Backing up your files is an easy task ... especially when you do not have any viruses or other malware lurking on your PC to corrupt your back-ups. And backing up your computer on a regular basis can help save you a lot of headaches and heartaches if your PC does become infected or, worse, has an unrecoverable hardware failure.

There are two things your can do help ensure you are properly backed up in the event of a system crisis:

1) Create System Restore Points using Microsoft Windows XP, and,

2) Physically Back Up Your Files to External Media using third party software or the free Microsoft SyncToy Tool (discussed at the bottom of this page)..

 

Creating System Restore Points using Microsoft Windows XP

To create a manual Restore Point, go to your START menu and open your All Programs folder. Inside this folder, choose the Accessories folder and then the System Tools folder. Buried deep down inside this last folder you will find System Restore.

Click on the System Restore menu item to launch the System Restore tool.

You may be prompted to turn System Restore "on," if it has been disabled by your computer manufacturer or the organization that supports your Operating System. Click the OK button to turn on System Restore if it is "off."

Once System Restore is turned on, you will be presented with a screen that says "Welcome to System Restore." Select the radio dial item to "Create a Restore Point." Click the NEXT button to continue.

Windows will now ask you to name this restore point. Give it a meaningful name. For example, if this is a general, weekly Restore Point creation for you, name the file "Weekly Restore - July 1, 2006." If you have a problem in the future, this could be one of the back-up points you can restore to.

Or, let's say you're about to install a new piece of software, like Civilization, then name your Restore Point "Pre-Civilization Installation Restore Point." If your installation goes badly, you can restore your PC to this point in time and keep working as if the installation never took place.

Click CREATE to generate the Restore Point. You're done!

Note that System Restore does have it's faults. Sometimes viruses can be stuck in the System Restore file, and will simply be restored with the rest of your files. If this happens, you will need to disable System Restore and then run your virus scanner to clean the files. To disable System Restore, click on Start then Control Panel then System, then go to the System Restore tab and click the check-box to “Turn off System Restore," and then apply the settings. Once this is done, you may run your virus scanner, and then turn System Restore back on using the same steps.

 

Using Your System Restore Point to Recover Your PC

To create a manual Restore Point, go to your START menu and open your All Programs folder. Inside this folder, choose the Accessories folder and then the System Tools folder. Buried deep down inside this last folder you will find System Restore.

Click on the System Restore menu item to launch the System Restore tool.

Select the radio dial to restore your system to an earlier time, click NEXT.

A calendar will appear listing restore points that you may choose from, choose one you are sure will be before the point where the problem occurred, and remember, no documents will be lost during the process, then click NEXT.

There is one last screen that will ask you to confirm that you want to restore your system back to the selected point, click NEXT.

 

Physically Back Up Your Files to External Media

Backing up your files to external media is the best thing you can do to prevent unintended data loss and save yourself from an "F" on that final term paper when your PC decides to catch a virus! Backing up your files to external media means you have physically copied your documents, spreadsheets, presentations, pictures, and music files to another medium - such as an external hard drive, CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, flash drive, or a remote storage location (such as your student network drive or a file sharing/storage space on Google).

To create a physical back up of your files to external media, we recommend one of the following options:

Burn to CD-R/RW or DVD-R/RW

In this scenario, you will need to have a CD or DVD burner, a software application that will allow you to use the burner, and a supply of blank discs. "R" type discs are one-time use, while "RW" type discs can be written and erased many types. Check to make sure your burner supports the "R" or "RW" type you want to use.

Copy to Flash Drive or External Hard Drive

In this scenario all you need to purchase is either an external hard drive or a flash drive (typically connects via USB cables). No special software is needed. All you need to do, is connect the external drive, open up your My Documents folder (or wherever your are storing your files), select them all
(CTRL +A) and copy them (CTRL +C). Then navigate to the external drive (go to My Computer and open the drive by double clicking it) and once the window is open, paste your files into the external drive
(CTRL +V).

Upload to Network Drive or Web-Based File Storage

In this scenario, you may need to purchase FTP software that will enable you to remotely upload your files. Some providers will provide a web-based utility to do this, so no software will need to be purchased. This method, while free, may also take the longest amount of time to do, since you may only be able to upload one document at a time.

 

Web Resources

Microsoft SyncToy Tool
(You can use this free tool with Windows XP to set up a back-up routine for your PC)

 

PDF Resources

• How to Use the Microsoft SyncToy Tool
• How to Create A Restore Point Using Microsoft Windows