Hi, I'd like to ask whether win xp-prof supports cd burning in the backup utility and if ASR boot disk-creation is preferred over system restore in case of a crash. Thank you...

The best thing to use for backing up your system is an imaging program like Ghost or Acronis.

I agree with aegis1. The software mentioned creates an image of the original, so you get back to exactly to what you had at the time the image was created. System Restore only changes system files, nothing else, so the system isn't restored in the true sense to what it was but can remove some problems. Be warned though, that some problems are not resolved by System Restore! If your computer is good at the moment, then it is well worth buying Ghost or Acronis and create an image of your system. Acronis offers more flexibility than Ghost but both work very well. Computers... designed to entertain,help with work but most of all to frustrate you!