How can I back up my users folder.

[effpeetee]

Every way I try to copy my User folder, I fail. In spite of taking ownership, the copy program will not let me copy all the data.:confused:

Can anyone tell me how to do this?

Frank

[liorean]

Log on using an entirely different Windows installation (or a live CD of any OS that can read and write NTFS), copy the folder, then log back in on the original Windows installation as admin. (This assumes you have an admin account that is not the user account in question, of course.) Change the location to the new location in the registry, then reboot and log into the user account in question.

[effpeetee]

Thank you liorean , but I want a much simpler way. I just want to be able to get a procedure or program to do it. Here's hoping.

Frank

[_Aerospace_Eng_]

Have you tried logging into the system in safe mode?

[joexoxeoj]

the problem is that when you are logged in to windows, your ntuser.dat file is currently being used. It is locked by the operating system and you cannot copy it. This is unavoidable. What you can do is use a program like the windows backup utility and only select the files that you need. there is no reason to backup the entire users folder, that is a waste. If you are going to manually copy the users directory, you should just highlight the folders inside of each user directory that you need. the windows backup utility might come in handy here.

Also, may i suggest Mozy online backup? Up to 2GB for free and for $4.95/month for personal use you have unlimited storage. I myself have used it for a few years and now my company is a mozy reseller for all of our clients. If you do decide to sign up, please use my personal referral code. i will get 256MB of additional free storage :thumbsup:

https://mozy.com/?ref=D7JZXL

your only other option is to reboot and log in to a different profile to run the backup. once you log into your normal account once, the ntuser.dat file will not be unlocked until after a reboot, period. let me know if i can help in any other way

[effpeetee]

Have you tried logging into the system in safe mode? from Aero.

No, I have not tried that. How would that help. I have learned several things during this quest. One is that there is a hidden folder Program Data. I am trying to make it simple. I am heartilly sick of Vista.
If I see another "You do not have permission to access this file/folder", I'll smash the PC and go back to my faithful old AMIGA.

Between the UAC, the firewall and the antivirus/antimalware links in the chain; all asking me at regular interevals if I want to let some xyz.dll file into the PC; the computer, the latest quad core, 4 gigabyte RAM with 500 gigabytes of disk storage, is about as fast as my first PC with Windows 3.1.

Progress? Phwaw!

Frank

What I think I'll do is to move as many of my data files from the programs into another folder which I can copy without Vista's maze of obstacles.

[_Aerospace_Eng_]

I moved my User folder to a separate partition on my hard drive. If you can't move it while in normal mode it may possible to do so in safe mode as many files won't be in use.

[joexoxeoj]

did you even read what i said? moving the data you want to back up to a different location is no different than just running the backup the proper way. just select the folders that you need backed up, not the entire users directory. thats like saying i want to back up my computer, so i click C:\ for my backup job. it doesnt work that way. you cant just restore the entire folder and expect it to work, so just select the pertinent data.

[joexoxeoj]

Between the UAC, the firewall and the antivirus/antimalware links in the chain; all asking me at regular interevals if I want to let some xyz.dll file into the PC; the computer, the latest quad core, 4 gigabyte RAM with 500 gigabytes of disk storage, is about as fast as my first PC with Windows 3.1.
.

first of all unless you bought 64 bit vista your not able to use 4 gigs. second of all, if you have this many programs running and popping up, you sir need to learn how to use a computer. you can buy all the hardware in the world, but when you load up this much crap you will never run at the speed of which you should.

1. if it bothers you that much, disable the UAC. you have never used it before, so why now?

2. There is no reason to have antivirus/antispyware both running at all times. get rid of your garbage spybot resident protection or whatever other crappy program you have probably paid for and is running. Tell your antivirus what is allowed and what isnt and then it will stop asking you.

3. what are you so paranoid about hiding from that you need a third party firewall? no matter what the firewall is, when you decide that your going to do somethign stupid on your computer, the firewall wont stop you. put a router in place and have a hardware firewall and then move on. Remember, you control the computer, not the other way around. take control back and run that machine the way it deserves.

[_Aerospace_Eng_]

did you even read what i said? moving the data you want to back up to a different location is no different than just running the backup the proper way.

Were you referring to me? If so moving the folder allows you to reformat if necessary without having to spend any time on backing up your User folder.

[effpeetee]

Thanks for all the feed-back.

I have found a file manager program that enables me to do most of what I want to do reasonably easily.

Find it here. (http://www.freecommander.com/)

Frank

[Celtboy]

This isn't exactly what you're looking for, but DriveImage XML ( http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm may be a good solution for your backup needs.

-Celt

[effpeetee]

This isn't exactly what you're looking for, but DriveImage XML ( http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm may be a good solution for your backup needs.

-Celt
Thanks,
Sounds good to me. I have just installed it and will use it soon.

Regards,

Frank