Tech Tip of the Day: How to automatically back up data with Windows backup

Description: Windows 7 has a great tool available to make backing up data a breeze.

1. Begin by going to the Start Menu » Control Panel
   
   


2. Make sure View By: is set to Small Icons.
   
   


3. Click Backup and Restore and plug in an external storage device.
4. Click Set up backup to begin the initial setup.
5. A list of available backup locations will appear. Backups can be either burned to a disc, or saved to an external storage device (i.e. external hard drive, flash drive, etc).
   
   


6. Select the destination for the backup, then click Next
7. It will now ask what info needs to be backed up. The quickest (and easiest) option, is Let Windows Choose. This selects the libraries, desktop and default Windows folders. Click Next.
   
   


8. If there is more than one user on the machine, it allows the backup of specified users only. To choose this, just select a user and click Save settings and run backup.
   
   


9. A scheduled backup can also be set at this screen. To schedule regular backups, click Change Schedule. This allows the user to choose how often, what day, and what time to do backups. When completed, click OK.
   
   


10. The backup will begin. Progress is determined by the green bar. Once completed, the external device is safe for removal. (If a scheduled backup is set, the device will need to be connected at the time specified to complete the backup.
    
    

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

How to setup and run a Time Machine backup with a Time Capsule

Description: Mac computers have a built in backup utility called "Time Machine". This article will describe how to set up a Time Capsule and perform a backup

1. First, make sure the Time Capsule is powered on and connected to the network, or the machine. (For Network Setup, please refer to the Time Capsule owner´s manual)
2. Open the Time Machine program. By default, it is on the dock, though it is also available in the Applications folder as well.
   
   


3. Click and drag the slider to turn Time Machine from Off to On.
   
   


4. A prompt will appear warning that no backup drives have been set. Click Set Up Time Machine.
   
   


5. This will bring up a list of available backup devices. Choose the drive you wish to use, and then select Use for Backup.
   
   


6. The Mac will then attempt to connect to the drive. If the drive is password protected, enter the password and select Connect
   
   
   
   


7. Once connected, Time Machine starts automatically backing up the file system. The Backing Up progress bar will give an estimate to the total amount of time necessary to do the backup.
   
   


8. The computer is now configured to automatically backup the file system.

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Backups and Archiving

1) Plan your backup

The first step is to determine what needs to be backed up. How and what to backup are personal decisions based on how you use your computer. The following are some examples.

Basic system: Data only

Do you use your computer for personal use with its original factory configuration and perhaps an additional program or two? Consider a Data Only Backup Solution. Frequency of Backups would depend on how often information is added or changed. The more often you add or change files, the more often you should back them up. For programs like Outlook and Quicken, where it’s not obvious where their data are kept; their help files usually describe how to back them up.

Complex system: Hard drive imaging plus separate data backup

Do you have a large number of programs installed and/or complex configurations that would take many hours to recreate? Would you or your business suffer if you had to take the time to set everything up from scratch? Consider a disk imaging solution. A disk image, created with a program such as Symantec’s Ghost, is an exact copy of an entire hard drive. Create a new disk image every time a major system change is made. Then Backup your data as needed.

Business system: Automated, complete system backup

Does your computer contain real-time business data that changes frequently? Consider an automated software backup solution and redundant hardware systems. Implement a backup media rotation system and rotate a set off site. Super critical systems warrant complete backup computers and even entire off-premise facilities, called hot-sites.

Things to consider

Try to implement the simplest plan possible which will still accomplish your goals. The less effort it takes to back up your computer, the more likely you will have a current backup when you need it. For example: configure your applications so they keep their data in a central location. By doing this, a backup can be accomplished by simply copying that one folder to a blank CD.

The programs and operating system on your computer are interconnected. A portion (Just the OS or a single Application) will not function apart from the whole. Data files, on the other hand, are portable. Backup (and restore) either the entire computer or just the data; anything else won’t work. In addition, operating systems are unique to the machine on which they were installed. If you restore an OS onto a different computer, it most likely will not work. There are ways around this problem, but they are difficult to implement. If you are dealing with irreparable or stolen hardware, your most straightforward option is to install your programs onto a replacement computer and restore only data.

