Backing up "Documents and Settings" folder trouble 2

[DotNetter]

I thought I was all setup finally for easy drag-and-drop backups:
1) I moved everything digital that's important in my life into the massive "Documents and Settings" folder.
2) I bought an 80 GB external USB hard drive.

When I tried to copy the entire "Documents and Settings" folder from my C-drive to the external hard-drive, I got this:[tt] "Cannot copy NTUSER: It is being used by another person or program."[/tt]

OK, I tried to use the Backup Wizard that's built into XP. Nothing doing there either: it bombed-out right before the backup file hit 4 GB, perhaps because the external drive is FAT32 (or maybe it's not - I don't know)...

Ideally, I'd like to be able to drag and drop my "Documents and Settings" folder, like I attempted. I don't need special software for this, do I? If it's a matter of reformatting my external HDD and formatting it with something other than FAT32, I have no problem with that, either; it's brand-new (read: empty).

How, then, can I backup my stuff?

Thanks so much!
Dot

 

[Beowulf005]

Hidden within the "Documents and settings" folder are folders that contain all you program settings for windows. Many of this folders are locked becasue they are in use since you are logged on. Best thing to do is open the documents and settings and select the folders that contain the information you want to backup and it should work fine.

GL
Brian

 

[DotNetter]

I really wanted to copy all of the settings, too...

 

[Beowulf005]

What settings do you want copied?

 

[DotNetter]

What ever's in that folder. Passwords, user accounts, etc...

 

[Beowulf005]

I am assuming that you want to have a backup of these folders if you lose XP you reinstall it and copy the files back. This will not work. If you backup the entire computer it will but not just the folder. Many of the files within are set by hex values generated at the time of install, and if you do a new install the hex value will change and the folders will not work. You need to select copy each user at a time and get only the data folders.
BTW there are no passwords stored in documents and folder only cookies for website that have logons, but again cookies will not work on a new install.

 

[DotNetter]

Is there a way for me to use the included "backup utility/wizard" for this? I really would like not to have to go selecting this folder and that...

What is the easiest way to accomplish this?

Thanks, Beowulf (and others?)!
Dot

 

[Beowulf005]

In XP click run and type ntbackup. This will start the built in windows backup where you can select to backup the folder I thnk you are trying to backup. Note if you added a folder in document and settings that is not in the correct folder it will not be copied. IE created a folder for word doc at address C:\\documents and settings\my logon\doc folder.
Make sure to move the doc folder into My documents and it will be copied.

GL
Brian

 

[DotNetter]

Brian, I tried using NTBACKUP, it didn't work:

It bombed-out right before the backup file hit 4 GB, perhaps because the external drive is FAT32 (or maybe it's not - I don't know)...

If it's a matter of reformatting my external HDD and formatting it with something other than FAT32, I have no problem with that, either; it's brand-new (read: empty).

How can I get the backup utility to work? Also, why is using it better than just copying the folder myself (drag-and-drop)?

Thanks again!

 

[Beowulf005]

The nice thing about the ntbackup is it copy the folder that you need and not the ones that you cannot when you drag and drop.

Try to do a drag and drop of the folders within the users accounts and see if anyone one of them lock the copy. Maybe there is a files messing up the backup.

 

[DotNetter]

I don't think there's any files that are messing up the NTBACKUP utility, because it bombed-out right before the backup file hit 4 GB - specifically at 3.99 GB, perhaps because the external drive is FAT32.

How do I get around that issue?

Thanks,
Dot

 

[Beowulf005]

If you internal HD has enough room try backing up to it and see what happens to it.

 

[DotNetter]

Will do. I'll let you know tomorrow...

Thanks, Brian!
Dot

 

[micker377]

Fat 32 is limited to 4 gig. On my Acronis backup: when I backup to my "F" drive (Fat 32), I get 4 files of 3.99 gigs each (recombined when restored). On my external drive (NTFS), I get one file of around 10 gigs. In "Computer Maintenance > Hard Drive Maintenance", change the external drive to NTFS filestore. At least this will solve the size problem. I use a program called "ERUNT" to back up the registry (includs all user settings).

 

[DotNetter]

I'll try that, too, Micker! Thanks!

 

[DotNetter]

I converted the external HD to NTFS and now the backup utility works fine!

Thanks!
Dot

 

[bcastner]

Good catch, micker377,

I originally though either a permissions issue, or an issue with the backup method.

I am so used to NTFS that the limitations of FAT32 filestores often escape me completely.

A star sir.

Bill