Backup and recovery
Maintenance and Service Guide 7–3

Backing up your information

As you add new software and data files, back up your system on a regular basis to maintain a reasonably current
backup. Back up your system at the following times:
At regularly scheduled times
Set reminders to back up your information periodically.
Before the computer is repaired or restored
Before you add or modify hardware or software
When backing up:
Create system restore points using the Windows System Restore feature, and periodically copy them to disc.
Store personal files in the Documents library and back up this folder periodically.
Back up templates stored in their associated programs.
Save customized settings in a window, toolbar, or menu bar by taking a screen shot of your settings. The screen
shot is a time-saver if you have to reset your preferences.
To copy the screen and paste it into a word-processing document:
1. Display the screen.
2. Copy the screen:
To copy only the active window, press alt+fn+prt sc.
To copy the entire screen, press fn+prt sc.
3. Open a word-processing document, and then select Edit > Paste.
4. Save the document.
Back up your information to an optional external hard drive, a network drive, or discs.
When backing up to discs, use any of the following types of discs (purchased separately): CD-R, CD-RW,
DVD+R, DVD-R, or DVD±RW. The discs used will depend on the type of optical drive installed in the
computer.
DVDs store more information than CDs, so using them for backup reduces the number of recovery
discs required.
When backing up to discs, number each disc before inserting it into the optical drive of the computer.