Even if you choose a complete disk backup solution, not all the files need to be backed up. Some commercial music or video files are encoded so they will only work on the unit where they were originally downloaded. Whether they can be used on a different or recovered system depends on the Digital Rights Management (DRM) scheme used. Also, things like the Internet Cache and temporary files folders have no value. Backing them up will only waste your time and space on your backup media.

2) Determine if backup software is necessary

For most basic backups, simply copying the files to external media is adequate. For more complex situations, backup software can provide added flexibility. Backup software allows you to specify what parts of your computer you wish to include and exclude from the backup. They allow you to make Incremental or Differential backups, where only the files that have changed since the last backup session are copied, speeding the backup process.

Most backup programs also have a schedule or timer feature, which can perform the backup after office hours. If the selected media cannot contain the entire archive, some programs allow backups to span multiple pieces of media. The resulting media can contain the following: Plain files (copy), disk images (Ghost), and archive files (backup programs). Everything except for the plain file copy requires using the creating program to restore files.

In order to restore a backup, you need a functioning computer. Some backup programs come with bootable disks, which will allow you to use a computer with a corrupted (non-bootable) operating system. Many programs even support performing a data restore over network connections.

3) Select where you are going to put your backup

Once you know what needs to be backed up and how you can select appropriate media, some things to consider include the following:

• Will the media hold the entire backup, or will you have to "babysit" and swap in blank media as needed?


• How long it will take to run the backup?


• Do you want multiple sets of backup media to rotate off-site? (This can be difficult with an external hard disk drive, but easier with tapes or recordable DVDs if the amount of data is not too great.)

Some people opt not to use removable media at all and instead synchronize their data across multiple computers, such as between their home and office. Others choose on-line data warehouses on the Internet where they can store their backups. And still others put their trust in redundant (mirrored) drive systems. In the end, it’s up to you to decide what’s right for you.

Media	Avg. Capacity	Speed	Pros and Cons
USB "Thumb" Drives	2GB and up	Fast	Small, easily lost or damaged
Recordable Optical Disks	650MB (CD) 4.7 - 9.4GB (DVD)	Medium	Inexpensive, easily damaged
Removable Disks	1.4MB (floppy) 500MB+ (MO)	Varies	Media can be expensive, availability issues
External Hard Drives	80 - 1TB	Very Fast	Huge capacity, fast, may not be very portable
Local Area Network (Shared server storage)	Varies	Medium	Requires network, ties up network bandwidth
Internet-Based Backup	Varies	Slow	Off-Site, accessible anywhere, requires broadband; ongoing cost
Network Attached Storage (NAS) Stand-Alone Storage (SAS)	Varies	Medium	Requires network, can tie up network bandwidth
RAID (mirroring)	Varies	Very Fast	Real time, requires no user intervention, no off-site storage or history

4) Make a recovery plan and recovery kit

The best time to determine how to restore a system is not in the middle of a crisis. Consider making a written plan of the steps necessary to restore your computer before it is needed. Keep this plan updated and, if possible, test it to make sure it works. In addition, test your backups, making sure the media is readable and that it contains everything it is supposed to.



If your hard drive fails catastrophically, having a current backup can be
critical.

Be aware that viruses and other malicious programs are just files on the
hard drive and can inadvertently be included. A comprehensive anti-virus package should be used on every computer.

Create a recovery kit and keep it in a secure, but accessible, location.
If your backup contains critical Business information, two copies are suggested, keep on on-site for immediate access, and a second copy off-site as a precaution against catastrophic events.

Your recovery kit should contain the following:

• An up-to-date copy of your recovery plan


• Operating System or restore CDs and product key


• All application installation CDs and their product keys


• All programs needed to recover the backup data


• Anything else needed to make this or another computer functional

Windows XP includes a backup utility that can save your files to removable media, a different hard drive, or a network drive.

Note: It does not directly support burning to recordable CD or DVD media.

Windows 7 Backup application adds an option to create an emergency boot disk and can make a complete system backup or incremental backup either at a scheduled time or on demand.



Backup 2.0.2 is available to .Mac members by selecting the Backup icon on the .Mac website and via Automatic Software Update to .Mac members who have already installed a previous version of Backup.

