How Do I Backup My Files?

I have Windows XP and I don't know how to backup my files.

Any info?
--
#1spicegirl2006

#1spicegirl2006 wrote:

I have Windows XP and I don't know how to backup my files.



Here's my standard post on this subject:

First of all, almost everyone should be backing up regularly. It is always
possible that a hard drive crash, user error, nearby lightning strike, virus
attack, even theft of the computer, can cause the loss of everything on your
drive. As has often been said, it's not a matter of whether you will have
such a problem, but when.

Essentially you should back up what you can't afford to lose--what you can't
readily recreate. What that is depends on how you use your computer and what
you use it for.

It takes time and effort to backup, but it also takes time and effort to
recreate lost data. If you back up daily, you should never have to recreate
more than one day's worth of last data. If weekly, there's potentially a lot
more to recreate. You should assess how much pain and trouble you would have
if you lost x days of data, and then choose a backup frequency that doesn't
involve more pain and trouble than that you would have if you had to
recreate what was lost.

Some things (photographs, for instance) can never be recreated, and more
frequent backup may be wanted for them.

At one extreme is the professional user who would likely go out of business
if his data was lost. He probably needs to back up at least daily. At the
other extreme is the kid who doesn't use his computer except to play games.
He probably needs no backup at all, since worst case he can easily reinstall
his games.

Most of us fall somewhere between those extremes, but nobody can tell you
where you fall; you need to determine that for yourself.

Should you back up Windows? Should you back up your applications? Most
people will tell you no, since you can always reinstall these easily from
the original media. But I don't think the answer is so clear-cut. Many
people have substantial time and effort invested in customizing Windows and
configuring their apps to work the way they want to. Putting all of that
back the way it was can be a difficult, time-consuming effort. Whether you
should backup up Windows and apps depends, once again, on you.

How to backup? What software to use? There are many choices, including the
Windows-supplied backup program. Which choice is best for you depends at
least in part on the answers to some of the questions above.

Finally what backup media should you choose, and how should it be stored?
There are many choices, including CDs, tape, zip drives, and second hard
drives.

I don't recommend backup to a second non-removable hard drive because it
leaves you susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup to
many of the most common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning
strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the computer.

In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept in
the computer. For really secure backup (needed, for example, if the life of
your business depends on your data) you should have multiple generations of
backup, and at least one of those generations should be stored off-site.

My computer isn't used for business, but my personal backup scheme uses two
identical removable hard drives,I alternate between the two, and use Acronis
True Image to make a complete copy of the primary drive.

I also use a pair of 1GB thumb drives for making more frequent backups of my
most critical data (like financial information). For that I just drag and
drop.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

Hi Ken,

You might also want to add a comment about Windows Home Server, just in case
the user has a spare PC laying around. The beta is now open for the general
public to apply.

http://connect.microsoft.com/windowshomeserver

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart
Display\Security
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote in message
...
#1spicegirl2006 wrote:

I have Windows XP and I don't know how to backup my files.



Here's my standard post on this subject:

First of all, almost everyone should be backing up regularly. It is always
possible that a hard drive crash, user error, nearby lightning strike,
virus attack, even theft of the computer, can cause the loss of everything
on your drive. As has often been said, it's not a matter of whether you
will have such a problem, but when.

Essentially you should back up what you can't afford to lose--what you
can't readily recreate. What that is depends on how you use your computer
and what you use it for.

It takes time and effort to backup, but it also takes time and effort to
recreate lost data. If you back up daily, you should never have to
recreate more than one day's worth of last data. If weekly, there's
potentially a lot more to recreate. You should assess how much pain and
trouble you would have if you lost x days of data, and then choose a
backup frequency that doesn't involve more pain and trouble than that you
would have if you had to recreate what was lost.

Some things (photographs, for instance) can never be recreated, and more
frequent backup may be wanted for them.

At one extreme is the professional user who would likely go out of
business if his data was lost. He probably needs to back up at least
daily. At the other extreme is the kid who doesn't use his computer except
to play games. He probably needs no backup at all, since worst case he can
easily reinstall his games.

Most of us fall somewhere between those extremes, but nobody can tell you
where you fall; you need to determine that for yourself.

Should you back up Windows? Should you back up your applications? Most
people will tell you no, since you can always reinstall these easily from
the original media. But I don't think the answer is so clear-cut. Many
people have substantial time and effort invested in customizing Windows
and configuring their apps to work the way they want to. Putting all of
that back the way it was can be a difficult, time-consuming effort.
Whether you should backup up Windows and apps depends, once again, on you.

