Windows XP in a Nutshell, Second Edition

Name

Backup — \windows\system32\ntbackup.exe

Synopsis

Backup (copy) files from your hard drive to a tape drive, second hard drive, or other removable storage device for the purpose of safeguarding or archiving your data. Note: the Backup utility comes with XP Home and XP Pro, but is only installed by default in XP Pro.

To install it on an XP Home system, pop your Windows XP Home installation disc into your CD drive. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to \valueadd\msft\ntbackup. Double-click the Ntbackup.msi file—this runs the installer. When installation is complete, a new Backup entry will be added to the Start menu. To run Backup, select Start → All Programs → Accessories → System Tools. Note: You can’t back up to CD, despite Windows built-in support for CD-RW drives. To get around this odd quirk, in Backup, select File from the “Backup destination” drop-down menu, save the backup to your hard drive, then burn that backup to CD or DVD.

To Open

Start → Programs → Accessories → System Tools → Backup

Command Prompt → ntbackup

Description

Microsoft Backup works by creating a backup set—a collection of selected files to be backed up to a removable storage device. This backup set, along with all the selected options available in Backup (e.g., data compression, password protection, error report listing, etc.) are known collectively as a backup “job.”

To begin creating a backup job, choose the Backup tab and use the familiar Explorer-like two-pane view to navigate through your folders. Click ...