If you use OS X 10.5 or 10.6 and are a subscriber to MobileMe, download the current version of MobileMe Backup to keep items in your Home folder in sync across multiple computers and devices. This includes email, contacts, calendar, bookmarks and other content. To backup items outside of the Home folder, Apple suggests using Time Machine, which can back up your entire hard drive to a Time Capsule, hard drive, or network volume.

Data Recovery and Securing Your Personal Information

[caption id="attachment_315" align="aligncenter" width="257" caption="Erasing files is not enough. "][/caption]

It's getting dark outside; do you know where your data is?
Although various operating systems handle file allocation and directory organization differently, they all pretty much do the same thing when it comes to erasing data. To keep the process simple and fast when a file is "erased", the name is usually modified and the portion of the drive where the content is actually stored is simply made available to store new information on.

In other words, your data is not "gone" when you erase a file. Similarly, when you format a drive or even perform a full system recovery, data can still exist on the drive where new information has not been copied.

Data Recovery programs vary in their sophistication, from something as simple as un-erasing deleted files to scanning the "unused" data space for recognizable data. In either case, the program can only work as long as nothing has overwritten the information you are trying to recover.

Software programs such as RecoverSoft Data Rescue PC (Prosoft Engineering, Inc.), Recover My Files (Get Data) and Search and Recover (Iolo), typically have simple un-erase capability if the drive is partitioned as FAT, or can scan a drive looking for data still hiding in unused data areas.

Prosoft Engineering has a Mac and a Windows version of their Data Rescue software. Although, in some cases, the utility may not even need to recognize or specifically support the operating system, allowing it to find information on Linux, Macintosh, Windows, or other partition types.

[caption id="attachment_316" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Iolo Search and Recover 3 includes tools to make exact image copies of your drive and to perform quick or intensive file recovery of a drive."][/caption]

If the drive is physically damaged such as where the electronics have failed or the motor no longer spins, then these software programs cannot help at all. Under these circumstances, your only real alternative is to send the drive off to a company that can try things like replacing or repairing the defective electronics.

If you have the money and the need, they can go to the extreme, and physically remove the data platters from your drive and place them in an functioning unit to access the data. This type of clean-room recovery is usually very expensive, but may be worthwhile if your information is truly irreplaceable.

[caption id="attachment_318" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Physical damage to the drive platters makes it difficult to recover any data, even if the platters were to be moved to a functional drive mechanism. The damaged platters are likely to immediately destroy the heads in the new drive, and make the surface damage even worse."][/caption]

Physical damage to the drive platters makes it difficult to recover any data, even if the platters were to be moved to a functional drive mechanism. The damaged platters are likely to immediately destroy the heads in the new drive, and make the surface damage even worse.

It's not unusual for a drive platter transplant to cost users $1500-$2000 to recover their critical corporate data. If a head crashed and physically damaged the disk, it may not matter how much money you are willing to spend... damaged platters are generally a lost cause for recovery.

Some conditions can make it difficult for full recovery. What can you do to make recovery more successful or at least can minimize the degree of loss?:

• Stop saving to the drive. The most important condition is that no new data be saved on the drive until you can run a recovery program. Once your old data has been overwritten with new information, recovery is no longer really an option.


• Defragment your drive regularly. Depending on the type of file system and how large your files and drive are, fragmentation of your data could result in only partial recovery or of corrupted content. Performing a regular defragmentation of your hard drive keeps the data in your files contiguous on the disk, and therefore, much easier to recover.


• Don't encrypt files, or keep unencrypted backups of critical data.
  File encryption may protect your data from prying eyes, but it scrambles the contents of the data file, this would probably reduce your chances of recovery, at least where the application tries to identify file types by scanning for specific data headers.

Tips to improve your chances of recovering a file:

• Attempt recovery as quickly as possible. The longer a file goes unrecovered, the more chance that some other data will be saved over the top.


• Don't install, create, or copy anything new to a formatted or re-imaged drive.


• Recommended: If you have software like Symantec Ghost, or Acronis True Image, make an exact image copy (sometimes called a forensic copy) to an identical or larger drive. This gives you an additional backup to work with if things don't go well with the original drive. (Recovery programs should not alter the content of the source drive; having an exact copy provides some insurance against Murphy...)


