Backups

[Mad Max]

Greetings People;
I'm using Windows XPsp1Home, ( OEM ). Apparently a backup program was
included with this eMachine T2080, because it is listed in the startup area.

The problem is that I am TOTALLY computer illiterate. I have several sites
in my favorites folder with backup tutorials listed. Problem is that each
suggests a different backup method , and most , if not all, are not
understandable to me.
As a result , nothing has ever been backed up and never will be unless I
find something I can understand. I'm not going to try something that could
make my machine unusable.
So, if anyone knows of a tutorial that a newbie can understand ,on backing
up , that is what I am asking for.
I was reading a post today in this NG which stated that MS instructed the
individual to back up before installing a critical update. I have never
received such an instruction when getting updates. You can imagine what
would happen if I did. Just trying to cma in the event this does happen.
By the way, I suppose I'd need to find the backup once it is done, so if
possible give a step by step procedure for locating it. Wouldn't do much
good if I couldn't find it, now would it ? Usually I just download
everything to my desktop , boy that sucker is getting crowded.
Maybe if I had more than one option for doing backups ?

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Your first step is the necessity of either backing up to media other than
your hard drive or moving the backup to other media. If not, if your hard
drive fails, you would lose your backup as well.

The backup application that comes with XP allows you to specify a location
to where the files can be backed up. Since it doesn't support a wide range
of alternatives, you usually have to backup and then move or copy the file
to other media. Personally, I keep one copy on a separate partition on my
hard drive and another copy on other media in case the drive fails.

Backup programs are easy to work with because they allow you to easily
select the files you wish to backup. This can be all the easier if all of
your data files are stored in the My Documents folder because then you
simply need to select My Documents under your user name and your done.

Since we don't know were all your data is stored or even all the
applications you are using that might create data files (A data file is any
file you create and save or, if you have an application such as Quicken,
your user file in Quicken is your Quicken data file) we can't give you the
kind of precise instructions you may be seeking. Also, we don't know what
hardware you have that might allow for backup to alternate media as in, do
you have a CD-RW drive. This greatly enhances your ability to backup.

What you do and how you do it is somewhat dependent on the application you
use so you have some choices to make.

There is something else you can do, especially if you have a CD-RW drive,
you could make a habit of saving everything to both your hard drive and a
CD. You could start by simply copying all your data to CD, then everything
else you save you would save twice, once to it's location on the hard drive
and the other to the CD. If you needed to restore, you would simply
reinstall XP, reinstall your applications and then restore your data. That
does require you to know where the data on your system is stored and again,
we can't know that, at least not completely unless we actually have access
to your system.

Since user usually have a disk for their operating system and disks for
their applications that don't generally need to include that in their backup
and today with such huge hard drives, it makes backup simpler and easier if
you simply backup your data.

There are more robust methods, many of us use disk images which make a bit
by bit copy of the selected partition. However, image files are huge and
not easily stored. A 3GB image file would take approximately 5 CDs. If you
have a DVD burner however, that might be able to store an image on one disk.
While relatively simple to use you might find the procedure of using it and
restoring it a bit daunting. Also, an image should be supplemented with
backups anyway because an image is only current up to the time it was made.

I'm not sure I've made this simpler but perhaps it has clarified a bit of
the mystique.
--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Mad Max" > wrote in message
...
> Greetings People;
> I'm using Windows XPsp1Home, ( OEM ). Apparently a backup program was
> included with this eMachine T2080, because it is listed in the startup
area.
>
> The problem is that I am TOTALLY computer illiterate. I have several sites
> in my favorites folder with backup tutorials listed. Problem is that each
> suggests a different backup method , and most , if not all, are not
> understandable to me.
> As a result , nothing has ever been backed up and never will be unless I
> find something I can understand. I'm not going to try something that could
> make my machine unusable.
> So, if anyone knows of a tutorial that a newbie can understand ,on backing
> up , that is what I am asking for.
> I was reading a post today in this NG which stated that MS instructed the
> individual to back up before installing a critical update. I have never
> received such an instruction when getting updates. You can imagine what
> would happen if I did. Just trying to cma in the event this does happen.
> By the way, I suppose I'd need to find the backup once it is done, so if
> possible give a step by step procedure for locating it. Wouldn't do much
> good if I couldn't find it, now would it ? Usually I just download
> everything to my desktop , boy that sucker is getting crowded.
> Maybe if I had more than one option for doing backups ?
>
>
>

[Harry Ohrn]

It sounds like you would benefit from taking a basic computer class. Often
local libraries or community colleges offer them. You should also click the
Start button and go to Help and Support. Read through the various tutorials
to learn about your system.

