Use these instructions for backing up your XP

Part 5 of my backing up tutorials is for Xpers. Next week I’ll cover backing up Vista.

If you’ve installed Second Copy, created an Exact folder and an Archive folder on your eternal hard drive, you’re ready to go.

1. Click on the Second Copy shortcut in the Notification area of your toolbar.
2. When Second Copy opens click on the New Profile icon or click File > New Profile.
3. You’ll be presented with two options: Express Setup and Custom Setup.

I’ll describe how to configure a Custom setup for both a simple copy and an exact copy because although I’ll not be using all the options Custom Setup offers, as I progress through the Exact and Simple copy configurations you’ll at least become aware of options you might like to try in the future.

4. Click on Custom Setup > Next.
5. On the "What do you want to copy?" panel use the Browse button to scroll to your My Documents folder. Click Next.
6. On the "Which Files?" panel click "All files and folders". Click Next.

Note: In the future you may want to experiment with "Only selected files and folders" as you may decide not to backup all the files and folders in My Documents.

7. In the "Where?" panel use the Browse button to scroll down to the "Exact" backup folder you created on your external hard drive. Click Next.
8. In the "When" panel I suggest you use the little down triangle to set your "When" to "Manual. Click Next.
9. In "How" Panel use the little down triangle to select "Exact Copy". Click Next.
10. In the "Finish" panel" Type in "Exact Copy".

When you are returned to the Profile panel, open a new Profile and follow steps 1-8.
9. In "How" Panel select "Simple Copy". Click Next.
10. In the "Finish" panel" Type in "Simple Copy".

When you return to the Profile panel click on Edit > Select all and then click on the Blue arrow on the Menu bar.

The backups will begin. They’ll take awhile as they’ll be making first time complete copies of your My Documents.

In future "Exact" backups Second Copy will copy all new files and synchronize your Hard Drive and External drive My Documents. Simple Copy will add new files to your external hard but will not expunge old files from your external hard drive.

The perfect backup duo to protect all your irreplaceable "Stuff".

Here’s wishing you a Good Boot.