backing up an xp box

Hi i am running winXP with sp2 and i was wanting to back up my system, so i went to this site i found on google and it said that to backup these file:
C:\Windows\System32\Config\Software
C:\Windows\System32\Config\Security
C:\Windows\System32\Config\System
C:\Windows\System32\Config\Default
C:\Windows\System32\Config\Sam
C:\Windows\System32\Config\Userdiff
it said to do so all you have to do is to use windows Recovery console

Quote:

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If your Windows Drive is NTFS you will need to install the Recovery Console. To do this, either insert your Windows CD or locate your I386 folder on your hard drive. At the Start button select run and enter the following, adjusting the path as needed:

E:\I386\Winnt32.exe /cmdcon (press OK).

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I found C:\I386\Winnt32.exe but all it wants to do is reinstall winXP and i dont want to do that all i want to do is to back up some of my system files so if i mess somthing up messing with it i can fix it.
It also says that when you back them up using winnt32.exe it will put them in to the repair file is this correct.

the site i got this info off of is http://www.easydesksoftware.com/news/news4.htm

----------------I THINK YOU HAVE THIS IN THE WRONG FORM---------------
but thats ok....... it can be moved

Quote:

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I found C:\I386\Winnt32.exe

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You found it??? Let me guess, you went through explorer.... also it wants you to find winnt32.exe on your CD. Not your hard drive....
What they want you to do is goto the command prompt or Start > Run then type

Quote:

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E:\I386\Winnt32.exe /cmdcon

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Where E: = your drive letter for your CDROM drive
This will install Recovery console so when you press F8 at startup it will be listed on the OS menu. However you don't need to do this if you have your windows XP CD.
___ to use your windows xp CD to enter into recovery console-------
boot off your CD. (Put the CD in your CDROM drive and restart)
I am assuming of course that BIOS is set to boot from the CD first.
Wait until if gives you a menu... look for the choice that says "restore your system by entering into the recovery console" (something like that).... and there you go... you’re in the recovery console...
___________________________________________
FOR YOUR READING PLEASURE

windows XP has three different backup features...

1. Last known good configuration <shown in boot options menu after you press F8 during startup> after a successful boot up windows makes a copy of most of your boot settings and places it into the registry. If you use this feature it loads your settings from the previous successful boot up.>
(I have never had it work for me)

2. System Restore: <this nifty little feature will save your butt (if you have it turned on)... it takes a snapshot of your system and your system settings.... it does this automatically every couple of days, or it will do it for you before you make any huge changes to your system (such as an update, or installation of new software).. If something goes wrong you can open system restore and go back to a previous date when your system worked.>


3. the backup utility (only in WinXP pro): this feature allows you to back up your whole system at a given point in time.. if you are really worried about screwing up your system that bad i recommend doing this every week.

thank you for your help.

when i type E:\I386\Winnt32.exe /cmdcon in to my command prompt with the disk in the cd drive it says can not continue because the vershion of windows on your computer is newer than the vershion on this disk.

and i have another question i was able to put the recover consol on a diffrent winXP box that is not was not running sp2 and now that i have it on their how do i back it up?

Why not just use the backup utility? Start, programs, accessories, system tools, backup.

Or... does it not come with XP Home? I know it is in Pro...

You can backup your data and system state...

if you are trying to fix your computer why don't you try using the system restore feature?? otherwise, if you want to use the recovery console, boot off your windows xp cd and then copy those files to another location, reboot back to windows and then you have access to those files so you can back them up elsewhere...

easy way = use windows backup

start -> programs -> accessories -> system tools -> backup

start -> programs -> accessories -> system tools -> backup dont have i have
start -> programs -> accessories -> system tools -> system restore which i dont want i want to be able to see the files that i have backed up so i can save them do disk i think i will just go to recovery consol and see if i can save them by typeing:
copy C:\Windows\System32\Config\Software
copy C:\Windows\System32\Config\Security
copy C:\Windows\System32\Config\System
and so on un till i get all of the files i want saved.

backup does not come with windows xp home.......... but you can install it....... put in your windows XP home disk and goto the directory
CD-ROM Drive:\VALUEADD\MSFT\NTBACKUP
Double-click the Ntbackup.msi file to start the wizard that installs Backup.....

here you go.....

devildell is there a computer store near you? I would go out and buy a backup utility to do the job for you, the Recovery console has yet worked perfect for me. I use Ghost and the newest version out makes it even easier than before. Ghost takes a complete image of your HD and drops it onto CD or a different partition and allows you to install the image from a dos window. If you dont have the money to spend look online for free tools that backup. there are many out there that do a better job than windows can. The system restore is a great feature if you are able to boot into windows.

Sorry I ment "roit" not you devildell