• Have a spare drive or enough free space: recovery of your data will need to be to a target drive of equal or larger capacity. Some recovery programs will scan the source drive and give you an estimate of required space for the files.


• When all else fails - restore a backup (you DO have a backup, right?)

Is your privacy at risk?
The first time you successfully perform a data recovery on a drive and save data you were sure were gone, it can be a great relief. At least right up until the moment it sinks in that anyone with one of these products might be able to access your files, pictures, and other personal information on any drive you left in an old computer.

I already mentioned that formatting a drive or even restoring a factory system image only overwrites only a small portion of the data on the disk. Any unused space on the drive may hold data that can be rediscovered, and copied off for good, malicious, or just voyeuristic reasons.

If it's so easy to recover files you thought lost or erased, what about securing data on hard drives you might have in old computers or external enclosures or even flash drives? There are several different ways to approach securing your old data drives.

1. Encryption: If you actively use or need access to the information, data encryption may be the easiest. File level encryption may be tied to a user login under your operating system. But encryption is more useful when you can move and maintain the scrambled file between systems, drives, and even to optical media or flash drives. Stand alone-encryption programs use a password to scramble and unscramble your information on demand, as long as you have the program installed on the system with the data.


2. Low level format: Another approach is to wipe or low-level format the drive.


3. Physically destruction: The last and most permanent method is physical destruction of the drive media.

Encryption: A variety of options exist to encrypt files. Windows NT, 2000, and XP Pro all have built-in encryption, but this requires that the drive be formatted NTFS. It is limited in that the OS-level encryption is only in place as long as the files remain on the drive.

If you move or copy an encrypted file to another drive, floppy disk, flash disk or optical media, the operating system removes the encryption to perform the copy.

If you have a version of the OS that does not support Encryption, or you want to keep your files scrambled even if they move, then you usually need some sort of third-party encryption program. This will allow you to password protect files or create encrypted archives with multiple files.

Kubicki Turbo Encrypter and TrueCrypt (free on download.cnet.com) are just a couple of the titles available for stand-alone encryption. Encryption is generally overkill for most users, but concerns about private information getting into the wrong hands make such methods more desirable for some.

Secure Wiping: Programs that securely wipe data can help make sure it does not turn up again later. These promise security because they will specifically target the existing file on the drive and deliberately save null or random information over the top before deleting the file. There are degrees of security available with most of these programs; depending on how many times information is written.

Most wiping programs will either use a "government acceptable standard" of scrambling and rewriting the surface of the disk enough times, that not even spies in high-tech laboratories will be likely to guess what had been previously saved on the drive. This presumes that there really do exist high-tech methods that could be used to determine if the random characters of information found on a disk platter really used to be a 1 and not a 0, and putting enough of these back together to make something coherent.

Programs that can securely wipe your data before erasing include DriveScrubber and System Mechanic (Iolo); Older programs like Symantec System Works or Norton Utilities both contained a wipe-info tool; and a quick search of download.cnet.com will even turn up free apps like Blowfish or Simple File Shredder.

[caption id="attachment_320" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Iolo Drive Scrubber is a tool to securely erase all of a drive or just unused space where your personal data might still exist even after being erased or formatted."][/caption]

 

Low Level Format: For the average user, even a single pass recording of (random) information over your files will equal permanent loss in terms of software programs that an average user or even computer hacker might have access. One tool that can be found on many hard drive manufacturer sites is a low-level format utility or diagnostic utility that performs a similar function.

Low level formatting of a drive will write zeros to every sector of the target drive to verify there are no bad or unusable blocks. Some drive diagnostic programs may do the same thing, by destructive (loss of data) testing of every sector with multiple data patterns to make sure the data read matches what was written. Fujitsu, Western Digital, Seagate (Maxtor) all have some sort of low-level format tool or diagnostic you can download that are specific to their brand of drive.

Physical Destruction: If your drive failed, but at one time had private information on it, you won't be able to perform a secure wipe of the information or low-level format the drive. Under these circumstances, about the only way to guarantee that your data does not get out, is to physically destroy the drive.