How to backup? What software to use? There are many choices, including the
Windows-supplied backup program. Which choice is best for you depends at
least in part on the answers to some of the questions above.

Finally what backup media should you choose, and how should it be stored?
There are many choices, including CDs, tape, zip drives, and second hard
drives.

I don't recommend backup to a second non-removable hard drive because it
leaves you susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup to
many of the most common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning
strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the computer.

In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept in
the computer. For really secure backup (needed, for example, if the life
of your business depends on your data) you should have multiple
generations of backup, and at least one of those generations should be
stored off-site.

My computer isn't used for business, but my personal backup scheme uses
two identical removable hard drives,I alternate between the two, and use
Acronis True Image to make a complete copy of the primary drive.

I also use a pair of 1GB thumb drives for making more frequent backups of
my most critical data (like financial information). For that I just drag
and drop.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

A fairly easy tool to use for that purpose is one of Microsoft's PowerToys
for Windows XP, SyncToy. You can get it from here (it is free):
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
.. You definitely need to backup such folders as "My Documents". Come back
for usage instructions when you install it. I and others will be glad to
help you with any problems/questions.
Gene K
"#1spicegirl2006" wrote in
message ...
I have Windows XP and I don't know how to backup my files.

Any info?
--
#1spicegirl2006

Doug Knox - [MS-MVP] wrote:

Hi Ken,

You might also want to add a comment about Windows Home Server, just
in case the user has a spare PC laying around. The beta is now open
for the general public to apply.

http://connect.microsoft.com/windowshomeserver


Thanks, Doug. I was planning on adding something about WHS to my standard
backup message, but I'm reluctant to do it yet. Even if the beta is open to
the public, I'm hesitant to recommend beta software.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

Doug Knox - [MS-MVP] wrote:

Hi Ken,

You might also want to add a comment about Windows Home Server, just
in case the user has a spare PC laying around. The beta is now open
for the general public to apply.

http://connect.microsoft.com/windowshomeserver


Thanks, Doug. I was planning on adding something about WHS to my
standard backup message, but I'm reluctant to do it yet. Even if the
beta is open to the public, I'm hesitant to recommend beta software.


Replying to my own post, I'd also like to wait until I have a little more
experience with WHS myself. Coming soon.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

Gene,

I tried to install SyncToy 1.4. A message popped up that says I need to
install Net Framework 2.0.50727. It asked if I wanted to install now. I
clicked "yes" and went to this page:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/aa731542

Now, which 2.0 do I choose? Help.

Thanks,

spicegirl
--
#1spicegirl2006


"Gene K" wrote:

A fairly easy tool to use for that purpose is one of Microsoft's PowerToys
for Windows XP, SyncToy. You can get it from here (it is free):
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
.. You definitely need to backup such folders as "My Documents". Come back
for usage instructions when you install it. I and others will be glad to
help you with any problems/questions.
Gene K
"#1spicegirl2006" wrote in
message ...
I have Windows XP and I don't know how to backup my files.

Any info?
--
#1spicegirl2006

#1spicegirl2006 wrote:
I have Windows XP and I don't know how to backup my files.

Any info?

http://www.freecomputerconsultant.co...er-backup.html

XP Backup is great except for the time required to select the folders to BU.
Is there a way that I can save this list of folders to be backed up and
eliminate having to select them each time I want to backup?

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

Doug Knox - [MS-MVP] wrote:

Hi Ken,

You might also want to add a comment about Windows Home Server, just
in case the user has a spare PC laying around. The beta is now open
for the general public to apply.

http://connect.microsoft.com/windowshomeserver


Thanks, Doug. I was planning on adding something about WHS to my
standard backup message, but I'm reluctant to do it yet. Even if the
beta is open to the public, I'm hesitant to recommend beta software.


Replying to my own post, I'd also like to wait until I have a little more
experience with WHS myself. Coming soon.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

"Don" wrote in message
...

XP Backup is great except for the time required to select the folders to
BU.
Is there a way that I can save this list of folders to be backed up and
eliminate having to select them each time I want to backup?

Backup software originated when hard drive space was
scarce or expensive. It is now cheap -- so some of us
back up with special-purpose copy programmes like
(free) www.xxcopy.com which permits BATch file with
commands like

xxcopy f:\*.* j:\backupfh\ /s /BN /EXmyexcl.lst

This backs up the whole drive including its subfolder
structure (by switch /s)
adding to backup only any new or updated files ( /BN)
and omitting stuff listed in file MYEXCL.LST

Of course the first time you run this it needs to
copy everything, thus takes significant time. But
the second updating backup takes only a matter of
seconds, unless you have added audio files etc.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

XP Backup is great except for the time required to select the folders
to BU. Is there a way that I can save this list of folders to be
backed up and eliminate having to select them each time I want to
backup?

