How to use Windows backup tools

Windows Vista
The version of Windows Backup that comes with Vista is more limited than the XP version, as it does not allow the user to exclude specific files and folders from the backup. Instead, Vista’s Backup and Restore Center (find it in the System and Maintenance section of Control Panel, from the Start menu) backs up files based on type and drive.

Click the ‘Change settings’ link in the Back up files section to access the Backup Status and Configuration dialogue box. Now click the ‘Change backup settings’ link and follow the wizard’s prompts.

While it’s possible to exclude an entire drive from the backup, the only way to remove particular files from the backup schedule is by excluding a file type (so you can instruct Backup and Restore Center to ignore ‘music’ or ‘video’ files, fox example).

Windows 7
Windows 7 users can launch the Backup and Restore tool by clicking Start followed by Control Panel and then the ‘Back up your computer’ link under the System and Security heading. Now click the ‘Set up backup’ and follow the wizard to set up the backup options and schedule.

Note that while Windows 7’s backup tool restores individual file exclusion, missing from Vista’s built-in effort, but the ability to back up to a network computer or drive exists only in Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate editions.

It’s also possible to create a full disk image backup using Windows 7’s Backup and Restore tool – just click the ‘Create a system image’ link and follow the prompts.

Take advantage of windows 7
While the backup tools in both Windows 7 and XP offer the option to back up ‘everything’ on a PC, what this really means is all the documents and files it contains.

If you want to backup absolutely everything, including files, installed programs and your copy of Windows then you need to create an ‘image’ of the hard disk. This is a single file that contains a replica of everything on the hard disk.

Should disaster then strike, you can restore from the image to put everything, including Windows, back to how it was.

This can be done quite simply using Windows 7, but otherwise you’ll need extra software.

Plan your backup
While we’ve demonstrated the basics of finding and using Windows’ various backup tools it’s important to develop a personal backup strategy to ensure the contents of your computer stays safe.

Many people, for example, back up only their personal files and folders, rather than the entire contents of the computer’s hard disk. This saves an awful lot of time and storage space but if the computer later succumbs to a terminal fault, only your personal data will be restorable from the backup.

Any applications, utilities or games you may own and have previously installed on your computer will have to be reinstalled from the original discs or downloaded again from the internet.

If that concerns you then it may be as wise to carry out a complete backup every month or two, complemented by weekly (or nightly) backups of personal files. For more advice on performing a complete backup, see the box labelled ‘Image conscious’ below.