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If you didn't shut off updates before it came out, update XP to XP SP3 - Service Pack Three - first.
And once you do that, there are automatic backups of the system created periodically if you've left it turned on in the Control Panel.
Reverting is then done by calender date and one button push should the need ever arise. A great safety feature and another reason not to ever be afraid that some update might mess things up, you can just go back to the last System Setpoint using System Restore.
--Mac
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Within the walls of my work, XP users are in a world of hurt come April 1st. MIS has been preaching since June of 2012 that XP computers will be excluded by our company's network software because of potential security issues. All of our managers were advised when our 2013-14 budgets were submitted in June to budget to replace any XP computers, and have been repeatedly reminded at staff meetings of the 04/01/2014 deadline, yet last week MIS did a digital polling that showed there were still 200 XP devices on the network.
The Purchasing Department is going to be very busy the next few weeks and I'm waiting to see how many of these idiots wait until their computer can't sign onto the network before they decide to order a new one.
Keith
2026 Audiophile Windows 11 RYZEN THREADRIPPER 3960X 4.5GHZ 128 GB RAM 2 Nvidia RTX 3090s, Vegas,Acid,SoundForge,Izotope Production,Melodyne Studio,SONAR,3 Raven Mtis
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Journeyman
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Hello All,
On Monday, I tried a backup with Nero Backitup but it was the lite version. Yesterday, I purchased Acronis True Image; I tested the Backup and Recovery, which went well.
However, the basic Getting Started info is of course too basic and the full-blown manual is cumbersome.
I think I might be better off with a less-challenging backup program.
Acronis costs $49 and Kaspersky $89 among others.
I like to cut my losses. All advice is greatly appreciated.
Percy
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Try using both the Acronis Manual AND websearching the internet for other posted explanations, help, etc.
--Mac
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Acronis is an absolutely powerful and highly regarded backup program. However, is it intuitive? Could it use better terminology? Could it be made more practical to use? Yes to all questions in my view.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Trevor,
I did read some reviews and your absolutely right about Acronis' power and range, to paraphrase one reviewer. The interface and ease of use, however, could be more practical, as you stated.
I missed out on the free trial period which they do offer; I purchased the software at a retailer
Percy
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An old OS is an old OS. Having every update there is and using whatever browser that works on XP doesn't change the fact that XP is a dinosaur running on obsolete hardware.
Win 7 is way more secure than the absolute best up to date XP machine could ever be. It's designed to run on newer hardware and is written with much newer and much more robust antivirus and antimalware code that can't talk to XP. Win 8 machines with the latest hardware have been shown to be that much better than Win 7.
Music pro's who've written about Win 8 all say it's stable, secure and FAST.
There's only so much that you can do with an old machine that is literally worth fifty bucks if you can find anybody to buy it in the first place. Trying to somehow update and secure an XP machine is like trying to put a Corvette drivetrain in a 71 Pinto.
I'm not going to list or post links to all the articles about this, they're easily found.
It's time to dump those XP boxes and move on.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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An old OS is an old OS. Having every update there is and using whatever browser that works on XP doesn't change the fact that XP is a dinosaur running on obsolete hardware.
There's only so much that you can do with an old machine that is literally worth fifty bucks if you can find anybody to buy it in the first place. Trying to somehow update and secure an XP machine is like trying to put a Corvette drive train in a 71 Pinto. The above is how I see it. It was a good OS for a long time....but, that time is long gone. I went to Win7 and the reformat/install is far easier that it was in the Pleistocene Epoch. Win 8 doesn't appeal to me with all tactile necessity so I hope Win 7 will out live my needs.  IMO....it's time to get current in the OS arena even if that means a new computer or DAW. Good luck OP....carry on.
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Bob and Chulaivet1966,
I failed to mention that while looking for back-up software, I was also shopping for a laptop.
Had time to think about it over the weekend after re-reading all the helpful posts.
Office Max and Best Buy have some reasonably priced HPs, Toshibas, etc.
Serendipitously, Mr. Roy Z has a timely thread about laptops with lots of good advice.
Thanks for your input.
Percy
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If you like XP, see if you can find a Win7 machine. Much more familiar feeling than Win8.
However Win8 can be made to look/behave like Win7 if you want .. just a few adjustments needed. Not so sure about 8.1; haven't had to tinker with it much.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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I only buy ThinkPad laptops. They have served me well, and one that I bought in 2003 is still cranking out the goods while bouncing on a keyboard stand and riding around in the van while I do one-nighters. It's XP and since it doesn't go on the 'net, I don't plan on replacing it until it starts showing it's age.
I do have a couple of older computers in the office that I should replace. One is my net-surfing computer and another for business (I have one on order for biz). The older computer will go off-line and I'll just use it for old software.
My neighbor thinks I'm a computer guru (I'm definitely not) and she needs to upgrade. Should I tell her Win8 or Win7?