To learn about the Backup program, or any program for that matter, you
should read the Help File that accompanies your program. To do this start
the Backup program. It may start in Wizard mode. click the little link that
says Advanced Mode. Along the top bar you should see Help. Click on it and
read the help information.

It would be helpful to you to learn how to organize your data more
efficiently. To better organize your system you should make use of the My
Documents folder. It is setup with special folders for Pictures, Music and
you can create other folders to store data. The My Documents folder is like
a file cabinet. It gives you a centralized, easily accessible place to keep
files. It is also protected from System Restore. Read about System Restore
in Help and Support.
--

Harry Ohrn - MS MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


"Mad Max" > wrote in message
...
> Greetings People;
> I'm using Windows XPsp1Home, ( OEM ). Apparently a backup program was
> included with this eMachine T2080, because it is listed in the startup
area.
>
> The problem is that I am TOTALLY computer illiterate. I have several sites
> in my favorites folder with backup tutorials listed. Problem is that each
> suggests a different backup method , and most , if not all, are not
> understandable to me.
> As a result , nothing has ever been backed up and never will be unless I
> find something I can understand. I'm not going to try something that could
> make my machine unusable.
> So, if anyone knows of a tutorial that a newbie can understand ,on backing
> up , that is what I am asking for.
> I was reading a post today in this NG which stated that MS instructed the
> individual to back up before installing a critical update. I have never
> received such an instruction when getting updates. You can imagine what
> would happen if I did. Just trying to cma in the event this does happen.
> By the way, I suppose I'd need to find the backup once it is done, so if
> possible give a step by step procedure for locating it. Wouldn't do much
> good if I couldn't find it, now would it ? Usually I just download
> everything to my desktop , boy that sucker is getting crowded.
> Maybe if I had more than one option for doing backups ?
>
>
>

[Mad Max]

Thanks to all who replied . The responses offered much more than I hoped
for. Harry , you are 100% correct. No one could use a basic computer course
more than I. I've read the help & support included with the machine, for as
long as I could keep my eyes open . After a while the words begin to blur,
and its all over. Guess I should take some No-Doze and get cracking.
Michael , your response was equally enlightening. This machine does have a
CD-RW. As I understand the process , the backup is saved (somewhere ) then
is transferred to the CD-RW. Since I don't have much to be backed up other
than my "favorites" the process shouldn't be too involved. All Office
programs I have are on CDs , so nothing there needs backed up. Probably the
only problem would be finding the backup after it is made, and prior to
transferring to CD-RW. I suppose I should back up my OE, now that I think of
it.
I will do some reading in help and support, and the library informed me this
morning that an XP book I requested is in. Looks like I'll be doing some
heavy reading. That's not as easy as it sounds, since the last class I
attended was about fourty five years ago.
Again, thanks to all MVPs for giving of your time and wisdom . It is
appreciated, but not said enough.


"Mad Max" > wrote in message
...
> Greetings People;
> I'm using Windows XPsp1Home, ( OEM ). Apparently a backup program was
> included with this machine T2080, because it is listed in the startup
area.
>
> The problem is that I am TOTALLY computer illiterate. I have several sites
> in my favorites folder with backup tutorials listed. Problem is that each
> suggests a different backup method , and most , if not all, are not
> understandable to me.
> As a result , nothing has ever been backed up and never will be unless I
> find something I can understand. I'm not going to try something that could
> make my machine unusable.
> So, if anyone knows of a tutorial that a newbie can understand ,on backing
> up , that is what I am asking for.
> I was reading a post today in this NG which stated that MS instructed the
> individual to back up before installing a critical update. I have never
> received such an instruction when getting updates. You can imagine what
> would happen if I did. Just trying to cam in the event this does happen.
> By the way, I suppose I'd need to find the backup once it is done, so if
> possible give a step by step procedure for locating it. Wouldn't do much
> good if I couldn't find it, now would it ? Usually I just download
> everything to my desktop , boy that sucker is getting crowded.
> Maybe if I had more than one option for doing backups ?
>
>
>