Chapter 6: Backup and recovery

Backing up your information

When to back up

■On a regularly scheduled basis

✎ Set reminders to back up your information periodically.

■Before the computer is repaired or restored

■Before you add or modify hardware or software

Backup suggestions

■Create a set of recovery discs using Recovery Manager.

■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 the customized settings in a window, toolbar, or menu bar by taking a screen shot of the settings. The screen shot can be a time-saver if you have to reset your preferences. To copy the screen and paste the image into a word-processing document:

a.Display the screen.

b.Copy the screen:

To copy only the active window, press alt+prt sc. To copy the entire screen, press prt sc.

c.Open a word-processing document, click Edit, and then click Paste.

d.Save the document.

Using system restore points

When you back up your system, you are creating a system restore point. A system restore point allows you to save and name a snapshot of your hard drive at a specific point in time. You can then recover back to that point if you want to reverse subsequent changes made to your system.

✎Recovering to an earlier restore point does not affect data files saved or e-mails created since the last restore point.

You also can create additional restore points to provide increased protection for your system files and settings.

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Notebook Essentials