This article discusses how to back up vital computer data on a computer that is running Windows XP. This article focuses on how to back up personal files and data such as e-mail messages, music, pictures, and documents.

	Note:
	This article applies to data that is located on the computer's hard disk drive. The procedures in this article do not refer to data that is stored on web sites or on other computers on the network.

A backup is a copy of files and folders that are stored in a different location from the original files and folders on the computer. If the original files and folders are inaccessible or are accidentally deleted or replaced, you can use the backup to restore the damaged or lost data. Before backing up data, consider the following factors:

• The kinds of data to back up
• The location of the data to back up
• The backup method and the backup tool to use
• The storage medium on which to save the backup

This article discusses these topics and also contains information about how to back up specific types of data, such as e-mail data and third-party program data.

Determine the kinds of data to back up. Data refers to files and folders on the computer's hard disk drive. Personal data to may include the following:

• E-mail messages
• Pictures
• Business and school documents
• Music and video
• Financial data and tax information
• Program installation files, such as programs that are downloaded from the Internet that do not have installation media
• Other personal documents that you want to keep and protect

The data must be located on the computer's hard disk drive. The procedures below do not back up data that is stored on Web sites or on other computers on the network.

• The My Documents folder and its subfolders, which include the following:
  
  
  • My Pictures folder
  • My Music folder
    
    
• The Favorites folder
  
  

  	Note:
  	This folder is located in the X:\Documents and Settings\UserName folder, where X is the drive on which Windows XP is installed, and UserName is your user name.

  
  
• The Desktop

Most personal files and data are located in the My Documents folder and in its subfolders. To open the My Documents folder to view the files and the subfolders that it contains, click Start, and then click My Documents.

If the data is not located in the My Documents folder, its subfolders, or in any of the locations mentioned earlier, use the Search feature in Windows XP to help find the data. To search for files and folders in Windows XP, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Search.
   
   
2. Under What do you want to search for? in the Search Companion pane of the Search Results window that appears, click All files and folders.
   
   
3. Under Search by any or all of the criteria below in the Search Companion pane:
   
   
   • Type all or part of the file name in the All or part of the file name box.
   • Type a word or a phrase that the file contains in the A word or phrase in the file box.
     
     
4. In the Look in box, specify the drive, the drives, or the folder from which to search.
   
   
5. Click Search.

For more information about how to search for files and folders in Windows XP, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: "How To Search for Files and Folders in Windows XP" Article ID: 308895.

The backup method that is used depends on the backup tools that are available. The following are some options for backing up data:

• The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP. The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard is the preferred tool to use.
  
• The Backup utility in Windows XP
  
  

  	Note:
  	If the computer is running Windows XP Professional, the Backup utility is already installed. If the computer is running Windows XP Home Edition, the Backup utility is not installed. You must install it. For more information about how to install and use the Backup utility, see the following Microsoft resources: Windows XP Backup Made Easy Microsoft Knowledge Base Article: How to use the Backup utility that is included in Windows XP to back up files and folders Article ID: 308422

  
  
• Third-party backup software

Determine the storage medium for the backed up data

Determine the storage medium on which to save the backed up data. When choosing the storage type, consider the size and number of files that to  be backed up. Ideally, data should be backed up to removable media like CD or DVD discs that can be easily accessed.

The following are examples of storage types and other methods on which to save backups. These storage types include removable media and external media.

• Writeable DVDs and CDs
  This storage type includes CD-R discs, CD-RW discs, and DVD+/-RW discs. The computer must also have a CD recorder or a DVD recorder (also known as a CD burner or a DVD burner)
  
• An external hard disk
  If the computer has a universal serial bus (USB) port, an external hard disk can be attached to the computer, and the backed up data can be stored on the external hard disk.
  
• A network location
  If the computer is on a network, data can be backed up to another computer on the network.
  
• An Internet-based file storage service
  Files can be uploaded to an online resource, and then the files can be downloaded from the online resource, as needed.
  
• A USB flash drive (also known as a USB memory key or a thumb drive)
  A USB flash drive is a small, portable device that connects to the USB port on the computer. It is used to store data and to easily transfer data from one computer to another computer.
  
• Floppy disks
  Most modern computers do not have a floppy disk drive. Additionally, floppy disks can only hold a very small amount of data. Data may be too large to fit on a floppy disk.
  
• E-mail
  E-mail can be used to send files to an e-mail address, and then the data can be retrieved later.

The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP can back up and restore most files and system settings. For more information, see the following Dell Knowledge Base Article: "How do I back up and restore data using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Microsoft® Windows® XP?" Article ID: 291602

Dell recommends that you back up your e-mail data before performing an operating system reinstall. The backup and restore method that a particular e-mail program uses is specific to that program. If you are using a web-based e-mail program (such as Yahoo, Gmail, or Hotmail), you do not need to perform this back up procedure.

In addition to backing up your documents and e-mail, it is also advised that you back up data for other types of applications you may use. For example, tax software and video games sometimes save your data in other (custom) folder names. For some programs, only one folder may have to be saved. For other programs, files that use a particular file name extension may have to be saved.

For more information about how to find data that is specific to third-party software, use one of the following methods:

• Visit the Web site of the software manufacturer. Additionally, search the support knowledge base of the software manufacturer (if a knowledge base is available).
• Search the Internet.