Have fun! Bash it with a sledge hammer or drill holes through the platters. Some hard drive platters are made of glass rather than aluminum, and will shatter when you "execute" this type of abuse on them.

I usually just like to disassemble them into interesting or useful parts, pulling the platters and magnets out. (I also try to look for anything that might be artistic in appearance for use in a case mod or other project.) Check for local regulations on disposing of electronics and what may be considered hazardous waste in your state or area; this may limit your options a bit.

 

[caption id="attachment_321" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Some hard drive platters are glass, not metal. It's unlikely any data is coming back from the one on the left."][/caption]

Tips to protect your data and your privacy:

• Encrypt data you use or need to access regularly. Stand-alone encryption software is required to use the information on multiple systems, or to move it to different media such as flash drives or CD-ROM without losing the encryption.


• Securely Wipe individual files, wipe disks before disposal, wipe free space periodically to destroy old information.


• When disposing of old drives or systems with hard drives, disk wipe or low level format the drive before reimaging with the factory recovery.


• Networking:
  
  
  
  • Share folders, not drives; restrict access with passwords; use read-only unless changes are needed
  
  
  • Turn off WiFi routers when not in use and use the highest possible security to prevent easy access to your network.
  
  
  
  


• Use both Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware protection and keep your OS current with critical updates


• Data backup anything you cannot afford to lose. Keep copies of your backup media or drives in a secure location.

Using Windows XP Files and Settings Wizard for Backup

FAST Limitations
The Windows XP Files and Settings Transfer Wizard can only back up settings
for the user that is currently logged in. If multiple system users are configured
on the system, the Files and Settings Wizard must be run for each user.

The FAST Wizard only archives specified files from the system drive, and typically
only from the folders contained in the Documents and Settings folders. If data
files are stored on other drives or in some other directory structure location,
the FAST Wizard may not archive the data.

System Preparation
The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard will copy files from several
Windows and Internet Explorer work-file locations. Verify and correct any errors
on the drive as these will cause most backup programs to abort before the backup
data is fully collected. Cleaning up unnecessary temporary files will speed
up the FAST Wizard process and reduce the size of the resulting archive. (Note:
Defragmentation will have little or no effect on this process.)

Error Checking
Run error checking on the hard disk to check for errors. To correct errors on the startup drive/partition will require a system restart with CHKDSK running before Windows Starts. To do this:

Command Line Method

Windows GUI Method

Click Start > Run. Enter "CMD" in the Open box (without the quotes) and click OK to open a Command Prompt window. At the C: prompt, enter "CHKDSK" and press Enter to check for errors. To scan for and correct errors, enter "CHKDSK/F" and press Enter. Restart the computer to start the process (Start, Turn Off the Computer, Restart). Note: If you choose to run CHKDSK only to look for errors, but not correct them, you will need to repeat the process with the "/F" option only if errors are reported.

Open My Computer, right click on the local hard drive to test, select Properties. Click the Tools tab, and then click the Check Now button in the Error Checking section. Add a checkmark next to Automatically fix file system errors and next to Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors and click Start. Click "Yes" to the option to schedule the disk Check next time you start. Restart the computer (Start, Turn Off the Computer, Restart).

Disk Cleanup Tool
Run the Disk Cleanup Tool to delete unnecessary temp files. To do this:

1. Open My Computer.


2. Right-click on the hard drive, select Properties.


3. Click the Disk Cleanup button in the lower right of the General
   tab.


4. Add check marks next to:
   
   
   
   • Downloaded Program Files
   
   
   • Temporary Internet Files
   
   
   • Recycle Bin
   
   
   • WebClient/Publisher Temporary Files
   
   
   • Catalog files for the Content Indexer
   
   
   
   


5. Click OK and then click Yes to start the clean-up process.

Manual deletion
To perform a manual deletion of common temporary directories and subdirectories:

The disk cleanup tool will not remove all temporary files from the drive if
the applications that created them used Windows "legacy" directory
locations or created sub-directories during installation. Note that some of these
temporary directories may be flagged as hidden or system folders, and you will
need to adjust the Advanced Settings under Folder Options to view or access
them. To do this:

Directories to check for temp files:

Advanced Folder Option Settings:

Click on My Computer. Click to open the Local Hard Drive. Open the Windows directory, and then open the Temp directory. Delete any temp files found. Open Documents and Settings For each user folder in Documents and Settings: Open the User's Folder, Local Settings Folder, and then the Temp folder. In the Temp folder: Select and delete any files and folders appearing in these directories (do not delete the temp folder itself.) If you receive an (access denied) error and that a file cannot be removed; skip that file and continue to delete the rest. Since a group selection and delete operation will terminate on errors, try selecting smaller groups until you have just the 3-4 files left that are "locked" by the system.

