Backup Explained

Q: In your August 11 article you advised the person to use the backup system. I suppose this is elementary but what backup system are you referring to other than the restore CD I have? I'm not having problems but am curios in case I have that problem in the future.
Totec
A: In my August 11th article I gave the inquirer two major bits of advice. The first was to use a copy of his backup. The vast majority of the accidents that cause data loss are unplanned. Thus, the need to construct alternatives in the event that the unplanned happens. A CD with your computer’s information on it is the minimal level of disaster recovery that everyone should have. You have two options when it comes to performing backups on a computer with Windows Me and most other operating systems. You can use the Microsoft Backup program or MS Backup as it is known. MS Backup is not normally installed when the Windows Me operating system is loaded, but it is on the Windows Me installation CD. If you happen to have the installation CD then you can put it in the CD drive and perform a search for msbackup or a file named msbexp.exe. Once you install it you should find it under System Tools in the Accessories header. If you do not have the Windows Me installation CD, then you can purchase third party software or hardware backup items. This can include everything from Norton’s Ghost by Symantec to the One Touch backup hard drive by Maxtor. Both are becoming industry standards.
The other bit of advice that I gave Mr. Russell was to attempt a system restore. As I state in the article, there is a difference between a backup and a system restore. System restore is only concerned with the programs that keep the operating system operating, and those that were installed on the computer. It does not track files that were created by the user, like a school paper or digital pictures. The system restore create snapshots called checkpoints. These snapshots remember what a computer’s system settings are on a particular day and at a particular time. This means that if you are having problems similar to Mr. Russell’s then you can reset your computer to time before you began experiencing problems. The checkpoints are created in several ways. They are when you install new software on your computer; download one of the many update patches offered by Microsoft, or when you are ready to perform a restore operation. The last method is sort of a safety valve incase you select the wrong checkpoint to restore to.
Although the advice that I gave Mr. Russell was intended for a Windows Me operating system, it could more or less be transferred to an XP system also. I am glad that you are asking questions before there is a problem, and I hope that this inspires you to establish a weekly or monthly backup schedule.