it in and this is what showed." }-Sonya....that very much looks like a restore CD that possibly puts your machine back as it was from day one....which ain't a bad thing in case the need ever arises.

[SonyaM32]

Thanks, so it has a copy of Windows then?

[Bubba]

-{ Quote: "Thanks, so it has a copy of Windows then?" }-Well....the only way I would know for sure is if I made a trip down to Sunny Florida....laid on the beach....sucking down a Corona or 3 and read some of them Support items in that Support folder :o 8)

All kidding aside....take a peek in some of them folders for .txt or .pdf files and see if you can't find some info concerning that....in particular that Windows folder.


Edit
Sonya....in one of my earlier posts I asked if you "see a number like T4010, T6520"....that type info would be helpful. If it is indeed a Gateway eMachine....the info you are showing corresponds to what is seen at the Gateway eMachine web site.

eMachines PC Recovery Media (http://www.emachines.com/support/recover.html)

-{ Quote: "When you acquired your new eMachines PC, eMachines provided you options that can be used if you need to restore or recover the genuine Microsoft® operating system that has been pre-installed on your computer.

All of the restore/recovery solutions address the extremely rare instances of failure due to operating system file corruption or modification or hardware failure. In no way do these options limit your ability to add or remove new hardware and software to your PC or limit your ability to make a backup copy of the operating system." }-

[SonyaM32]

Ok, I will check for the number on the computer.
I clicked on the windows icon, and the Windows picture viewer thingy came up and it said "no preview available"
Thank you for your help.
I would like to backup my personal stuff though, like letters, pictures, my fonts, glitter, and all kinds of stuff I would hate to loose if I ever had to do a restore because of it crashing.

[SonyaM32]

I looked and I could not find a number like those. :)
I saw mountains of dust though >:(

[bigbuck]

Maybe the better option Sonya might be to image (clone) the entire HDD to a new backup HDD. A full 'image' of your OS, Progs, Files etc. I got an external HDD for around $200 AUD, and there would probably be cheaper alternatives....

[Notok]

-{ Quote: "Maybe the better option Sonya might be to image (clone) the entire HDD to a new backup HDD. A full 'image' of your OS, Progs, Files etc. I got an external HDD for around $200 AUD, and there would probably be cheaper alternatives...." }-That was going to be my suggestion. Instead of getting an extra harddrive, you could also get a DVD burner which would be cheaper (I got mine for around $50). I use Acronis True Image and love it. Very easy to use, too.