From a Windows Explorer window, click on the Tools menu and select Folder Options. Click on the View tab and make the necessary changes: Display the contents of system folders Hidden files and folders - Do not show hidden files and folders - Show hidden files and folders Hide extensions for known file types Click the Apply button. Click the Apply to All Folders button. Click OK.

 

How to back-up a single user's data with the FAST Wizard
Windows Files and Settings Transfer Wizard will build a compressed archive
containing the user's personal files, folders and settings, including common
folders such as My Documents, the user's Desktop, and the Start Menu structure
specific to that user. It does NOT archive applications, and will usually prompt
or identify some programs that will need to be reinstalled to access the files
it does archive.

The Files and Settings Wizard does give a user the choice of archiving the
most common settings, or allow them to make specific selections. This option
does allow the knowledgeable user to select additional folders to include in
the archive, or to add or skip specific file types to the standard list for
archiving.

At least two different versions of the FAST Wizard appear to exist, the original
version that ships with Windows XP and the updated version that is compatible
with Windows XP 64-bit. The latter version is available through one of the additional
updates that may be selected on the Windows Update site.

The program can be saved in a folder by using the disk creation step and copying
the files after it completes. Storing the version of the FAST Wizard that was
used to make the backup initially is recommended, since trying to restore from
a different version will fail. See: Update for Windows XP (KB896344)

The backup drive can be any removable media, a folder on the drive, a second
hard drive, a network drive, or an external USB or Network-Attached Storage
(NAS) device as long as it has sufficient capacity to contain all of the data.
If using removable media, multiple disks may be required. An estimate of the
number of required disks should be displayed.

The FAST Wizard does NOT support archiving directly to an optical disk drive.
To make a backup to optical media, save the archive on a network or other secondary
storage device and then use your regular software to burn the data folder and
application to the recordable media.

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
How to run the File and Settings Transfer Wizard on the source system:

1. Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
   
   
   


2. Close any running programs (especially email!) and click Next.


3. Select Old Computer (This is the computer I want to transfer
   files and settings from.) and click Next. 
   
   


4. Select the transfer method. Your choices include:
   
   
   
   • Direct cable (such as a serial or USB transfer cable)
   
   
   • Home or small office network (such as when the old and new computer are connected over a LAN)
   
   
   • Floppy Drive or other removable media (choose from the detected list)
   
   
   • Other (you can browse to a target location that includes mapped network drives, USB hard drives, etc.)
   
   
   
   


5. Select what to transfer and click next:
   
   
   
   • Settings only
   
   
   • Files only
   
   
   • Both files and settings (This is the default selection to back up all of the user's files and settings.)
   
   
   • Let me select a custom list of files and settings...
   
   
   
   Choosing this option takes the default of the normal set of files and settings,
   but will allow you to add additional settings, data folders, files or file
   types. This would be the best choice when there is only one primary user
   of the system and there are additional files or folders that need to
   be archived that are not located in the default user's folders.
   
   
   


6. Click Finish.
   
   
   
   

Make a FAST Wizard archive CD, DVD, or Archive Folder

1. If you do not have a copy of the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard diskette,
   make one by following these steps: 
   
   
   
   1. Run the FAST Wizard and select New computer.
   
   
   2. Select I want to create a Wizard Disk and select the removable media from the list to copy the files to. Removable media will typically be a floppy disk, USB flash drive, or memory card.
   
   
   3. Click Next to start the file transfer. Two files should be copied to the target media: FASTWiz.exe and migwiz.ca.
   
   
   
   


2. Copy the two files from the diskette (or other media) over to the same location
   as selected when you ran the Wizard to transfer the files.


