Step 6—Back Up Your Files

The Backup program that comes with Windows XP does a fine job of making all-important backup copies of your important files. (If you’re using Windows XP Home Edition, note that you need to install Backup from the Windows XP Home Edition CD. In the VALUEADDMSFTNTBACKUP folder, launch the Ntbackup.msi file.) Here are the steps to follow to define and run a backup job:

  1. Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup. The Backup Or Restore Wizard appears.

  2. Click the Advanced Mode link to display the Backup Utility window.

  3. Select the Backup tab.

  4. Select Tools, Options, make sure the Backup Type tab is displayed, and then use the Default Backup Type list to choose one of the following options (click OK when you’re done):

    • Normal. Backs up all the files in the backup job. Each file is marked (that is, its archive bit is turned off) to indicate that the file has been backed up.

    • Incremental. Backs up only those files that have changed since the last normal or incremental backup. This is the fastest type because it includes only the minimum number of files. Again, the files are marked to indicate that they’ve been backed up.

    • Differential. Backs up only those files that have changed since the last non-differential backup. Files are not marked to indicate they’ve been backed up. So, if you run this type of backup again, the same files get backed up (plus any others that have been added or changed in the meantime).

    • Copy. Makes copies of the selected files. This type of backup does not mark the files as having been backed up.

    • Daily. Backs up only those files that were modified on the day you run the backup. Files are not marked as having been backed up.

  5. Use the folder and file lists to select the check boxes for the drives, folders, and files you want to include in the backup job.

  6. Use the Backup Destination list to choose a backup device.

  7. If you chose File in step 6, use the Backup Media Or File Name text box to enter the drive, path, and file name for the backup file.

  8. Select Job, Save Selections. If you’re creating a new backup job, enter a name in the Save As dialog box and then click Save.

  9. Click Start Backup to perform the backup.

Notes from the Real World

It’s a rare computer user these days who doesn’t know that backing up is important. So why do so many of us put off backing up? I think the main reason is that it’s often a difficult or inconvenient process. However, there are a few things you can do to make backing up easier. Here are some ideas that I use to make my backup chores more palatable:

  • Forget floppies, if possible. Backing up to floppy disks ranks just above "root canal" on the Top 10 Most Unpleasant Chores list. The reason, of course, is that a standard 3.5-inch floppy disk holds a mere 1.39 MB (not 1.44 MB) of data. If your hard disk contains hundreds of megabytes, you’ll have to back up to hundreds of floppy disks, which hurts just to think about it.

  • Try a tape drive. Tape drives are the de facto backup standard, and they come in many different capacities. You can back up hundreds of megabytes or even multiple gigabytes for a relatively low cost.

  • Try other backup media. The big downfall for tape drives is their relatively slow access times. Fortunately, there are much faster media available. These include CD-R and CD-RW drives or the even more capacious DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW drives; removable media such the Iomega Zip or Jaz drives; a second hard disk (not a second partition on the same hard disk!); and a network folder.

  • Consider online backups. If your ISP provides you with disk space for a Web site, use it to back up your most important files. Note, too, that there are also companies that will sell you online disk space for backups.

  • Back up data, not programs. Although a full system backup can come in handy, it isn’t strictly necessary. The only irreplaceable files on your system are those you created yourself, so they’re the ones you should spend the most time protecting.

  • Keep data together. You save an immense amount of backup time if you store all your data files in one place. It could be the My Documents folder, a separate partition, or a separate hard disk. In each case, you can select all the data files for backup simply by selecting a single folder or drive check box.

  • Back up downloaded archives. If space is at a premium, you can leave program files out of your backup job because they can always be reinstalled from their source disks. The exceptions to this are downloaded programs. To avoid having to find and download these files again, make backup copies of the archives.

  • Don’t always run the full backup. You can speed up your backup times by running differential or incremental backups.

—Paul McFedries

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