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How to Backup Windows XP Home Edition

Your computer cost you from hundreds tothe Backup utility by default. You'll
thousands of dollars, but the computerneed to install it manually from your
itself is not the most valuable part.Windows XP CD-ROM.
The data on the hard disk is the most1. After inserting the CD-ROM, open
valuable part. How many hours of workControl Panel's "Add or Remove Programs"
did you put into creating that data? Oneutility. In the "Add or Remove Programs"
little event, like a power line spikeutility", click on the "Add New
from a lightning strike, and all thatPrograms" button, then click on the "CD
work could be lost. Unfortunately,or Floppy" button.
backing up with Windows XP Home Edition2. In the "Run Installation Program"
is not as simple as it should be.dialog box that appears, navigate to the
The first step is to choose a backupVALUEAD/MSFT/NTBACKUP folder on the
device. You might choose a tape drive orCD-ROM and select the file NTBACKUP.MSI.
a DVD drive, but those devices mightClick on the "Finish" button. The Backup
require drivers to be installed beforeutility will be installed.
you could restore from them. ThePerform a Full Backup
simplest option is to install a secondTo perform a backup, select Start |
hard drive in your computer.Programs | Accessories | System Tools |
The second hard drive doesn't have to beBackup to open the Backup Utility.
equal to your main hard drive. You canNote: If you don't find Backup listed in
use an older, smaller hard drive as theSystem Tools, double click on the file
backup device, as long as the backupname ntbackup.exe in the
drive has more "Free Space" than theWindows\system32 folder.
main hard drive has "Used Space".In the "Backup or Restore Wizard", click
Install a Second Hard Driveon the "Advanced Mode" link. In the
When installing a second hard drive in"Backup Utility" dialog box, select the
your computer, it's important to"Backup" tab and set the checkbox next
configure the drives correctly. Yourto the drive to backup (c:) and set the
motherboard should have two ATAcheckbox next to "System State".
(sometimes called IDE) connectors. TheIn the "Backup media or file name" text
primary connector should have a cablebox, enter the path to the file for the
with two drive connectors. The endbackup (example E:\Backup.bkf). Click on
connector should go to your main hardthe "Start Backup" button.
drive, the middle connector can be usedIn the "Backup Job Information" dialog
for a backup hard drive. The secondbox that appears, set the radio button
motherboard ATA connector should go tonext to "Replace the data on the media
your CD-ROM.with this backup". Click on the "Start
On the back of each hard drive is aBackup" button. The "backup Progress"
jumper. The jumper on your main harddialog box will appear.
drive should be set to the "Master"Even when you backup to relatively fast
position. The jumper on your backup hardmedia like hard disk, the process can
drive should be set to "Slave" position.take 30 minutes or longer depending upon
Most modern computers use "Cablehow much data is on the main drive.
Select", so you can set both jumpers toWhen the backup is complete, turn off
the "Cable Select" position. Don'tthe computer and remove the data and
forget the power connector for thepower cables from the backup drive. It
second drive.doesn't make sense to leave the backup
When you restart your computer, thedrive connected because if the cause of
second drive should be automaticallya failure is a power spike, it will take
recognized and be designated with theout both drives. Next time you want to
next drive letter available, usually E:backup you'll need to reinstall the
(D: being used for the CD-ROM drive).cables.
Format the Second Hard DriveHow to Perform a Restore
Generally, you will want to re-formatIn the unfortunate event that your
the second hard drive after installationcomputer crashes and you can't get it
to remove any previously installedback by any other means, you'll need to
operating system and to remove anyreinstall Windows XP from the CD-ROM.
previous file access rights. To format(Automated System Recovery is not
the drive, select Start | Settings |supported in Windows XP Home Edition.)
Control Panel | Administration Tools |You'll need to re-install the Backup
Computer Management. In the "Computerutility. Then you'll need to shut down
Management" window, under "Storage",the computer to install the data and
click on "Disk Management".power cables to the backup drive.
Right click on the backup disk's driveRestart the computer and use the Backup
letter. In the popup menu, select AllUtility to restore Windows XP from the
Tasks | Format... In the Warning dialogbackup file.
box that appears, click on the "Yes"When using this backup method, it's
button. In the "Format" dialog box, inimportant to be careful not to break any
the "File system" drop-down list, selectpins when you are removing and
NTFS. Click on the "OK" button. Again,installing the data cable of the hard
in the Warning dialog box that appears,drive. And if your computer doesn't use
click on the "Yes" button."cable Select", don't forget to change
Install the Backup Utilitythe jumper on the main hard drive back
Windows XP Home Edition doesn't installto "Single".



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