Newest KB Articles

How to download and install the Windows 7 AIK

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:26:02 GMT

The Microsoft Windows 7 Automated Installation Kit (AIK) must be installed before creating a Casper Startup Disk.

Downloading and creating the Windows 7 AIK Installation Disc

Microsoft makes the Windows 7 AIK available for download as an ISO disc image file, which must be burned to a DVD to produce an installation disc.

Download the Windows 7 AIK ISO disc image file from the Microsoft website: http://www.fssdev.com/link?id=101
Once you have downloaded the ISO disc image file, it must be burned to a DVD to produce the installation disc. In Windows 7, this is accomplished by right-clicking the ISO image file and selecting Burn disc image or Open with -> Windows Disc Image Burner. On other Windows platforms, you must select the option to create a DVD from an image file in your DVD burning software. For additional assistance with this step, please see Creating a CD or DVD from an ISO disc image file.

Installing the Windows 7 AIK

Insert the Windows 7 AIK installation disc. The Welcome to Windows Automated Installation Kit screen should appear. If this screen does not appear, browse the DVD in Windows Explorer and double-click StartCD.
Click Windows AIK Setup. Following the installation wizard to complete the installation of the Windows AIK.

THIS ARTICLE APPLIES TO:

Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows XP SP3

How to reconfigure an existing Windows 7 installation to eliminate the System Reserved partition

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:29:35 GMT

This knowledge base article describes how to reconfigure an existing Windows 7 installation that uses separate Boot and System partitions so that Windows 7 will boot and run from a single partition.

How to restore a computer from an external backup

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:37:21 GMT

There are several ways to affect a restore.

If your computer can boot and run directly from the backup hard disk, you can simply copy it back to the original. When booting and running from the backup, it will take on the identity of the original drive. Consequently, the process of restoring the original drive would be the same as the process used to create the backup. For example, while booting and running from the backup hard disk, you would use Casper Secure Drive Backup to copy the backup hard disk to the original hard disk.

Booting from the backup hard disk requires you to have the hard disk attached via a supported external interface or installed internally. If the backup hard disk is installed internally or attached via eSATA, you can boot and run the computer directly from the backup hard disk. If the backup hard disk is attached via USB, then your computer also must support booting from USB hard disk type devices. If the hard disk is attached via another external interface (e.g., Firewire), or if the computer does not support booting and running from USB hard disk type devices, you will need to physically remove the hard disk from its external housing and install it as an internal hard disk in order to boot from it.

As an alternative to booting and running the computer from the backup hard disk, the Casper Secure Startup Disk can be used to boot the computer and copy the backup hard disk to the original hard disk. For example, with the external backup hard disk attached to the system, you can boot the computer via the Casper Secure Startup Disk (CD) and then copy the external backup hard disk to your computer's internal hard disk.

The Casper Secure Startup Disk (CD) is distributed as a compressed ISO file. Instructions for creating the CD are available in the Casper Secure Drive Backup User Guide. See "Creating and Using the Casper Secure Startup Disk."

Once you have created the startup disk, you would follow this general procedure to perform the restore:

Attach and power on the external backup drive.
Boot the computer from the Casper Secure Startup CD. The boot process may take several minutes to complete. When finished, you will see the normal Casper Secure Drive Backup console menu (e.g., Copy Drive, Create Drive, Remove Drive, Explore, Exit).
Click Copy Drive, and reverse the procedure you used to complete the original backup – e.g., select your external drive as the source and the internal drive as the destination.

NOTE: When the system is booting and running from the Casper Secure Startup Disk, the drive letters and/or disk unit numbers assigned to the hard disks may be different than when the system is booted normally. EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN SELECTING THE DESTINATION DISK. For example, while the computer's internal hard disk will likely be identified as disk 1, this may not be the case. If you are unsure of the drive letters assigned to your external vs. internal drive, click Explore. Casper Explorer will show your internal and external hard disk and the drive letter(s) associated with each. Use the model number listed under the Description column and/or size to identify the disks.