And is Windows Defender on Win8 as good as the Avast AV that she is now using?
If you know, please let me know, and I'll pass on the info.
Thanks,
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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I always stay with the newest operating system (someone has to volunteer). Notes from a life-long IT geek: XP was a good OS for a long time....but, that time is long gone. Completely agree. Although there are a few big companies out there still transitioning to Win 7. As far as Win 7 vs. Win 8.... They're practically the same if you don't use the new tiled screen of Win 8, which I completely ignore. The biggest complaint folks have is the missing start button which I replaced with this free app: Classic ShellEDIT: Another feature people do not like is using a Microsoft Account to log in to Windows vs. a standard login on Win 7 and earlier. There are ways to work around this too. Microsoft implemented that so you could buy apps on their App Store. This is similar to the app stores of Apple and Android/Google. Not so sure about 8.1; haven't had to tinker with it much. Win 8 vs. Win 8.1 - No noticeable differences. And is Windows Defender on Win8 as good as the Avast AV that she is now using? Win 7 had Security Essentials included which was Microsoft's built in solution. They changed the name to Windows Defender on Windows 8 but it's basically the same app. It suits my needs as a free built-in tool and I only reach out to a separate app if I think I've got some virus/spyware funk which is very rarely. I also keep my internet locked when I'm not on the computer with an old free software tool called Zone Alarm. If anyone has any questions regarding newer operating systems, let me know. BIAB & RB work well on Win 8.1.
 Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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Bob,
The retailers I've contacted only have Win 8 laptops.
Too bad.
Steve,
Lots of timely and relevant info.
Thank you, gentlemen.
Percy
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Yeah, Win 8 has been out long enough now that it's going to be standard in most places you look. I've had it for over a year now.
Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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Steve, does Win 8 have a XP emulation mode?
My boss calls me "the computer".
Nothing to do with intelligence. I go to sleep if left unattended for 15 minutes.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Yes Mario, just right click on any .exe file of an older program you want to work: Compatibility in Win 8
Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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My boss calls me "the computer".
Nothing to do with intelligence. I go to sleep if left unattended for 15 minutes.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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I have an underpowered Win8 computer that I bring along as an emergency spare - I put a free 3rd party start button on it, and I get along with it just fine. I also put the free Zone Alarm firewall on it. It's my oly non-ThinkPad and we picked it because it was really, really cheap and it would do as a spare mp3 player if we ever needed it.
Lenovo still sells ThinkPads that give you the choice of Win7 or Win8. Or at least they did a month or two ago when my neighbor first asked about it.
I'm not a die-hard geek and I don't jump to the new OS the moment it comes out. The cutting edge can be the bleeding edge and I'm not tech savvy enough to be the beta tester. I wait until I need a new computer and when I do, get the new OS. That's usually after the first service pack is released.
It's funny being the tech-help person for a neighbor when I'm self-taught on the computer. Especially when my neighbor doesn't back up her system. So the last time she needed help I told her I wouldn't touch her computer until she gets an external drive and either Norton Ghost or Acronis.
When she gets her new computer, I'll see what I can do about getting an external drive and Ghost (I'm familiar with that one and have been using it way before Acronis was born).
Anyway, for myself, I'm having Lenovo make a ThinkPad for me to my specs and without the bloatware on it.
And I really hate getting new computers. Transferring the programs from one to the next is a bit of a PITA. Let me see, which of these CDs is the newest one, and which external HD did I store that download on, and just what did I do with the registration key... ... ... ...
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Oh, yeah THAT is the real reason I hate upgrading too. I said last summer I was getting Win 8 but I lied...I really, really need to do it after tax season (I'm your friendly neighborhood tax guy) but I hear you, doing all that as fresh installs is a PITA but everything I've read tells me Win 8 is worth it, nobody has any problems with it (except of their own "head stuck in the mud" variety), it's faster, more stable and that's it.
Almost two years ago someone posted an article by a Cakewalk guru who tested Sonar on a brand new Win 8 machine and did bench testing on the same machine with a dual boot Win 7 install and Win 8 was considerably faster for high intensity audio multitracking stuff.
It's hard for older folks to realize that two years is a lifetime in the computer world.
Percy, don't worry about it, get your Win 8 laptop. I had a very brief experience with Win 8 a few months ago when my sister visited me for a weekend and she had a Win 8 laptop. It took me all of maybe two minutes to figure it out and yes it's works very similar to every other version of Windows you just have to learn a few basic things first. It's really no big deal. From what I've read Win 8.1 addresses some of those learning issues. It's supposed to act more like Win 7 right out of the box without you having to install some 3rd party app to get the Start button for example.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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I've had a Win 8 laptop for over a year. I updated to 8.1 when it came out. Win 8.1 has been very stable and BIAB runs just fine. You shouldn't have any reservations about going to Win 8.1. Later, Ray
Last edited by raymb1; 03/15/14 04:50 PM.
Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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