How to do a Complete Backup in Vista Ultimate

[Niheel]

The importance of backups can never be emphasized enough. In Vista Ultimate and Windows Server 2008, there is a built in feature to take care of backups called Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore.

It can be found by:

Start >> All Programs >> Maintenance >> Backup and Restore Center

Backing Up Your Data and PC

Backup my files
If you only want to back up your important files and data, Backup and Restore Center gives you this option.

Just click on the "Backup Your Files" button and it will take you to a dialog that asks you where you would like to backup your data. You have either the option of using a disk(floppy, usb, external) or you can backup your data to a network share.

Once you've selected your desitation just follow the instructions to select the folders and data you would like to back and then begin the process of the the backup.



Backup up my entire PC
On the other hand if you are more interested in backing up your whole pc just in case something goes really bad, like a virus or hardware that fails you can use the option of a "Complete PC Backup."

This type of backup will take a complete image of your whole hard drive as it is so that you can restore it at a later date. Complete PC Backup also allows you to backup multiple drives at one time so that you can recover your whole setup at a later date.

To start the backup, click on "Backup Computer" and then in the next dialog pick the destination where you'd like to store the data. Use an external drive or a seperate drive from the one your OS is on. Make sure the size of the drive is larger or atleast equal to the drive that you are using as your source drive.

You also have the option of making the backups across multiple DVDs if you have a DVD writer.

Once your data is backed up you can relax a bit knowing that your data is stored somewhere you can get at just incase.

Update your backups regularly and if possible create multiple copies just in case your backup needs a backup.