Windows XP Data Backup

Windows XP Backup

If you use Windows XP Professional, the Windows Backup utility (Ntbackup.exe) should be ready for use. If you use Windows XP Home Edition, you'll need to follow these steps to install the utility:

• Insert your Windows XP CD into the drive and, if necessary, double-click the CD icon in My Computer.
• On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP screen, click Perform Additional Tasks.
• Click Browse this CD.
• In Windows Explorer, double-click the ValueAdd folder, then Msft, and then Ntbackup.
• Double-click Ntbackup.msi to install the Backup utility.

Now you're ready to begin backing up:

• Click "Start", then "All Programs", then "Accessories", then "System Tools", and then click "Backup".
• Click Next to skip the opening page, choose "Back up files and settings" from the second page, and then click "Next". Now you will choose what to back up. See Figure BK-2.
  
  
  
  Figure BK-2
  
  You might be tempted to click "All information on this computer" so that you can back up every bit of data on your computer. Not a good idea -- your backup could add up to many gigabytes. For most people, the "My documents and settings" option is a better choice.
• If you know that you have data files stored in other places, click "Let me choose what to back up". This option takes you to the "Items to Back Up" page shown in Figure BK-3.
  
  
  
  Figure BK-3
  
  Check the "My Documents" box to back up all your personal data and then browse "My Computer" to select any other files you want to back up.
• Decide where to store your backup files. Windows asks you to specify a backup location. Backup assumes you're going to save everything in a single file so you just have to choose a location for that file and give it a name. Click Browse and choose any of the following locations:
• The hard disk (not recommended). If your hard disk is partitioned into drive C and drive D and your data is on drive C, you can back up to drive D.
• One major drawback is that the Windows Backup utility can't save files directly to a CD-RW or DVD-RW drive.
• An external hard disk drive (good option if available). USB and IEEE 1394 or FireWire drives have dropped in price lately. Consider getting a 120 GB or larger drive and dedicating it for use as a backup device. See our section on external hard drives.
• After you've chosen a backup location, enter a name for the file, click "Next" and then click "Finish" to begin the back up process.
• Set up an automatic back up schedule. When you get to the final page of the Backup Wizard, don't click "Finish". Click the "Advanced" button, and click "Next" to open the "When to Back Up" page. Choose "Later", and then click "Set Schedule" to open the Schedule Job box shown in Figure BK-3.
  
  
  
  Figure BK-4
  
  This example shows the settings for a weekly backup on Friday afternoon. You can set any schedule you want by using the options shown. After you click "OK" to save your changes, Windows XP runs the backup automatically. Just remember to leave your computer turned on.