Is is possible to copy my windows folder and program files

[Chosonman]

Is is possible to copy my windows folder and program files
And paste them back to my computer later if my system crashes?

I'm looking to back up my Windows installation.

Anyone know if it's possible to copy the folders onto a DVD disk and just copy them back when I need to clean install Windows again?

 

[bdoople]

nope.. not if you reformat because programs have to be registered. Not all, but about 90% or so have to be reinstalled. If you backup files from the programs, say.. *.doc files, then just reinstall office. It's good to have a backup copy of your important documents, but aside from using Norton Ghost and imaging your whole HDD, you can't just backup those 2 folders as far as I know.

 

[xtknight]

You can if you copy Documents and Settings as well. That's where your registry hives are.

 

[Navid]

You can definitely do that as long as you use the right utility.

You can use XP pro to create a backup and startup floppy. Then, you can use the floppy to restore the backup file. XP home has problems with this utility even though you can install it (ntbackup) from the XP home CD.

You can also use utilities like Ghost that are meant for exactly that purpose.

You need to realize that there is a difference between this and "copy". When you use Ghost, you create an image of the entire partition. When you restore it, you overwrite everything on the partition with the image. So, if you have files that you need to keep, you should back them up before restoring the image.

These are some examples.
http://www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice...cts/backup_recovery/ghost10/index.html
http://www.acronis.com/promo/ATI/true-image-003.html?type=true+image9

 

[xtknight]

You'll need to use something like Knoppix w/ NTFS drivers to copy the folders, because the registry hives are locked of other access for obvious reasons, and you couldn't copy them. Any Windows open would use the Doc and Settings folder too.

 

[The Linuxator]

How about the built-in windows file transfer wizard ? it's there for a reason.