1 February 2005

Microsoft Backup

Microsoft Windows has a backup program that is easy to configure and use. Files can be backed up to floppy disks, compact discs, removable hard drives, Zip disks, and other removable media.

• What to Backup
• Know Where Your Data Live
• Creating a New Backup Job in Windows 98
• Running an Existing Backup Job in Windows 98
• Creating a New Backup Job in Windows XP
• Running an Existing Backup Job in Windows XP
• Install Backup in Windows 98
• Install Backup from the CD-ROM in Windows XP Home Edition

What to Backup
Some individuals think it is important to backup their entire hard drive. This is simply a waste of time and media. If your hard drive crashes to the extent that nothing is recoverable, it is better to start over with a clean installation of Windows, your programs, and your data. Windows and your programs should be preserved on disc already. (If you download a program installation file, put a copy of it on a cd or other removable media.) Thus, the only thing you need to backup are your data. This should include documents, pictures, bookmarks, address books, and other important information.

Know Where Your Data Live
As a rule, all Microsoft-friendly programs store their data in the My Documents folder. Windows 98 locates that folder in the root directory of drive C. Windows XP is another story. Each user has his or her own My Documents folder and it is located in the Documents and Settings folder of the C drive, in a sub-folder bearing the name of the user. If you do not have permission to access the data in another user’s folder, the backup program will not be able to backup that data.

Some programs store their data in the program folder. For example, Quicken will store its data in the C:\Program files\Quicken (or C:\Quicken) folder by default. Other programs may use a data folder within the program folder.

Outlook Express and Outlook have exporting features that can be used to backup account settings, address books, and mail. Netscape’s address book can be exported, but its messages cannot. You can include your Netscape bookmarks, mail, and settings in your backup if you know where Netscape stores them. To find the location for each user profile, click on Edit and Preferences. Scroll down to Advanced and click on it. Click on Cache. On the right side of the window, you will find the cache folder. Click on the Choose Folder button. Here you will find the location of the cache and, more importantly, the location of your Netscape data. In Windows 98, it will be C:\ Windows\ Application Data\ Mozilla\ Profiles\ user_name. In Windows XP, it will be in C:\Documents and Settings\ user_name\ Application Data\ Mozilla\ Profiles. (Tip within a Tip: Clear the cache before you do a backup to save a ridiculous amount of space on the backup media.)

Internet Explorer Favorites cannot be exported. In Windows 98, you can find them in C:\Windows\ Favorites. In Windows XP, they will be in C:\Documents and Settings\ user_name\ Favorites. Be sure to include these locations in your backup.

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Creating a New Backup Job in Windows 98

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup. (Note: If Backup is not installed, click here for installation instructions.)
2. If the “Welcome to Microsoft Backup!” box appears, click Close.
3. On the Job menu, click New.
4. For “What to backup,” choose “All selected files.”
5. Click to select the check boxes for the drives that you want to include. If you want to be more specific in your selections, expand the drive that you want (clicking the + sign), and then click to select the check boxes for the files or folders that you want.
6. In the “Where to backup” box it should read “file.”
7. Below that, you will find a location for the backup. Click the folder icon button next to it.
8. Navigate to the location for the backup: floppy drive, hard drive, Zip, or other removable media. (Note: if you are going to put the backup on a CD-R, create a temporary Backup folder on the Desktop and choose it in this step. Use your CD burning software to put the Backup folder on the disc.)
9. Click the Options button and select the “Compare original and backup files to verify data was successfully backed up.”
10. Under "If the media already contains backups," use one of the following steps:
    • If you want to append this backup to previous backups, click Append this backup to the media.
    • If you want to overwrite previous backups with this backup, click Replace the data on the media with this backup. Click OK.
11. Click the Start button.
12. When the backup finishes, click OK.
13. Exit Backup.

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Running an Existing Backup Job in Windows 98

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup.
2. If the “Welcome to Microsoft Backup!” box appears, click Close.
3. On the Job menu, click Open.
4. Select the Backup Job and click Open.
5. Click the Start button.
6. A Backup Progress dialog box appears, and the backup starts.
7. When the backup finishes, click OK.
8. Exit Backup.

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Creating a New Backup Job in Windows XP

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup. The Backup or Restore Wizard starts. (Note: your Windows XP Home Edition may not have Microsoft Backup installed. If this is the case, click here for installation instructions.)
2. Click Advanced Mode.
3. Click the Backup tab.
4. On the Job menu, click New.
5. Click to select the check boxes for the drives that you want to back up. If you want to be more specific in your selections, expand the drive that you want, and then click to select the check boxes for the files or folders that you want.
6. Click to select the System State check box. (Note: If you want to back up your system settings and your data files, back up all the data on your computer plus the System State data. The System State data includes such things as the registry, files under Windows File Protection, and boot files.)
7. In the Backup destination list, click “File.”
8. Navigate to the location for the backup: floppy drive, hard drive, Zip, or other removable media. (Note: if you are going to put the backup on a CD-R, create a temporary Backup folder on the Desktop and choose it in this step. Use your CD burning software to put the Backup folder on the disc.)
9. Click Start Backup. The Backup Job Information dialog box appears.
10. Under "If the media already contains backups," use one of the following steps:
    • If you want to append this backup to previous backups, click Append this backup to the media.
    • If you want to overwrite previous backups with this backup, click Replace the data on the media with this backup. Click OK.
11. Click Advanced.
12. Select the Verify data after backup check box.
13. In the Backup Type box, click the type of backup that you want. When you click a backup type, a description of that backup type appears under "Description."
14. Click OK, and then click Start Backup. A Backup Progress dialog box appears, and the backup starts.
15. When the backup is complete, click Close.
16. Exit Backup.

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Running an Existing Backup Job in Windows XP

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup. The Backup or Restore Wizard starts.
2. Click Advanced Mode.
3. Click the Backup tab.
4. On the Job menu, click Open.
5. Select the Backup Job and click Open.
6. Click the Start button.
7. A Backup Progress dialog box appears, and the backup starts.
8. When the backup is complete, click Close.
9. Exit Backup.

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Install Backup in Windows 98
Backup is not installed by default in Windows 98. If Backup is installed in Microsoft Windows 95 before you install Windows 98, Backup is upgraded to the Windows 98 version.

To manually install Backup, use the following steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs.
2. On the Windows Setup tab, double-click System Tools.
3. Click the Backup check box to select it, click OK, and then click OK.

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Install Backup from the CD-ROM in Windows XP Home Edition
The Backup utility is not included in the default installation of Windows XP Home Edition. The Backup icon is not present on the Start menu in Windows XP Home Edition, nor is Backup listed in Add Remove Programs for Windows XP Home edition.

To manually install Backup:

1. Insert the Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM in the drive. When the Welcome screen appears, click Exit.
2. Double-click the Ntbackup.msi file in the following location on the Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM to start a wizard that installs Backup:

\VALUEADD\MSFT\NTBACKUP

3. When the wizard is complete, click Finish.