How to Back up a Windows XP or Windows Server 2003-based Computer?

This article describes how to manually back up your personal files and settings on Windows XP or Windows Server 2003-based computers as a precautionary measure or to be transferred to another computer or another operating system. This article discusses the use of data transfer tools and standard file copy techniques to complete this.

Recommendations:

Back up your files to removable media (external hard disks, DVDs, CDs, or USB memory cards) or to a network location. Do not back up your files to a recovery partition or to the same hard disk on which Windows is installed.

Always store the media that you use for backups in a secure location to prevent unauthorized access to your files. We recommend a fireproof location that is separate from your computer. You may also consider encrypting the backup data.

Under the Two Circumstances - How to Back up a Windows XP or Windows Server 2003-based Computer?

1. Transfer files and settings from Windows XP

Use the Windows XP Files and Settings Transfer Wizard to transfer files from a Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003-based computer to another Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003-based computer.

• Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
  
• Click Next, click Old computer, and then click Next.
• Select how you want to transfer your files. If you select Other, you can save to a network location or to removable media so that you can keep a backup for your records.
• Select what you want to back up, and then click Next.

Note: Not all applications save their files to the user folder, you should make sure that you check other third-party applications and the location of their saved files, and then copy those files to the network location or to the removable media.

2. Manually make a copy of files

To manually copy your files to a network location or removable media such as a removable hard disk drive, CD, DVD, or a USB memory card, follow these steps:

• Click Start, click Computer, and then double-click the drive where you currently have Windows installed.
• Open the Users folder, and then open the user folder from which you want to back up the files.
• Copy the necessary folders from the user folder to a network location or to removable media.
• To copy data for all users, repeat steps 2 through 3.

Tip: To determine the size of all the files in the user folder, select all the folders, right-click those selected folders, and then click Properties.

The saved files can be copied to any computer. However, you must have related applications installed on that computer to open those individual files.

Note: Not all applications save their files to the user folder. You should make sure that you check other applications and the location of their saved files, and then copy those files to the network location or to the removable media.

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