So, you don't have off site backups that you created earlier? I can't
believe that you keep purchased software in only one place. If I pay for a
downloaded program I have it burned to at least 2 CD/DVD's, an external
drive, maybe a different drive on the computer etc.

You have learned that there is more than one type of backup - the difficult
way.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience


"Blue Max" wrote in message
...
Thank you, semoi. I had never noticed any such disclaimer. Such a design
is simply insane! Why in the world would you purposely cripple someone's
indispensible backup feature and then hide such an important disclosure in
fine print? In this case, we have lost invaluable drivers and programs
(all legal productive software) that are no longer available on the
internet.

Incredible!! How in the world can a company be so incompetent as to
alienate loyal users in this fashion? I agree with your characterization
of Microsoft 100%. We continually end up with nothing but frustration
using Microsoft utilities. A fine example is Remote Assistance,
advertised as a simple, trouble-free way for users to help each other
(certainly a worthy endeavor), yet not once have we ever been able to
configure a reliable connection; regardless of the computer, location,
version, configuration, or technical ability of the installer.

I hope some day we can have the privilege of immortalizing some
clear-thinking individual who eventually brings reliability, flexibility,
and sanity back into the software world.

Thanks,
Richard

*************
"semoi" wrote in message
...
My copy of Vista Home Premium clearly states in the tiny fine blue print
that executables are not backed up.
Your version may be different.
I see the Vista backup program as utterly useless bloatware, like much of
Vista (as well as other Microsoft and Apple OSes).
If you want a complete back-up of your hard drive you will need
additional software. Alas such back-up software is not entirely reliable.
Even if you scan/verify your back-up it may fail when you actually need
to use it as too many of us have found after disaster struck. It can be
worth creating these back-ups, because if they actually work when you
need them you are fortunate, but you need a back up for your back up:
The safest back-up schemes involve copying data files to whatever medium
you prefer and saving your program installation discs and activation
keys.