Backup NTFS to FAT32 DOS

[mentalindustrie]

OK so heres the deal

i got a .cmd file

@echo off

Title Backup current files before you format

ECHO I am about to Backup your files before you format.

mkdir "D:\backup\"

mkdir "D:\backup\My Documents\"

mkdir "D:\backup\Favorites\"

mkdir "D:\backup\Desktop\"

mkdir "D:\backup\wallpapers\"

mkdir "D:\backup\bcdc++\"

mkdir "D:\backup\samurize\"

xcopy "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\*.*" "D:\backup\My Documents\" /s /c /h /r /y

xcopy "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Favorites\*.*" "D:\backup\Favorites\" /s /c /h /r /y

xcopy "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\*.*" "D:\backup\Desktop\" /s /c /h /r /y

xcopy "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\wallpapers\*.*" "D:\backup\wallpapers\" /s /c /h /r /y

xcopy "C:\Program Files\bcdc++\Queue.xml" "D:\backup\bcdc++\" /s /c /h /r /y

xcopy "C:\Program Files\bcdc++\Favorites.xml" "D:\backup\bcdc++\" /s /c /h /r /y

xcopy "C:\Program Files\Samurize\Configs\Mentals.ini" "D:\backup\bcdc++\" /s /c /h /r /y

xcopy "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu""D:\backup\" /s /c /h /r /y

basically i want to add this somewhere into my unattended install so i don't have to remember to back up those important files. but obviously has to be at some point before the hard drive is formated.

i know how to get it to restore after i have installed windows.

Thanks

Mental Industries

[Tribble]

i think this is impossible. you have to backup ur stuff manually.

[mentalindustrie]

dam, would make life so much easier. i using a dvd+rw so if i make a new folder could have added it so easy

[/\/\o\/\/]

can't you make a bootable-CD with a boot menu,

then you can use the NTFSdos driver (readonly free - read/write buy) from sysinternals (www.sysinternals.com) to copy the files

gr /\/\o\/\/

[Tribble]

can't you make a bootable-CD with a boot menu,

then you can use the NTFSdos driver (readonly free - read/write buy) from sysinternals (www.sysinternals.com) to copy the files

gr /\/\o\/\/

i think thats not the point of his question.

the point is, he just want to back up his user profile, favorites etc. automatically just before he is fresh installing winxp, 1. b/c he could forget to do it manually and 2. so its latest updated

[/\/\o\/\/]

@tribble,

I think it IS the point, if you boot DOS before starting the install,

you can copy the files before the install, only problem left is that you can't read NTFS that is where NTFS for DOS comes in.

so when you start the install-CD it looks like this

- boot to DOS

- backup files (batchfile)

- format disk

- start install

- restore files

gr /\/\o\/\/

[mentalindustrie]

/\/\o\/\/ i appreciate your response but knda takes the unattenedness away.

Tribble pretty much on the money.

[/\/\o\/\/]

/\/\o\/\/ i appreciate your response but knda takes the unattenedness away

???

you can make an unattended script while autobooting the CD,

I don't see any manual tasks (forget the bootmenu option, I did just mention that so you can choose wheter you would want a backup etc., you don't need that)

gr /\/\o\/\/

[mentalindustrie]

/\/\o\/\/ :

could you please explain a little more detailed by what you mean

you can make an unattended script while autobooting the CD,

(im guessing this could become rather handy for many people)

Thanks again

Mental Industries

[/\/\o\/\/]

OK, I will try to explain.

you can make a CD boot into DOS,

so if you boot from the CD you get a DOS session (just like the normal boot disk)

instead of starting the setup from there, you want to copy so files from the disk first.

that is wat your batchfile is made to do, problem with this senario is that you can't read the disk because the disk is formatted as NTFS.

that is why you need NTFS for DOS.

when you load NTFS for Dos you can read the disk and copy the files to another location. (I don't know if you can use DVD-RW under DOS, but if you build in network support in your boot-image, you can use the network, or else eg a second partition)

now the script can start the rest of the installation.

so all actions are before she setup starts, but you can just boot from the CD and all gets running automatic.

gr /\/\o\/\/

[wolfshade]

it seems very simple to me : u just use the batch file while in windows before rebooting to reinstall windows -- its just one click double-click

[/\/\o\/\/]

@wolfshade,

not if you have to do alot of machines,

and the issue that you can forget it gets back then.

gr /\/\o\/\/

[Guest zippy]

map user's profile to another drive(when creating user), even default user profile(regTweak), might be a better way.

check GreenMachine's script http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=19639

it maps user_shell_folder to another drive. not user's profile, but only what he wants.

[gosh]

I didn't read the full post, but in case it wasn't mentioned you might want to look at using ntbackup or usmt. Both are scriptable. I personally like usmt, it's very easy to customize to have it backup whatever you want.

As for using dos, it's time to get with the times. Dos is dead. Use winpe or some other 32 bit environment.

-gosh

[mentalindustrie]

i thank everyone for your answers but id like

-gosh i don't think your way will work in dos due to ntfs .. i migth be wrong

-zippy don't think thats waht im after

-/\/\o\/\/ i think this way will work,

but i don't understand how i can do this

i have my dvd-rw with my unattened xp (as made using guides on this site)

i restart windows and press button to boot of cd.....

this is where i think i need to do what your saying

but i don't know how to get/add in the commands to get it to work.

as in how do i make xp setup run wat i want it to run before it starts to install windows?

Mental industries

p.s anyone know who i tell to get them to add an s to teh end of my user name?