Question about XP

[Art_from_Ark]

I recently bought a Windows XP PC as a back-up computer. My main computer is a Mac, and I don't have so much experience with Windows. I mostly use the PC for running old software, but I have occasionally used it to access DU and some news sites.

Anyway, a couple of nights ago, I got a message on the PC telling me that the new software was ready to install and that I should reboot the computer. If I didn't reboot the computer, it would reboot automatically at "T minus 15 minutes and counting", if I didn't click the "Reboot Later" button. I didn't download any software, so I'm wondering what this could be. Does Microsoft automatically download software patches into computers, or could this be some sort of malicious software? The notice comes on about every 15 minutes, and disrupts anything else that I'm doing on the PC at the time. I always click the "Reboot Later" button because I have no idea what this could be. Does anyone have any idea?

[PoliticAverse]

1. Depending on your settings Microsoft may in fact automatically install updates like this.

Please see the following on controlling automatic updates: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525

[Sentath]

2. Sounds like an automatic update

is it in the lower right hand corner?

does it look like ?

[Art_from_Ark]

3. That's basically what it looks like

except that the notice is in Japanese (for a Japanese language system). Is it normal for the message to pop up every 15 minutes and disrupt all of the other programs that are running?

[Sentath]

4. Sadly, Yes.

Windows is Very Insistent that it be rebooted into it's patched software.

[Art_from_Ark]

5. OK, that's good to know

At least it isn't some trojan/virus. Whew! Thanks for the information

By the way, is there any way I can backup the operating system on an external hard disk drive? It's a Fujitsu notebook, if that makes any difference.

[Pharaoh]

6. I don't think

you can back up an OS, but you can all your files,phot's ect.

[Art_from_Ark]

8. Interesting

Macs can back up everything, including the OS, onto an external hard disk drive, so I assumed the same thing could be done with Windows. My PC was sold as is from the junk bin, for about $60. It did not come with any start-up or system disks, just the OS that was already installed. I like the fact that it can still run a lot of the old hybrid software that I bought in the '90s, so if anything happened to the operating system, I guess that would render it unusable? Or could it be repairable with Microsoft support?

[Gore1FL]

13. There are utilities to do so.

Win Vista and beyond, you can save your disk image in a WIM file with ImageX. That may not be the best way to do a backup, but it works.

[gvstn]

7. You can use Macrium Reflect to back up the OS.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/macrium_reflect_free_edition.html

It will create one large backup file. You can choose whether it is a backup of the whole HD or just the XP partition. Don't use the sector by sector option as that will include a backup of free/empty space which means the file would be much much larger than necessary.

You should also consider burning the bootable CD from within the program. That way if the XP computer doesn't boot sometime you will be able to boot from CD to the Macrium program to restore your backup image.

[Art_from_Ark]

9. Thanks for the information about Macrium Reflect

I will check it out.

[gvstn]

10. It can't hurt to try it. You can always delete the backup if you don't want to use it.

I don't backup very often and think Macrium's interface is a bit hard to navigate so if you decide to try and run into questions let me know. I can run through the program to familiarize myself with it again.

I'm ready to start a fresh installation on my computer anyway and have a backup file from my last fresh install. So, I'll be running through the process of restoring a Macrium backup in the next few weeks and can let you know how things go. IF I remember correctly restoring the image is fairly simple, setting the options for creating the image is where the interface is lacking.

[bananas]

11. Yes, you can back up the operating system.

You can create "system restore" disks to completely re-install a fresh operating system. This is useful if you buy a new hard drive, or wipe your old drive (for example if you want to sell it or it was damaged by malware).

You can also create a "system repair" disk which can be used to repair some of the system files if they get damaged by malware etc.

You can usually also create a "drivers" disk which has the original device drivers from the manufacturer.

Those three sets are usually created on DVD's or CD's, and often can only be created on DVD's or CD's.

You can also back up the system as it currently is, with the installed updates.
That's usually done to an external hard drive.

I'll try to post some links later.

There may also be instructions in your manual, which you can download from Fujitsu's website.

[wandy]

14. For XP, no. No native backup support. The good news is...........

There are good free things that can do it for you.
Might want to look into...
Redo Backup and Recovery
http://redobackup.org/

[bananas]

12. There are some settings to change that.

I have some errands to run, I'll try to post more info later.

[bananas]

15. How to Backup Windows XP Operating System

http://www.ehow.com/how_6116209_make-system-restore-cd-xp.html

[bananas]

16. Stopping the auto-update auto-reboot and the nagging reminders to reboot

http://www.ehow.com/how_7446155_disable-edition-service-pack-3.html

More options here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc708449(v=ws.10).aspx

If you have gpedit.msc it's easier: http://www.askstudent.com/techtips/disable-automatic-reboot-after-windows-update/

[hunter]

17. If it's just a "back-up" computer, seriously, try Linux.

Some version of Mint might be a good place to start.

http://www.linuxmint.com

or xubuntu for any xp compatible machine.

I'm a Debian geek, but I started out with BSD Unix in the later 'seventies, so Debian might not be your cup of tea.

There's nothing to lose and everything to gain. You may never have to buy software again. I've got every computer I've ever used, 'seventies onwards, just one or two clicks away emulated on my desktop. I can open files and software I wrote more than forty years ago. It's more crap than I can stand looking at (I wasn't always the brilliant sweetheart I am now ) but it's all still there.