Post Backup Questions

[jamowa]

Am using MS backup utility on Win XP Home to backup data files to external
drive. So far so good, files selected appeared to arrive on ext drive AOK.
However...
- How can I test .bkf file on ext drive to make sure selected files are
there? When I clicked to open the MS backup program started.
- Why did a separate backup.bkf file appear in C\ Docs n Settings in a newly
created folder 'Recent'? I didn't create this folder and it appears to have
all the data files selected for backup. Can I delete it?
- Lastly, how can I make a backup of my registry, hidden files, etc. I
don't have XP CDs the OS was installed via OEM.

Gracias,

[Gordon]

"jamowa" > wrote in message
...

> - Why did a separate backup.bkf file appear in C\ Docs n Settings in a
> newly
> created folder 'Recent'?

that's the folder where all the shorcuts to your Recent Documents are kept.

[jamowa]

Thanks, Gordon. So when I create a .bkf file short cuts to all the selected
files will write to the Recent folder? Sounds like I could delete these
shortcuts w/o effecting the .bkf on the external drive.

merci

"Gordon" wrote:

> "jamowa" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> > - Why did a separate backup.bkf file appear in C\ Docs n Settings in a
> > newly
> > created folder 'Recent'?
>
> that's the folder where all the shorcuts to your Recent Documents are kept.
>
>
>

[Gordon]

"jamowa" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks, Gordon. So when I create a .bkf file short cuts to all the
> selected
> files will write to the Recent folder? Sounds like I could delete these
> shortcuts w/o effecting the .bkf on the external drive.
>


You can.

[Poprivet]

jamowa wrote:
> Am using MS backup utility on Win XP Home to backup data files to
> external drive. So far so good, files selected appeared to arrive on
> ext drive AOK. However...
> - How can I test .bkf file on ext drive to make sure selected files
> are there?

Do a couple of directory compares. Restore will let you restore to a
different directory than the files came from. Restore and compare. NOTE
that files "in use' may have different time stamps/sizes, etc.
Or just Restore a few chosen files. Or restore it to a different hard
drive that's temporarily expendable.
Of do partial actual restores.

When I clicked to open the MS backup program started.
> - Why did a separate backup.bkf file appear in C\ Docs n Settings in
> a newly created folder 'Recent'? I didn't create this folder and it
> appears to have all the data files selected for backup. Can I delete
> it?

Yes, you can delete them; those are simply shortcuts for convenience. They
can also be turned off if you never use them. I turned mine off (But I
can't recall how right now <g>).

- Lastly, how can I make a backup of my registry, hidden files,
> etc. I don't have XP CDs the OS was installed via OEM.

Choose to back up the "System State". It's an option in the backup wizard
application or the manual, but you have to look for it in the manual method.
That backs up the entire registry and a bunch of supporting files too. When
you back it up, give it a system state type name and it's handy to put the
date with it, too.
Creating a Restore Point is also a method of locally backing up the
Registry. It's local, but wise to do IMO and only takes a minute. It's
just not as inclusive of files as the System State backup, so they are NOT
the exact same thing.

When doing any backup it's always wise to use the Verify option.

HTH
Pop`


>
> Gracias,