Considering the increasing amount of data that is saved on their computer every day, more and more users are embarking on the mission of finding the most effective and reliable backup solution possible. However, few are familiar with the backup features of Windows XP.
Steps
Step 1. To use the Windows XP backup feature, follow these instructions
Step 2. Click the Start button> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools> Backup
Step 3. The Windows XP backup feature allows you to back up all user files at once
If you select the backup documents option, it will copy the entire contents of the "Documents and Settings" folder including messages and settings of MS Outlook / Outlook Express and your profile.
Step 4. However, in many situations a full backup is not necessary
The Documents folder on your computer will most likely be very large and contain a lot of irrelevant information. In this case, the Windows XP backup feature will prompt you to manually specify the files you want to include or exclude from the backup.
Step 5. Finally don't forget to backup Internet Explorer favorites within IE
You can export them from the Menu.
Step 6. And for very important backups, nothing beats writing down names, phone numbers, email addresses and bank account details
Advice
- The Windows XP backup feature offers five types of backups: normal, copy, daily, differential, and incremental. To be fair, this abundance of backup types creates nothing but confusion, especially if it's your first backup.
- There may be different types of backups you can choose from depending on your needs. The most common are: total, incremental and differential.
- In addition, the backup feature of Window XP allows you to back up the status of the System data including the Registry, Boot files, COM + Class Registration database. However you can include or exclude specific components.
- The location that the Windows XP feature suggests is a network folder or external media. By default, it will even offer you to backup to a floppy disk, and this is the only removable drive it has to offer. Now think about how many floppies it would take to back up 30GB of critical information!
- When making a backup, it is very important where you keep the resulting files. It is recommended that you keep these files as far away from your local computer as possible.
