| Considering the increased amounts of data that you | | | | the only removable storage it has in store for you. |
| save to your computer each day, more and more | | | | Now think how many floppy diskettes it will require |
| users embark on a quest for the most effective and | | | | to back up 30GB of critical information! |
| reliable backup solution. However, very few know | | | | A standard program allows backing up your data to |
| that Windows XP has its own backup utility. | | | | virtually any known type of removable media |
| You may sigh with relief because this means you | | | | including CD, DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-ray, USB flash and |
| don't have to buy special backup software, though | | | | external drives, as well as remote locations such as |
| you should know that such software gives you a | | | | LAN, FTP, SFTP, remote online server. |
| number of important advantages above those that | | | | WXBT offers five types of backup: normal, copy, |
| the operating system offers. In this article we will | | | | daily, differential, and incremental. To be honest, this |
| compare a standard functionality backup program | | | | abundance of backup types causes nothing, but |
| with the Windows XP backup tool (WXBT). | | | | confusion especially if this is your first time backup. |
| The WXBT allows backing up all user files in just one | | | | Most backup programs offer two most common |
| task. If you select the option of the My Documents | | | | types of backup: full and incremental. These two |
| backup, it will copy the entire contents of the | | | | types should be enough to meet all your |
| Documents and Settings folder including MS Outlook | | | | requirements and cause no user confusion as the |
| Outlook Express messages and settings as well as | | | | definition of the two types is very clearly stated in |
| your profile settings. | | | | the program. |
| However, in most situations full backup is not | | | | WXBT allows backing up the System state data that |
| necessary. In all likelihood the My Documents folder | | | | include Registry, Boot files, COM + Class Registration |
| of your computer will be large in size and contain a | | | | database. However, you cannot include or exclude |
| lot of irrelevant information. If this is the case, WXBT | | | | specific components. |
| suggests that you manually specify files that you | | | | A professional backup program allows creating a hard |
| want to include or exclude from the backup set. | | | | drive image including the operating system and all |
| A standard backup program has the option of file | | | | system settings. It also has the option of copying |
| filtering so you don't have to manually specify each | | | | Windows Registry and even allows backing up |
| file, but rather specify file extensions of the needed | | | | specific Registry components such as user keys, |
| files. For example, if you want to back up only the | | | | configuration keys etc. |
| MS Word documents, you only have to specify the | | | | Conclusions |
| doc. file extension and the program will automatically | | | | Having considered the pros and cons of Windows XP |
| find and copy all Word files. | | | | backup tool, as compared to a standard backup |
| Besides, it allows doing target backup of data from | | | | program, we can say that WXBT is a viable solution |
| specific applications such as Adobe Photoshop, | | | | for home computers, however the major fault with it |
| Windows Media Player, ICQ etc. This means that you | | | | is that it cannot back up to optical disks and allows |
| only have to specify the program whose data you | | | | recording your data only to a floppy disk which is |
| are going to back up. | | | | outdated and does not meet today storage |
| When you do a backup, it is extremely important | | | | requirements. |
| where you keep the resulting files. It is | | | | The main advantage of a professional backup |
| recommended to keep such files as far as possible | | | | program is that it can record your data to any type |
| from the local computer. | | | | of optical disk, even the new generation disks such |
| The farthest location WXBT suggests is a network | | | | as Blu-ray and HD-DVD. Besides that such a program |
| drive or an external drive. By default, it will even | | | | offers flexible file filters to simplify the process of |
| offer you to back up to a floppy drive, and that's | | | | data files selection. |