Windows Backup

• Click "Start," then "All Programs," then "System Tools," then "Backup" to pop up the "Backup or Restore Wizard." Follow directions to complete the backing up of your files and settings. Using this utility to back up data is a viable alternative to System Restore and is safer. The downfall, however, is that it is readily available only if you use Windows XP Professional and newer versions of the Windows operating systems, like Vista or Windows 7, because the Backup utility is not preinstalled in the Windows XP Home Edition.
  
  

Backup Utility Installation

• Insert the original disk used for the installation of Windows XP, or if it came preinstalled with the purchase of the PC, use the Windows XP disk that came with the computer. If Autorun does not open with insertion of the disk, click "Start," then "My Computer," and then double-click the DVD drive, usually drive "D," to open the contents of the disk. When you see the Microsoft Welcome Screen, click "Perform Additional Tasks," and then click "Browse This CD." Click the folder named "ValueAdd," and then click the folder named "Msft," then "Ntbackup." Double-click "Ntbackup.msi" to open the Installation Wizard. Follow the prompts to install the Windows Backup Utility. When installation is complete, click "Finish" to close the Wizard and restart the system.
  
  

SyncBack Freeware 3.2.19.0

• This free program has an Editor rating of five out of five stars and a user rating of four out of five stars. The positive review is for the program's rich features and ease of use. You can set and schedule the backup utility to back up one or all files. It can back up the system data to anywhere you choose, like an external hard drive or a CD (with the help of UDF or Universal Data Format), or you can transfer the files elsewhere using FTP (File Transfer Protocol). The restore function utilizes familiar views, such as the native tree view of Windows files, and you can also export the system files to HTML for easy viewing. Both the backup and system restore utilities use few system resources when running, meaning the computer does not lag when the program is in use.
  
  

Third-Party Software

• Third-party software programs available for purchase do the same job of backing up Widows XP files as their freeware counterparts. While producing the same results as the free versions, some people decide they like the extra "bells and whistles" features the paid-for versions afford them. They really are no different from the freeware versions in terms of quality of the program and ease of use. In some cases, the free versions, such as SyncBack Freeware, actually have more features and better ratings than their paid-for equivalent.