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The first step is to choose a backup device.
You might choose a tape drive or a DVD drive, but those devices might require
drivers to be installed before you could restore from them. The simplest option
is to install a second hard drive in your computer.
The second hard drive doesn't have to be equal
to your main hard drive. You can use an older, smaller hard drive as 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 Drive
When installing a second hard drive in your
computer, it's important to configure the drives correctly. Your motherboard
should have two ATA (sometimes called IDE) connectors. The primary connector
should have a cable with two drive connectors. The end connector should go to
your main hard drive, the middle connector can be used for a backup hard drive.
The second motherboard ATA connector should go to your CD-ROM.
On the back of each hard drive is a jumper. The
jumper on your 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 be automatically recognized and be designated with the next drive
letter available, usually E: (D: being used for the CD-ROM drive).
Format the Second Hard Drive
Generally, you will want to re-format the
second hard drive after installation to remove any previously installed
operating system and to remove any previous file access rights. 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 popup menu, select All Tasks | Format... In the Warning dialog box 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 the
Warning dialog box that appears, click on the "Yes" button.
Install the Backup Utility
Windows XP Home Edition doesn't install the
Backup utility by default. You'll need to install it manually from your Windows
XP CD-ROM.
1. After inserting the CD-ROM, open Control
Panel's "Add or Remove Programs" utility. In the "Add or Remove Programs"
utility", click on the "Add New Programs" button, then click on the "CD or
Floppy" button.
2. In the "Run Installation Program" dialog box
that appears, navigate to the VALUEAD/MSFT/NTBACKUP folder on the CD-ROM and
select the file NTBACKUP.MSI. Click on the "Finish" button. The Backup utility
will be installed.
Perform a Full Backup
To 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 the Windowssystem32 folder.
In the "Backup or Restore Wizard", click on the
"Advanced Mode" link. In the "Backup Utility" dialog box, select the "Backup"
tab and set the checkbox next to the drive to backup (c:) and set the checkbox
next to "System State".
In the "Backup media or file name" text box,
enter the path to the file for the backup (example E:Backup.bkf). Click on the
"Start Backup" button.
In the "Backup Job Information" dialog box that
appears, set the radio button next to "Replace the data on the media with this
backup". Click on the "Start Backup" button. The "backup Progress" dialog box
will appear.
Even when you backup to relatively fast media
like hard disk, the process can take 30 minutes or longer depending upon how
much data is on the main drive.
When the backup is complete, turn off the
computer and remove the data and power cables from the backup drive. It doesn't
make sense to leave the backup drive connected because if the cause of a failure
is a power spike, it will take out both drives. Next time you want to backup
you'll need to reinstall the cables.
How to Perform a Restore
In the unfortunate event that your computer
crashes and you can't get it back by any other means, you'll need to reinstall
Windows XP from the CD-ROM. (Automated System Recovery is not supported in
Windows XP Home Edition.) You'll need to re-install the Backup utility. Then
you'll need to shut down the computer to install the data and power cables to
the backup drive. Restart the computer and use the Backup Utility to restore
Windows XP from the backup file.
When using this backup method, it's important
to be careful not to break any pins when you are removing and installing the
data cable of the hard drive. And if your computer doesn't use "cable Select",
don't forget to change the jumper on the main hard drive back to "Single".
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