can't find msbackup.exe

I searched for msbackup.exe to back up my documents, etc. I can't find
it--never used it before. Wouldn't it have been automatically put in my
computer when ME was loaded?
Can I just copy the files I want backed up onto a CDRW? Or is it better to
use msbackup?

thanks,
bonnie

Bonnie,

Wouldn't it have been automatically put in
my computer when ME was loaded?

No.

Can I just copy the files I want backed up onto a CDRW?

Yes

The MS Backup program is in the add-ons\msbackup folder on Microsoft Me
CDs but unfortunately it appears that not all OEMs have included this
folder on the CDs they provide with new PCs. Similarly many of those OEMs
who simply provide restore CDs appear also to have omitted this program.

The executable needed to install MSBackup that Microsoft distribute on the
Win Me CD is msbexp.exe so if you have an OEM CD or a recovery CD you
might want to search the CD and see if it was included.

See also MS KB 264541 - "Microsoft Backup Tool Is Not Installed by Windows
Millennium Edition" (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=264541). Note that
Microsoft have not made MSBackup available for download.

Note though that MSBackup is an antiquated application that is extremely
limited and was designed for use with tape drives when hard disks were
small, for example 3 or 4GB.

A number of alternative backup applications exist and which best suits you
depends on your requirements and range from imaging programs that will
back up an image of your hard disk or disk partition (applications such as
Symantec Ghost, PowerQuest's DriveImage and Terabyte Unlimited's BootItNG)
to applications that allow the back up of selected files and folders on an
incremental basis such as Stomp's BackUp MyPC
(http://www.stompinc.com/bump/bump-retail.phtml?stp) which can also access
QIC files created using MSBackup.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP [2001-2004]



Bonnie Jean wrote:

I searched for msbackup.exe to back up my documents, etc. I can't find
it--never used it before. Wouldn't it have been automatically put in
my computer when ME was loaded?
Can I just copy the files I want backed up onto a CDRW? Or is it
better to use msbackup?

In order....

No - it's not part of ME (although it is included in the 'add-ins' folder on
the MS CD) - and a lot of OEM's chose not to include it in their default
install - or even on the OEM CD.

Yes, you can copy the DATA files to CD - check their 'reality' after the
copy to ensure that they work, as there's no Verification step in most copy
programs.

as for using msbackup - I wouldn't recommend it, as it's not possible to
span CD's (i.e. use more than one CD to back up data within a single
backup) - buy yourself a proper backup system. Search Google for options,
but I'd recommend an imaging program if you're thinking of System backups,
rather than just data backups. (take a look at BootItNG - which includes an
Imaging program as well as a proper boot manager)

HTH

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"Bonnie Jean" wrote in message
...
I searched for msbackup.exe to back up my documents, etc. I can't find
it--never used it before. Wouldn't it have been automatically put in my
computer when ME was loaded?
Can I just copy the files I want backed up onto a CDRW? Or is it better to
use msbackup?

thanks,
bonnie

Thanks guys

I'll forget about msbackup and investigate getting myself a back up
application.

For now I'll just copy my documents and pictures onto a CD.

bonnie

"Bonnie Jean" wrote in message
...
I searched for msbackup.exe to back up my documents, etc. I can't find
it--never used it before. Wouldn't it have been automatically put in
my
computer when ME was loaded?
Can I just copy the files I want backed up onto a CDRW? Or is it
better to
use msbackup?

thanks,
bonnie


Better to use CD-Rs as RWs tend to die with too much re-writing.
Let's face it, CD-Rs are cheap enough.
Regards Mike.



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"Mike Cawood, HND BIT" wrote

Better to use CD-Rs as RWs tend to die with too much re-writing.
Let's face it, CD-Rs are cheap enough.
Regards Mike.


Didn't know that. thanks for the tip.

b