Windows XP Backup
Contents
Choosing What to Back Up
Do you need a 100% bit by bit backup of your system? That depends on your goals and financial resources. Lets take a look at practical, inexpensive, conventional backup solutions first.
Practical and Conventional Backup
Close all running software that you can before doing a backup. The less running the better. This will ensure data files are in a closed state and not locked.
storage medium
You can save your backup data to a USB Thumb Drive, now offering affordable capacity of around 16GB for under $100, or a DVDr drive. If you have less data, a CDr disc may also suffice.
what to back up
The Operating System and your applications do not need to be backed up. They can be reinstalled if necessary when recovering from a catastrophic system failure, such as failure of your primary hard drive.
Back up your personal data! All documents, images, and other types of files that you create!
Common places where personal data exists that should be backed up. This is simplified to make the process quick and easy. Just backup the entire folder.
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Desktop C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data
Backing up your Desktop folder is a good idea because many people save personal data to their desktop. Also, the desktop shortcuts sometimes paint a picture of how the system was configured and what applications were available, aiding in reinstallation.
Since the My Documents is where most people save their personal data files, such as Word Documents, because those software defaults to that location, it is a good idea to back up this folder. If you use a custom destination for your personal data rather than the My Documents folder, then back it up instead.
Backing up the Application Data folder will save the preferences and default settings of many popular software you have installed. For example, your Firefox web browser bookmarks are here. After reinstalling software, restoring the Application Data folder will bring back many custom settings, bookmarks, and preferences.
Backup Processes Using Windows XP Tools
Make a Restore Point
- Go to Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools - System Restore
- Select "Create A Restore Point." MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT SELECT RESTORE!
- Enter a restore point description. Example (using date code+): 2008072901
- done!
Export Copy of the Registry
- Go to Start, Run - the "Run" dialog box will appear
- Type in "regedit" and click OK
- Make sure you are at the root of the registry hive list. Do this by pressing the HOME key so that you see "My Computer" highlighted in the list.
- With "My Computer" highlighted in the registry hive, press the left arrow key once to close the tree.
- From the Registry Editor menu choose File, Export
- Navigate to the place were you wish to save your registry backup
- Enter a filename for your registry backup. Example (using date code+): 2008072901
- Be patient, this may take 30 seconds to a minute.
- done! close registry editor
Typical registry file backup size 50mb to 100mb