Yes, you can. The quote below is from the Help file about that matter
and explains how to save and use "jobs". ntbackup's HELP is actually
pretty helpful, unlike a lot of Microsoft's Helpg. Well worth
perusing; ntbackup can do a lot of things many people aren't aware of.

Just to get you started:
When you open ntbackup.exe, click the Backup tab instead of the Wizard
tab. Note the new screen has a tab for Schedule Jobs. Click it and
note the calendar that opens. Select a date and then click Add Job in
the lower left corner of the screen. You will next be offered a chance
to return to the wizard or not, and choose files to backup, save the
job, and so on, to occur on that date or dates; you'll see how it works.
I haven't used it in a few years now so some of the nuances escape me
right now.
You'll be able to choose your options for the job that is to occur on
that date and following future dates.

TEST it out first, to get the feel of it, and how you want to access
things; you'll find your own procedures that work best for you and
probably better than mine for you. It works well and I used to use
these job capabilities a lot. Choose a file that's not important toyou,
or create one for testing, and try backing it up and then Restoring it
once or twice so you'll know what to expect in the future. Maybe let it
back up automatically, daily for a few days and see how it feels as a
test drive.

If you haven't already, be sure to read Help for info about creating
an ASR (Automated System Recovery) emergency recovery disk and how it's
tied to the backup sets you create. By creating the ASR disk, you are
prepared to recover your data even in the event of a complete drive
crash or to Restore your system to a new hard drive. Without the ASR
you would still have to manually install XP and Service Pack to get
ntbackup.exe back in order to finish Restoring which can be a real PITA.
Ntbackup.exe is a good backup utility as long as you don't want a lot
of bells and whistles or can't afford an imaging program. If/when you
do get around to it, Norton Ghost and Acronis True Image are probably
the two best applications for backing up a machine, IMO. I currently
use Norton Ghost and really like it, but I still find myself turning to
ntbackup in order to create things like System State backups (see Help
about what that is) * other quick little jobs like that.

HTH,

Twayne





------------------------
To schedule a backup

1.. Open Backup.
The Backup Utility Wizard starts by default, unless it is disabled.

2.. Click the Advanced Mode button in the Backup Utility Wizard.
3.. Click the Backup tab, and then, on the Job menu, click New.
4.. Select the files and folders you want to back up by clicking the
check box to the left of a file or folder under Click to select the
check box for any drive, folder or file that you want to back up.
5.. Select File or a tape device in Backup destination, and then save
the file and folder selections by clicking the Job menu, and then
clicking _Save Selections_.
6.. In Backup media or file name, type a path and file name for the
backup file, or select a tape.
7.. Select any backup options you want, such as the backup type and
the log file type, by clicking the Tools menu, and then clicking
Options. When you have finished selecting backup options, click OK.
8.. Click Start Backup and make any changes you want to the Backup Job
Information dialog box.
9.. If you want to set advanced backup options such as data
verification or hardware compression, click Advanced. When you have
finished selecting advanced backup options, click OK.
For more information about setting advanced backup options, see To set
advanced backup options.

10.. Click Schedule in the Backup Job Information dialog box.
11.. In the Set Account Information dialog box, enter the user name
and password that you want the scheduled backup to run under.
12.. In the Scheduled Job Options dialog box, in Job name, type a name
for the scheduled backup job, and then click Properties to set the date,
time, and frequency parameters for the scheduled backup. When you have
finished, click OK, and then click OK again.
13.. ...
....




"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

Doug Knox - [MS-MVP] wrote:

Hi Ken,

You might also want to add a comment about Windows Home Server,
just in case the user has a spare PC laying around. The beta is
now open for the general public to apply.

http://connect.microsoft.com/windowshomeserver


Thanks, Doug. I was planning on adding something about WHS to my
standard backup message, but I'm reluctant to do it yet. Even if the
beta is open to the public, I'm hesitant to recommend beta software.


Replying to my own post, I'd also like to wait until I have a little
more experience with WHS myself. Coming soon.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:29:01 -0800, Don
wrote:

XP Backup is great except for the time required to select the folders to BU.
Is there a way that I can save this list of folders to be backed up and
eliminate having to select them each time I want to backup?


You replied to a *very* old message of mine.

Personally I think that the backup program which comes with XP is
about the poorest choice available, and I recommend against it. The
best backup program is Acronis TrueImage.

Windows Home Server's beta is over and it's now released. As Doug said
in his message quoted below, is a great way to get backups performed
automatically, and I recommend it highly if you are willing to spend
the money for an extra computer as well as the software.


