Backup basics
Getting started: What should you back up?
There are many ways you can unintentionally lose information on a computer. A child playing the keyboard like a piano, a power surge, lightning, floods. And sometimes equipment just fails.
If you regularly make backup copies of your files and keep them in a separate place, you can get some, if not all, of your information back in the event something happens to the originals on your computer.
Deciding what to back up is highly personal. Anything you cannot replace easily should be at the top of your list. Before you get started, make a checklist of files to back up. This will help you determine what to back up, and also give you a reference list in the event you need to retrieve a backed-up file. Here are some file suggestions to get you started:
| • | Bank records and other financial information |
| • | Digital photographs |
| • | Software you purchased and downloaded from the Internet |
| • | Music you purchased and downloaded from the Internet |
| • | Personal projects |
| • | Your e-mail address book |
| • | Your Microsoft Outlook calendar |
| • | Your Internet Explorer bookmarks |
If you haven't already decided where you want to store your backup copies—external hard disk drive, CDs, DVDs, or some other storage format—and you want to know more about your options, you can read about the types of external storage available.
After you've decided what you want to back up and where you're going to back up, you're ready to learn how to back up.
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How to back up manually or using Windows XP Backup utility
Making backup copies of your information doesn't have to be a complicated process—a simple copy and paste will do the trick. Or if you're using Windows XP, an easy backup tool is just a few clicks away.
After you've decided what files to back up and where to store your backups, you can follow the steps in this article to start making backup copies of your important information.
On This Page
 | Making backup copies manually |
| Windows XP Professional: Use the built-in Backup utility |
| Windows XP Home Edition: Add the Backup utility |
Making backup copies manually
Regardless of what version of Windows you are using, you can manually make a backup copy of any file or folder by following these steps:
1. | Simply right-click the file or folder that you want to back up, and then click Copy from the menu. |
2. | Now, in My Computer, you can right-click the disk or external hard drive where you want to store the backup copy, and then click Paste from the menu. |
That's it. After you've copied all the information you want to back up onto your chosen storage format, don't forget to keep it protected. Read our tips about Protecting your backup files.
Tip: To learn how to make a backup of your e-mail messages in Outlook, read Back up Outlook e-mail messages and Back up or synchronize: Ways to copy Outlook data.
Windows XP Professional: Use the built-in Backup utility
If you're using Windows XP Professional, you can use the built-in Backup utility to help you make copies of files, settings, or everything on your computer. You can even use the utility to back up certain files on a schedule that you specify. Here's how to start using the Backup utility:
1. | Click Start, and point to All Programs. |
2. | Point to Accessories, and then point to System Tools. |
3. | Click Backup. |
If you've never used the Backup utility, the first screen you should see will be the Backup or Restore Wizard welcome window. Click Next and follow the instructions on the wizard. For a more detailed step-by-step guide to using the wizard, see Windows XP Backup Made Easy.
Tip: If you don't know if you have Windows XP Professional, you can find out by visiting Find out which operating system your computer is using.
Windows XP Home Edition: Add the Backup utility
If you're using Windows XP Home Edition and you want to use the Backup utility, you'll have to manually add it by following these steps:
1. | Insert your Windows XP CD into the drive and, if necessary, in My Computer, double-click the CD icon. |
2. | On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP screen, click Perform Additional Tasks. |
3. | Click Browse this CD. |
4. | In Windows Explorer, double-click the ValueAdd folder, then Msft, and then Ntbackup. |
5. | Double-click Ntbackup.msi to install the Backup utility. |
Note: If you bought a computer with Windows XP Home Edition, the Backup utility should be on the disk that came with your computer. If you don't see the utility on the disk, contact the computer's manufacturer or visit their Web site for more information.
Arjun
Web Series