How to edit, delete, or reorder Saved Copy Settings

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:37:01 GMT

You can edit the Saved copy settings (e.g., the selections that appear in the Perform this copy again step) as follows:

Start Casper Secure Explorer (Start -> [All] Programs -> Casper Secure Drive Backup 3.0 -> Casper Secure Explorer)
From the Tools menu, click Options
On the Advanced tab, in the Saved copy settings group, click Edit
Double-click an entry to rename it, or use the buttons to delete and/or reorder the entries.
Click OK to save and close the Saved Copy Settings dialog
Click OK to close the Options dialog

How to show hidden partitions when using Copy a specific drive

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:47:09 GMT

By default, only Casper will list hidden partitions when using the Copy a specific drive option. To show hidden partitions within Casper when using the Copy a specific drive option, follow this procedure:

Start Casper Explorer
From the Tools menu, click Options
On the General tab within the Settings box, under Drive Detection, check Include hidden partitions
Click OK to apply and close the dialog

How to restore a computer from an external backup

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:47:03 GMT

There are several ways to affect a restore.

If your computer can boot and run directly from the backup hard disk, you can simply copy it back to the original. When booting and running from the backup, it will take on the identity of the original drive. Consequently, the process of restoring the original drive would be the same as the process used to create the backup. For example, while booting and running from the backup hard disk, you would use Casper to copy the backup hard disk to the original hard disk.

As an alternative to booting and running the computer from the backup hard disk, the Casper Startup Disk can be used to boot the computer and copy the backup hard disk to the original hard disk. For example, with the external backup hard disk attached to the system, you can boot the computer via the Casper Startup Disk (CD) and then copy the external backup hard disk to your computer's internal hard disk.

The Casper Startup Disk (CD) is available as an optional component for Casper that must be purchased separately or obtained as part of the Casper Value Pack. It's available online at http://shop.fssdev.com and distributed as a compressed ISO file. Instructions for creating the CD are available in the Casper User Guide. See "Creating and Using the Casper Startup Disk."

Once you have created the startup disk, you would follow this general procedure to perform the restore:

Attach and power on the external backup drive. (NOTE: This must be done before booting from the CD.)
Boot the computer from the Casper Startup CD. The boot process may take several minutes to complete. When finished, you will see the normal Casper console menu (e.g., Copy Drive, Create Drive, Remove Drive, Explore, Exit).
Click Copy Drive, and reverse the procedure you used to complete the original backup – e.g., select your external drive as the source and the internal drive as the destination.

NOTE: When the system is booting and running from the Casper Startup Disk, the drive letters and/or disk unit numbers assigned to the hard disks may be different than when the system is booted normally. EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN SELECTING THE DESTINATION DISK. For example, while the computer's internal hard disk will likely be identified as disk 1, this may not be the case. If you are unsure of the drive letters assigned to your external vs. internal drive, click Explore. Casper Explorer will show your internal and external hard disk and the drive letter(s) associated with each. Use the model number listed under the Description column and/or size to identify the disks.

How to edit, delete, or reorder Saved Copy Settings

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:46:53 GMT

You can edit the Saved copy settings (e.g., the selections that appear in the Perform this copy again step) as follows:

Start Casper Explorer
From the Tools menu, click Options
On the Advanced tab, in the Saved copy settings group, click Edit
Double-click an entry to rename it, or use the buttons to delete and/or reorder the entries.
Click OK to save and close the Saved Copy Settings dialog
Click OK to close the Options dialog

You receive a "Device is not functioning or may be configured improperly (31)" error message when performing a copy to an external drive.

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:16:29 GMT

PROBLEM:

When performing a copy to an external USB, Firewire, or eSATA drive, you receive the following error:

A problem was encountered with the operation of Disk <n>. The device is not functioning or may be configured improperly (31).

CAUSE:

The error (31) indicates a general device failure, which suggests that there was a problem with the external USB, Firewire, or eSATA interface or the external drive itself. For example, magnetic interference from an improperly shielded or defective USB, Firewire, or eSATA cable could be responsible.

RESOLUTION:

Make sure the USB, Firewire, or eSATA interface cable is positioned to avoid close proximity with any monitors, florescent light fixtures, speakers, power cords, etc. Some OEM USB, Firewire, and eSATA cables are poorly shielded and can cause unpredictable behavior. If the trouble persists, try another cable.

