How to Back Up a Hard Drive

By eHow Computers Editor

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It's important to back up your critical files on at least a weekly basis. The following explains how to install and run Microsoft's built-in Backup utility in Windows XP.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

  • CD-R Discs
  • CD-RW Burners
  • CD-RW Discs
  • Blank DVD Discs
  • Hard Disks
  • Microsoft Windows XP

Step1
Insert your Windows XP CD into the drive and double click it when it pops up on your desktop.
Step2
In Windows Explorer, double-click the ValueAdd folder, then Msft, and then Ntbackup.
Step3
Double-click Ntbackup.msi to install the Backup utility.
Step4
Click Backup to run Microsoft's Backup program.

How to Run the Backup Utility

Step1
Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup to start the wizard.
Step2
Click “Next” to skip past the opening page, choose Back up files and settings from the second page, and then click Next.
Step3
Decide whether you want to back up everything or just certain things.
Step4
Decide where you want the backups saved to.
Step5
Set a schedule for regular backups.

Tips & Warnings

  • CD-RW drives are great for backups, but they usually come with their own backup programs.
  • To restore a disk from a backup, open the Tools menu in the Backup utility and select Restore Wizard.

Comments

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on 7/6/2008 what did you do to back up your hard drive with win XP home

Ken16 said

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on 12/17/2006 Would not work with WMe. There was no BACKUP program in System Tools as indicated in Step 4.

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eHow Article:  How to Back Up a Hard Drive

eHow Computers Editor

eHow Computers Editor

Category: Computers

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