3. To create a recordable CD using Windows built-in burning feature:
   
   
   
   • Insert a blank CD-R disk in the optical drive
   
   
   • Select the data folder created by the FAST Wizard and the two FAST Wizard program files you copied from the diskette.
   
   
   • Right-click, select Send To from the context menu, select the CD-ROM drive from the list.
   
   
   • Click on the notification balloon You have files waiting to be written to the CD and follow the prompts to burn the files.
   
   
   
   

How to restore a single user's data with the FAST Wizard
The Windows XP Files and Transfer Settings Wizard is used to restore the data after the backup is made. Unlike the backup process, the restore process is fairly limited and does not offer partial or selective restore options. The archives created do not use a standard compression method such as .ZIP or .CAB archive formats, and cannot be opened or browsed interactively.

NOTE: Running the restore process multiple times may result in duplicate files
or menu shortcuts in some situations.

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
Run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard on the source system. To do this:

1. Run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard by doing one of the following:
   
   
   
   • Open the backup location containing the FAST Wizard program and data files. Double-click on FASTWiz.exe to start the program. Use this method if the updated Wizard was used to create the backup, otherwise, run the Wizard from the Windows Start Menu. To do this:
     
     
     
     1. Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   


2. Close any running programs and click Next.


3. Select New Computer (This is the computer I want to transfer files and settings to.) and click Next.


4. Select the option I don't need the Wizard Disk. I have already collected
   my files and settings from my old computer. Click Next.


5. For the answer to "Where are the files and settings?" select Other
   and click Browse.


6. Locate the drive and folder that contains the FAST Wizard data files and
   click OK.


7. Click Next. The wizard should transfer the files and settings from the optical media, network drive, or external storage device.


8. Click Finish.


9. Click Yes to log off for the changes to take effect and log back in as the user.

Create Toshiba Recovery Media using USB Flash

This guide will show you how to create the recovery media for your computer.

Before you begin:
If your computer experiences problems that are not recoverable by other methods, you may need to reinstall the Windows operating system and factory-loaded software and drivers. To reinstall using discs, you must create the set of recovery discs before you have a problem. To ensure that you have recovery options available, you should create a set of recovery discs as soon as possible.

If you are creating recovery discs, you should have several blank DVD±R discs ready. A new feature of the Recovery Media Creator is using a USB Flash Drive. If you choose this method, have at least an 8GB drive available.

Note: You cannot use DVD±RW or DVD±R DL discs to create the recovery media.
Close all open applications on the PC. You will not be able to use the computer while it is creating the recovery media.

1. Click Start » All Programs » My Toshiba » Recovery Media Creator.
2. Select DVD or USB Flash from the drop-down lists next to System Recovery Media and Application Discs, depending on the type of external media you want to use.
3. Select the items you want to copy to DVD or USB Flash drive by clicking the check box next to each item's Name—recovery files, applications (original bundled drivers and applications), or both the recovery files and applications.
   
   
   
   
   NOTE: Any information on the DVD or USB drive is erased during the recovery process. Ensure that you have saved any important information to another storage device or you are using blank media before performing this procedure.
   
   
4. Click Create.
5. Insert a blank DVD into your optical disc drive or insert the USB Flash drive when prompted.
6. As you create your recovery DVD set, be sure to label each DVD sequentially (for example, "1 of 3," "2 of 3," etc.), so that you will know in which order to insert the discs during recovery.
7. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the copy process.

Note: If you are copying the recovery files to DVDs, be sure to label each DVD in the set sequentially (for example, "1 of 3," "2 of 3," etc.), so that you will know in which order to insert the discs during recovery.

How to Backup Your Windows Live Mail Senders List

This document will assist in the back up of the Blocked senders list from the Junk Mail on both Windows Live Mail and Windows Mail. This will make it easy to transfer to a new computer.