If you are connecting the hard disk through a USB hub, try bypassing the hub and connecting the device directly to a USB port on the computer. The hub may be introducing interference. Likewise, if you are connecting the external drive via an add-on USB, Firewire, or eSATA controller card, the card may be defective. Try attaching it to a native port on the computer.

While less likely, the problem also can be caused by a faulty filter driver, which may be intercepting and corrupting requests by Casper to access the external drive. Try performing the copy with the system running in Safe Mode to ensure non-essential, third-party drivers are not loaded.

Follow this procedure to start your computer in Windows Safe Mode:

Restart your computer.
Press F8 when prompted. If Windows fails to display the Windows Advanced Options menu, restart your computer again. Press F8 after the BIOS completes the POST process, but before Windows displays any graphical output.
Select Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking from the Windows Advanced Options menu.

THIS ARTICLE APPLIES TO:

Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows XP
Windows 2000

How to maintain multiple backups of a Windows system drive on a single hard disk

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 15:50:06 GMT

While you can use a single disk to maintain multiple backups, we generally recommend dedicating one or more separate disks for this purpose.

There are two methods of cloning offered by Casper. Casper can be instructed to clone the entire contents of one hard disk to another hard disk, or clone a specific partition/volume to another partition/volume. When using the Copy an entire hard disk method, Casper completely replaces the existing content of the destination device, master boot record, existing partition structure, etc. When using the Copy a specific drive method, Casper clones only the file system format and content of one partition/volume to another, but does not otherwise modify or replace any existing partition structure on the destination device.

With this in mind, you can use the Copy a specific drive method to create and/or maintain multiple backups and/or “other data” on a single backup hard disk.

To set up the backup hard disk, use the Copy an entire hard disk option to make the initial copy of the system hard disk (e.g., Disk 1) onto the backup hard disk. When prompted by the Copy Drive Wizard to specify how the additional space on the hard disk is to be used, select the second option, Leave the additional space unallocated. Once this initial copy has been completed, you can change the volume label associated with the drive letter assigned to this first backup. For example, you might consider renaming it to "Primary System Backup." You can change the volume label of a drive by right-clicking on the drive in [My] Computer and selecting Rename. This will make it easier to identify the backup partition when updating it and/or restoring from it.

After creating the first backup, use the Copy a specific drive option to create additional backups. When prompted by the Copy Drive Wizard, select the option to Copy to a new drive and then select the backup hard disk as the destination. Select Make the copy as large as possible or Make the copy the same size as it is right now. You also should enter a descriptive volume label for the backup when prompted by the wizard to select a name for the new drive – e.g. “Alternate System Backup.” This will make it easier to identify the backup partition when updating it and/or restoring from it.

After you have created all of the additional backups that you want to maintain or that can be accommodated on the backup disk, you can use the Create Drive option to create one or more additional partitions for “other data” if you have additional unallocated space on the backup hard disk.

To update an existing backup, select the Copy a specific drive option and then select your computer’s system drive (e.g., “Local Disk (C:)”) as the source and the drive associated with the desired backup to update on the backup hard disk as the destination (e.g., “Primary System Backup (E:)” or "Alternate System Backup (F:)"). To schedule the backup to be performed automatically, select the option to Schedule the copy for later when prompted by the Copy Drive Wizard. You also can setup a 1-Click Cloning shortcut to perform the backup on demand.

To restore a backup, reconfigure the computer to boot and run from the backup hard disk, and then use Casper to copy the desired partition from the backup hard disk to your computer’s primary hard disk via the Copy a specific drive option.

By using the Copy a specific drive method to create and maintain the backups, any data located in any other partitions on the backup hard disk will be left intact.

THIS ARTICLE APPLIES TO:

Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows XP
Windows 2000

How to edit, delete, or reorder Saved Copy Settings

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 02:11:48 GMT

You can edit the Saved copy settings (e.g., the selections that appear in the Perform this copy again step) as follows:

Start Casper
Click Explore
From the Tools menu, click Options
On the Advanced tab, in the Saved copy settings group, click Edit
Double-click an entry to rename it, or use the buttons to delete and/or reorder the entries.
Click OK to save and close the Saved Copy Settings dialog
Click OK to close the Options dialog