backing up data to an external hard drive.

I'm a neophyte at this. I've backed up on an external HD all the files I
wish to back up using the XP backup tool. This being my first attempt at
this exercise, I want to review what I've backed up. When I look in my
external drive I see the windows backup file which indicates the size of the
data. What I am not able to do is open the folder to confirm exactly what
I've backed up. When I right click the icon and click on "open" it gives me
the option of restoring the data which I don't want to do. I just want to
assure myself that I have backed up the appropriate files. I'm sure there is
a process for this but I can't find it. Suggestions please?

"neophyte6565" <neophyte6565@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5EB220C0-F94F-43B2-BA82-C42C283955BF@microsoft.com...
> I'm a neophyte at this. I've backed up on an external HD all the files I
> wish to back up using the XP backup tool. This being my first attempt at
> this exercise, I want to review what I've backed up. When I look in my
> external drive I see the windows backup file which indicates the size of
> the
> data. What I am not able to do is open the folder to confirm exactly what
> I've backed up. When I right click the icon and click on "open" it gives
> me
> the option of restoring the data which I don't want to do. I just want to
> assure myself that I have backed up the appropriate files. I'm sure there
> is
> a process for this but I can't find it. Suggestions please?

Step by step for backup and full or incremental restore (by folder for
example) can be found here, amongst other places.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_backup.htm

Personally, I prefer to use a third party app (Acronis True Image 10 is what
I'm using right now but ver. 11 is the current one) for all backups and
imaging. Ghost and Drive Image are a couple of others. I've kind of gone off
Norton products of late...very large memory footprints and intrusive
LiveUpdate software. I used Ghost 9 until I went to a RAID array. Made the
choice then to jump ship to Acronis rather than going to newer Ghost.

Per Augustus:
>jump ship to Acronis

If you know you've done 60 incrementals and you want go restore
file "XYZ.doc" - but not the latest version, is there any way to
get a pick list of all versions of XYZ.doc that have been backed
up?

Or do you have to hunt through the listing of each incremental?

I'm jonesing to ditch Retrospect, but it seems tb the only game
in town vis-a-vis that feature.
--
PeteCresswell

"(PeteCresswell)" <x@y.Invalid> wrote in message
news:9gb3s3hhna0tml7k13dn4q38rkpo3susbj@4ax.com...
> Per Augustus:
>>jump ship to Acronis
>
> If you know you've done 60 incrementals and you want go restore
> file "XYZ.doc" - but not the latest version, is there any way to
> get a pick list of all versions of XYZ.doc that have been backed
> up?
>
> Or do you have to hunt through the listing of each incremental?

In Acronis, you get a list of all incremental backup dates, you then select
the date you want, tell it if you want to restore the file(s) to the
original location or another, then you get the standard explorer type view
of the partitions, drives and folders/files that are backed up. There's no
option to first specify the file, then look for the various versions amongst
your various dates. Unless they've changed this in Version 11. It would be a
handy feature, for sure.

neophyte,
Depending upon your needs, you may find that the good old faithful XCOPY
command will suffice. Costs nothing.

Win+R || type CMD in the box || OK button

You will see a black screen with a DOS type prompt. Type XCOPY /? and you
will get all of the options and a brief explanation of their function. When
you are ready to return to your Windows screen, then at the "DOS" prompt,
type EXIT and hit the Enter key.

karl

"neophyte6565" <neophyte6565@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5EB220C0-F94F-43B2-BA82-C42C283955BF@microsoft.com...
| I'm a neophyte at this. I've backed up on an external HD all the files I
| wish to back up using the XP backup tool. This being my first attempt at
| this exercise, I want to review what I've backed up. When I look in my
| external drive I see the windows backup file which indicates the size of
the
| data. What I am not able to do is open the folder to confirm exactly what
| I've backed up. When I right click the icon and click on "open" it gives
me
| the option of restoring the data which I don't want to do. I just want to
| assure myself that I have backed up the appropriate files. I'm sure there
is
| a process for this but I can't find it. Suggestions please?