kendallt

quick and easy way, download a 'live' distribution of linux in any flavor, hook up an external drive. Then boot into the live linux CD and selectively copy the C drive onto the external. You don't need to copy the pagefile or any of the temp files just what you want to keep.

Alternatively, hook up a second drive, external/internal doesn't matter, do a basic install of your OS (only basic mobo drivers needed) onto the second drive, then copy the original install onto the second drive as above.

booting from a second OS means you won't run into any 'file in use' error for critical files that need to be copied.

You can then burn the saved copy onto a CD or DVD, boot up with a file system compatable dos, or the external drive, then format the drive or erase and copy everything on the DVD over to the disk.

I always dual boot, mostly to keep games and work from effecting each other, but always use the other os to make an emergency copy of each os, my routine is:

Install os/drivers/normally used programs, install second OS, along with drivers/normal progs. (using a 'live' distro and copy just OS and driver install before installing normal progs works good too) then copy each OS using the opposite one. Set up programs to all use subfolders in one 'main' folder so when you do regular backups, all you have to back up is the ONE main folder, because everthing else already is.

Temp files, history, pagefile etc aren't needed in a backup. A non-existant pagefile will result in a 'pagefile not found so I made one' message on first boot into the new install.

ken.

Edit: Can't remember if the 2k install disk allows you to boot into a command prompt where you can copy everything or not.

Ken.