Windows Vista - Sunday, June 22, 2008 20:43 - 0 Comments

Configure ntbackup in Vista

VISTA: How To Use The Backup Utility (NTBackup)

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XP comes with its own backup utility known as NTbackup. While far from an ideal backup method it can be used to quickly get yourself out of trouble. NTbackup is not an imaging program but simply a file copy program. It is a more complete backup method than System Restore. In addition you can schedule NTbackup to run periodically and specify the type of backup.
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To Perform A Backup:
1. Click START >> Programs >> Accessories >> system Tools >> Backup.
2. Click “Next”.
3. Click “Next”. You have to make a backup before you can use a backup.
4. Select what you want to backup. For this article, we’ll use “Let me choose”.
5. Click “Next”.
6. To keep things simple, I’ll backup Drive C and System State.
7. Click “Next”.
8. I want to backup to Drive D, and call it “TestBack”
   A. This can be any location on the computer, or the network, other than a CD.
        a. Once the backup is created, it can be transferred to a CD.
9. Click “Next”.
10. Click “Advanced”.
11. For this example, select “Normal”
    A. “Copy” backs up files, but doesn’t clear the archive attritbute.
    B. “Daily Backup” is self-explanatory.
    C. “Differential Backup” only makes a backup of files changed since the last full backup.
        a. This option does not clear the archive attribute.
    D. “Incremental Backup” is similar to item C, but DOES clear the archive attribute.
    E. “Normal Backup” makes a copy of all files and folders, clears the archive attribute.
12. Click “Next”.
13. ALWAYS select to “Verify”.  It’s just safer that way.
14. Click “Next”.
15. This option doesn’t need explaining. Choose your option, and click “Next”.
16. Select “Now”.  After the initial backup, you may want to change this.
17. Click “Next”.
18. Verify the options are correct, and click “Next”.

That is all it takes to create a backup.  Performing this task will most likely take a little while.  After the initial backup, you will probably want to adjust some of the settings we used here, and set it up for automatic backups in the future, but that is a personal preference.

To Restore From backup:
1. Click START >> Programs >> Accessories >> system Tools >> Backup.
2. Select “Restore files”.
3. Click “Next”.
4. Choose whether to do a full backup, or only selected parts.
5. Click “Next”.
6. Verify that the restore will perform what you need, and click “Next”.
7. Click “OK”.
8. Click “OK”.
9. When the restore has completed, click “Close”.
10. If prompted to do so, restart the computer.

Remember to print out these instructions, and keeep them somewhere safe.  I suggest keeping them with your product keys, and other important computer documents, but that’s entirely up to you.

Article written by MyComputerAid.com