"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

Doug Knox - [MS-MVP] wrote:

Hi Ken,

You might also want to add a comment about Windows Home Server, just
in case the user has a spare PC laying around. The beta is now open
for the general public to apply.

http://connect.microsoft.com/windowshomeserver


Thanks, Doug. I was planning on adding something about WHS to my
standard backup message, but I'm reluctant to do it yet. Even if the
beta is open to the public, I'm hesitant to recommend beta software.


Replying to my own post, I'd also like to wait until I have a little more
experience with WHS myself. Coming soon.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup




--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:29:01 -0800, Don
wrote:

XP Backup is great except for the time required to select the
folders to BU. Is there a way that I can save this list of folders
to be backed up and eliminate having to select them each time I want
to backup?


You replied to a *very* old message of mine.

Or someone did, which restarted the thread. It happens now & then.


Personally I think that the backup program which comes with XP is
about the poorest choice available, and I recommend against it. The
best backup program is Acronis TrueImage.

Not the "poorest" choice, but definitely the cheapest since Home & Pro
both include it. It's fully funtional, useful and works well. Should a
person need to do a backup RIGHT NOW, it's definitely a functional,
viable alternative. In fact, I stil use it to do things like back up
the System State and a couple other quickies that hare handy to have.
True Image is actually more of an imaging program, not a backup
program, which is USED for backups. I wouldn't call it THE best, but
it's certainly one of the better choices out there.


Windows Home Server's beta is over and it's now released. As Doug said
in his message quoted below, is a great way to get backups performed
automatically, and I recommend it highly if you are willing to spend
the money for an extra computer as well as the software.

Pretty expensive choice for anyone who doesn't need/want a server/LAN
etc.

Regards,

Twayne




"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

Doug Knox - [MS-MVP] wrote:

Hi Ken,

You might also want to add a comment about Windows Home Server,
just in case the user has a spare PC laying around. The beta is
now open for the general public to apply.

http://connect.microsoft.com/windowshomeserver


Thanks, Doug. I was planning on adding something about WHS to my
standard backup message, but I'm reluctant to do it yet. Even if
the beta is open to the public, I'm hesitant to recommend beta
software.


Replying to my own post, I'd also like to wait until I have a
little more experience with WHS myself. Coming soon.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

"Don" wrote in message
...

XP Backup is great except for the time required to select the
folders to BU. Is there a way that I can save this list of folders
to be backed up and eliminate having to select them each time I want
to backup?

Backup software originated when hard drive space was
scarce or expensive. It is now cheap -- so some of us
back up with special-purpose copy programmes like
(free) www.xxcopy.com which permits BATch file with
commands like

xxcopy f:\*.* j:\backupfh\ /s /BN /EXmyexcl.lst

This backs up the whole drive including its subfolder
structure (by switch /s)
adding to backup only any new or updated files ( /BN)
and omitting stuff listed in file MYEXCL.LST

Of course the first time you run this it needs to
copy everything, thus takes significant time. But
the second updating backup takes only a matter of
seconds, unless you have added audio files etc.

XXCopy is good, but ... it will NOT back up System Files or any "in use"
files because it doesn't directly address the Shadow Copy Services or
have the inclusion of any similar functions. It will bork a system
backup for XP. This info is directly addressed in one of their
Technical Bulletins if one wishes to check on xxcopy.com. DO NOT use
XXCopy.exe to back up system drives on XP or later OS's; it won't work
out.
It used to be able to do so on win98, but not on XP.

Also, to use XXCopy requires a learning curve due to its DOS-like nature
and hundreds of possible switches. I love XXCopy and use it often, but
.... it's not something one can pick up and instantly be functional with.
Personally I highly recommend the program, just not for system backups,
which is a mistake many new users run into.

Regards,

Twayne

I thought maybe I could write a "batch" file like in the DOS days since there
is not an option for XP Backup to remember the folders I want to routinely
backup.
Don

"Don" wrote:

XP Backup is great except for the time required to select the folders to BU.
Is there a way that I can save this list of folders to be backed up and
eliminate having to select them each time I want to backup?

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

Doug Knox - [MS-MVP] wrote:

Hi Ken,

You might also want to add a comment about Windows Home Server, just
in case the user has a spare PC laying around. The beta is now open
for the general public to apply.

http://connect.microsoft.com/windowshomeserver


Thanks, Doug. I was planning on adding something about WHS to my
standard backup message, but I'm reluctant to do it yet. Even if the
beta is open to the public, I'm hesitant to recommend beta software.


Replying to my own post, I'd also like to wait until I have a little more
experience with WHS myself. Coming soon.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup