How,Backup,Windows,Home,Editio computer How to Backup Windows XP Home Edition

Gone are those times when the companies and the organisations didn't need a hi-tech system to handle them. Owing to the considerable increase in the business sector and thus, an enormous increase in the complexity of the organisational struc ----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website,offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as longas no changes a

----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website,offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as longas no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and theresource box below is included. ----------------------------------------------------------How to Backup Windows XP Home EditionBy Stephen BucaroYour computer cost you from hundreds to thousands ofdollars, but the computer itself is not the most valuablepart. The data on the hard disk is the most valuable part.How many hours of work did you put into creating that data?One little event, like a power line spike from a lightningstrike, and all that work could be lost. Unfortunately,backing up with Windows XP Home Edition is not as simpleas it should be.The first step is to choose a backup device. You mightchoose a tape drive or a DVD drive, but those devices mightrequire drivers to be installed before you could restorefrom them. The simplest option is to install a second harddrive in your computer.The second hard drive doesn't have to be equal to yourmain hard drive. You can use an older, smaller hard driveas the backup device, as long as the backup drive has more"Free Space" than the main hard drive has "Used Space".Install a Second Hard DriveWhen installing a second hard drive in your computer, it'simportant to configure the drives correctly. Yourmotherboard should have two ATA (sometimes called IDE)connectors. The primary connector should have a cable withtwo drive connectors. The end connector should go to yourmain hard drive, the middle connector can be used for abackup hard drive. The second motherboard ATA connectorshould go to your CD-ROM.On the back of each hard drive is a jumper. The jumper onyour main hard drive should be set to the "Master" position.The jumper on your backup hard drive should be set to"Slave" position. Most modern computers use "Cable Select",so you can set both jumpers to the "Cable Select" position.Don't forget the power connector for the second drive.When you restart your computer, the second drive should beautomatically recognized and be designated with the nextdrive letter available, usually E: (D: being used for theCD-ROM drive).Format the Second Hard DriveGenerally, you will want to re-format the second hard driveafter installation to remove any previously installedoperating system and to remove any previous file accessrights. To format the drive, select Start | Settings |Control Panel | Administration Tools | Computer Management.In the "Computer Management" window, under "Storage",click on "Disk Management".Right click on the backup disk's drive letter. In the popupmenu, select All Tasks | Format... In the Warning dialogbox that appears, click on the "Yes" button. In the"Format" dialog box, in the "File system" drop-down list,select NTFS. Click on the "OK" button. Again, in theWarning dialog box that appears, click on the "Yes" button.Install the Backup UtilityWindows XP Home Edition doesn't install the Backup utilityby default. You'll need to install it manually from yourWindows XP CD-ROM.1. After inserting the CD-ROM, open Control Panel's "Addor Remove Programs" utility. In the "Add or RemovePrograms" utility", click on the "Add New Programs" button,then click on the "CD or Floppy" button.2. In the "Run Installation Program" dialog box thatappears, navigate to the VALUEAD/MSFT/NTBACKUP folder onthe CD-ROM and select the file NTBACKUP.MSI. Click on the"Finish" button. The Backup utility will be installed.Perform a Full BackupTo perform a backup, select Start | Programs | Accessories| System Tools | Backup to open the Backup Utility.Note: If you don't find Backup listed in System Tools,double click on the file name ntbackup.exe in theWindowssystem32 folder.In the "Backup or Restore Wizard", click on the "AdvancedMode" link. In the "Backup Utility" dialog box, select the"Backup" tab and set the checkbox next to the drive tobackup (c:) and set the checkbox next to "System State".In the "Backup media or file name" text box, enter the pathto the file for the backup (example E:Backup.bkf). Clickon the "Start Backup" button.In the "Backup Job Information" dialog box that appears,set the radio button next to "Replace the data on the mediawith this backup". Click on the "Start Backup" button. The"backup Progress" dialog box will appear.Even when you backup to relatively fast media like harddisk, the process can take 30 minutes or longer dependingupon how much data is on the main drive.When the backup is complete, turn off the computer andremove the data and power cables from the backup drive. Itdoesn't make sense to leave the backup drive connectedbecause if the cause of a failure is a power spike, it willtake out both drives. Next time you want to backup you'llneed to reinstall the cables.How to Perform a RestoreIn the unfortunate event that your computer crashes and youcan't get it back by any other means, you'll need toreinstall Windows XP from the CD-ROM. (Automated SystemRecovery is not supported in Windows XP Home Edition.)You'll need to re-install the Backup utility. Then you'llneed to shut down the computer to install the data andpower cables to the backup drive. Restart the computer anduse the Backup Utility to restore Windows XP from thebackup file.When using this backup method, it's important to becareful not to break any pins when you are removing andinstalling the data cable of the hard drive. And if yourcomputer doesn't use "cable Select", don't forget to changethe jumper on the main hard drive back to "Single".----------------------------------------------------------Resource Box:Copyright(C) Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintainyour computer and use it more effectively to design a Website and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.comTo subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visithttp://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp---------------------------------------------------------- Article Tags: Main Hard Drive, Backup Windows, Home Edition, Second Hard, Hard Drive, Backup Drive, Main Hard, Drive Should, Backup Utility