EricB said:this is how I backup data from win 95-98 machine. I have a 200 gig Usb backup drive and win 98 drive (I know that this don't pertain to you, but I just telling you anyway).
my usb hdd is ntfs, so a fat32 computer won't see it. but the bart pe cd will. it will copy the file over properly (convert the data to ntfs) and copy them back to the original (fat32) fromat later if needed.
I assuming that you have an xp cd. open pe builder and stick the xp cd in your cd rom (on your xp machine. if don't have xp I can upload a bart pe xp ready cd to send space). it will rip an bart pe iso file to your hdd. burn that iso file to disc as a disc image with something like nero or alcohol.
you can now run a windows environment from cd. you could copy his files to a flash drive or external hdd now as the bart cd with recognize usb. you could copy the files to another slave hdd if you wish. you can use the drive image part to back up the whole thing. if it have an ethernet port, you can back it up to a computer on a network as the bart pe cd will even recognize that
I didn't get my original question answered, but THANKS A LOT I'm actually gonna create the boot disc right now as soon as I'm done this post. For anyone else, I'd still like my original question asked!
Another thing, will it boot XP if the requirements for the computer aren't met. I think this computer might even be a P1 and a few hundred mhz. Yes, I know it's an old computer, but like I said, my buddy doesn't do anything more than email and basic internet usage. I'm trying to convince him to let me build him a computer (tops $250 for basic parts and recycled parts from his current computer), but he's a full-time musician, he's hardly home for more than a few days at a time except when he purposely takes a few weeks to a month off for a break every year, and he just can't really afford a new computer. So, he really doesn't need a fast computer. In fact, he had a computer from the 80s that was SUPER slow that 95 was quite an upgrade for him at the time. He's also on dialup still since he's not home and online enough to get full benefits from Cable/DSL. It'd be a waste of money considering how much he uses the computer a month.
I think, if by next Christmas I can get a good paying job, I may build him a computer with XP Home, or whatever the new Microsoft OS is if it really is coming out soon as expected.
Thanks again for your help, I really do appreciate it!!!