More How-To Articles

• Windows XP Tools and Utilities Headaches: I can't back up data.
• Backup and Restore Your PC: Find Lost Files
• Windows XP Migraine Headaches: I upgraded to Windows XP from Windows 98/Windows Me, but now my computer runs slowly.
• Windows XP Tools and Utilities Headaches: My computer plays sound, but works erratically or the computer locks up.
• Windows XP Accessory and Software Headaches: I need to use an older program that is not compatible with Windows XP.
• Backup and Restore Your PC: Set a Restore Point
• Windows XP Movie Maker 2 Headaches: I can't create a trim point when editing video.
• Windows XP Migraine Headaches: I tried System Restore, but now my computer will not boot.
• PC Troubleshooting: Get Organized to Fix Your PC Quickly
• Windows XP Performance Headaches: My computer runs too slowly.

This article was excerpted from: PC Upgrading and Troubleshooting QuickSteps

Buy this book

Blog Posts About Desktops

• Chipmaker AMD splitting into two companies
• HP: We're not shutting down VoodooPC
• Why old computers turn yellow
• Is the honeymoon finally over for Apple?
• Psystar countersues Apple
• USB 3.0 spec nears completion
• Edison gives you detailed control over PC power savings
• Dell says its power is now 100% carbon neutral
• More problem Nvidia graphics card details emerge
• PC sales on the rise across the globe; Apple #3 in U.S.

1. Click Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Backup to start the Backup Wizard.

2. If you see the screen in Figure 1, click the Wizard Mode link in the second line of text to shift into Backup Wizard Mode.

   

   Figure 1: To shift from the standard startup screen to the Backup Wizard, click the Wizard Mode link.

3. Click Next, select Back Up Files And Settings, and then click Next again.
4. Next, select what files to back up. There are four options. If you've stored all your data files in the My Documents folder, select My Documents And Settings. If you share your PC with other users and want to back up their files as well, select Everyone's Documents And Settings.
5. The third choice, All Information On This Computer, works only with Windows XP Professional Edition, not Windows XP Home.
6. The last choice, Let Me Choose What To Back Up, lets you manually select files that aren't located in the My Documents folder and individual files and folders that are in the My Documents folder. Click Next.

7. As shown in Figure 2, click the empty box next to any folder or file, and a check mark appears indicating that folder or file will be copied.

   

   Figure 2: Check the boxes of the files and folder you want to back up..

8. When done, click Next. Any of the preceding options will display the Backup Type, Destination, and Name screen. Select a name for the backup and a location to store it and click Next.
9. On the Completing Backup and Restore Wizard screen, click Advanced. On the next screen, under Select The Type Of Backup, choose Normal. Then click Next.

10. You'll see three check boxes as shown in Figure 3. Check the first box, Verify Data After Backup. This increases the time of the backup, but it is worthwhile; sometimes data is corrupted during a backup session. Then click Next.

    

    Figure 3: Selecting Verify Data After Backup checks the new backup file for errors.

11. Unless you're very short of space on your hard drive, select Append This Backup To The Existing Backups. Then click Next.

12. If you want Windows to automatically perform this backup periodically, select Later (see Figure 4). Enter a name for the job and click Set Schedule.

    

    Figure 4: Click Later to configure Windows to automatically perform daily, weekly, or monthly automatic backups.

13. Under Schedule Task on the Schedule tab, choose how often you want Windows to back up your data (see Figure 5). Click OK and then Next, and Windows will ask you for a password for this backup job. Just leave it blank if you don't want a password.

    

    Figure 5: Choose how often you want Windows to automatically back up your data files.

14. Click Next and then Finish to start the backup.

Was this helpful to you? Yes | No