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Re: Backup/Restore Windows Without Using Windows!
de Art 04/12/2006 05:50
On Wed, 12 Apr 2006 09:05:01 -0500, Howard Schwartz
<howardbschwartz4@yahoo.com> wrote:
>It also seemed strange to me that virtually all of the backup/restore
>programs I've heard of for windows, are windows programs themselves.
>Therefore, they require that windows be working to restore some or all
>files from windows! But a major reason for having backups is to restore a
>windows system, that will not boot or will not run in some way.
>Why? So one does not need to go through the time and trouble of
>reinstalling a basic system, and then installing applications, data files,
>and settings. Also, some windows files can not be updated or overwritten
>while windows is running, cause it is using those files.
>
>How to do this? The obvious way is to restore files, using an OS and/or a
>restore program that is capable of writing to the windows file system,
>e.g., FAT32, in particular - writing long filenames.
>
>You would think that dos was the natural OS for this, but there are
>only a few ways I know to do this: There are the lfndos utilities such as
>lcopy that can run in plain dos and copy long filenames. There are some
>mirky extensions of dos like cwsdpmi.exe, and lfndos, open dos - along with
>programs like the unix cp.exe for dos that can copy files with long
>filenames to FAT32, etc.
>
>I know of know program that will uncompress archived files, and write
>long filenames to FAT32, while running in real mode, or plain old dos.
>
>Various programs that announc long filename support or command line
>versions really mean they will run, only in the dos box created when
>all the system windows files are in memory, up and running ! In other
>words, windows must be running for them to work.
>
>Anyone know of genuine windows backup/restore applications that can
>restore windows files when running from an OS other than windows?
Odi's LFN Tools works fine for me for FAT 32 in conjuction Win 9X/ME.
http://lfntools.sourceforge.net/
You use its LCOPY with appropriate command line switches. I use it
after booting into DOS with a Win 98 or ME boot disk.
For other file management work in plain DOS you might be interested
in my D-Browse program (see my web site). It uses a different approach
to providing LFNs. Odi's Tools use low level (BIOS) interrupt services
"underneath" the file system whereas D-Browse uses a special TSR which
"unlocks" LFN interrupts and works within the file system. Having LFNs
available via the special boot disk I provide, there shouldn't be any
problem using DOS unzippers (dearchivers/decompressors) I don't think.
Art
http://home.epix.net/~artnpeg