Home....
Developer Network >> Windows Central >> Windows OS Issues

windows xp windows folder copy

I tried to copy the whole windows directory (windows xp home) to another folder as a backup, but i could not do it because some files are being used by windows. Please tell me how to do it. I tried to boot the system to pure dos by creating a bootable cd, but i could not access to drive c:. If i can, i can use xcopy to do it.

thanks in advance!
[355 byte] By [lindawqu] at [2007-11-19 17:17:27]
«« vbscript/asp
»» DCOM settings programmatically
# 1 Re: windows xp windows folder copy
I'm not sure if that's the proper way to backup, but I won't question it. What I can tell you is that your root partition (the one on which your xp installation is) is probably NTFS, so you won't be able to access it from 'pure dos'. I recommend you look for specific files to backup from your XP directory, not the whole folder; I suggest *.ini files, your registry, and others.
savlord at 2007-11-10 3:40:19 >
# 2 Re: windows xp windows folder copy
I tried to copy the whole windows directory (windows xp home) to another folder as a backup, but i could not do it because some files are being used by windows.
That is because it simply cannot be done by copying and pasting. There are backup utilities to do such. If you are trying to backup your operating system then simply use System restore or download a backup utility. Windows itself even has a backup agent installed. You can read up on it here (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/bott_03july14.mspx).
PeejAvery at 2007-11-10 3:41:20 >
# 3 Re: windows xp windows folder copy
thanks for your reply.

but, if, for some reasons, i can't start windows xp, what shall i do without reformatting? if i have two partitions, then no problem of copying windows directory, but i only have one. if i make two, dell won't support it.
lindawqu at 2007-11-10 3:42:22 >
# 4 Re: windows xp windows folder copy
Well, you can do a recovery install using the Windows XP install disk.
PeejAvery at 2007-11-10 3:43:16 >
# 5 Re: windows xp windows folder copy
Try running System File Checker from a command prompt (SFC /scannow) first, and if you still can't boot, try a Windows Repair off the Windows CD. (You might be prompted to insert the Windows CD for SFC it it finds files that need to be replaced.) It fixed a problem with autoexec.bat being corrupt once for me.
dglienna at 2007-11-10 3:44:26 >
Windows Central
Windows OS Issues

Windows Central

All Classified

Windows Central New Topic

Windows Central Hot Topic