To create a copy of your Windows Live Mail or Windows Mail blocked senders list:

1. Go to your Windows Live Mail or Windows Mail settings in the Windows registry.
2. To locate your Windows Live Mail settings in the Windows registry, type "regedit" in the Start menu's Start Search box.
3. Click regedit under Programs.
4. Scroll down the registry tree to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\­Software\­Microsoft\­Windows Live Mail.
5. Expand the Junk Mail key.
6. Click on the Block Senders List key.
7. Select File » Export from the menu.
8. Change the location to the directory where you want to keep the backup copy of your Windows Live Mail or Windows Mail blocked senders list.
9. Type "Blocked Senders" in the File Name box.
10. Click Save.

Find Your Windows Mail Settings in the Windows Registry:

1. Type "regedit" in in the Start menu's Start Search box.
2. Click regedit under Programs.
3. Travel down the registry tree to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\­Software\­Microsoft\­Windows Mail.
4. Expand the Junk Mail key.
5. Click on the Block Senders List key.
6. Select File » Export from the menu.
7. Change the location to the directory where you want to keep the backup copy of your Windows Live Mail or Windows Mail blocked senders list.
8. Type "Blocked Senders" in the File Name box.
9. Click Save.

What is NAS or Network Attached Storage?

Network Attached Storage/Server or as known as NAS is simply a storage device connected through a local network connection. For example, if a home office has several PCs connected to the same LAN, you can perform regular backups of each system to the same storage location. For both security and a disaster plan, it is critical that you have current copies of your operating system and personal files made on a weekly or at least a monthly basis. NAS is a great solution, because it offers larger storage capacity plus can be access from any PC within the local area network.

There are several options for network attached storage offered by Buffalo Technology, Seagate and Western Digital. Each NAS comes in a various size capacities ranging from 1Terabyte to 8Terabyte which provides 1000 – 8000 Gigabytes of storage capacity. In addition, each server has built-in file encryption and auto-backup features. These servers are also multi-compatible with most operating systems including Windows, Mac and Linux, and can connect up to 10 computers at once.

Here are some NAS product examples:

Seagate Black Armor
http://bit.ly/IyiSK

Buffalo LinkStation
http://bit.ly/OH7WO

Western Digital My Book
http://bit.ly/flMfP5












Shop NAS on Microcenter.com »
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Reference:
Seagate. Network Storage Troubleshooter.
http://bit.ly/dItoYc

Seagate Black Armor
http://bit.ly/IyiSK

Buffalo LinkStation
http://bit.ly/OH7WO

How to Backup Outlook Files

This article demonstrates how to create a backup and restore files from a backup using Outlook 2010. If your email is managed by a Microsoft Exchange Server, backups are performed regularly as part of system maintenance, and it may not be necessary to create backup. For a home computer, creating a local backup copy of your emails is essential in the event of a system failure or program corruption.

For instructions on creating backups in Outlook 2002/2003/2007, go to Microsoft Support’s website for assistance.

To Export Outlook .pst File:

1. Start Outlook program.
2. Click File » Open » Import.
   
   
   
   
   
3. In the menu box, select Export to a file.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Click Next.
5. Select Outlook Data File (.pst).
   
   
   
   
   
6. Click Next.
7. Select folder to export from.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Click Next.
9. Rename file or keep default name.
   
   
   
   
   
10. Click Finish.

Note: The system may prompt you to create a password for your backup file for additional security. Click Cancel if you do not want to password-protect the file.

To Import Outlook .pst Backup:

1. In Outlook, go to File » Open » Import.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Select Import from another program or file.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Click Next.
4. Select Outlook Data File (.pst).
   
   
   
   
   
5. Click Next.
6. Locate the .pst file using the Browse button.
   
7. Click Next.
8. Select folder to import from.

9. Click Finish to initiate import process.

Reference:
Microsoft Support. How to manage .pst files in Outlook 2007/2003/2002. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/287070

Notebook FAQs

Q: What is a Recovery Disc or an Operating System Disc?
A: The Recovery Disc or Operating System Disc is used when the Operating System has become unusable, due to file corruption, virus or hardware malfunction.

Q: Are any of the pre-installed applications removable?
A: Yes, any software is removable by accessing the Add or Remove Programs control in Windows XP, or Programs and Features control in Windows 7.

Q: Is Up-To-Date Security Software Necessary?
A: Security software is recommended to prevent data loss, as well as theft of personal information. If this security is not kept up to date, newly created Viruses, Worms, Trojans and other threats will have easy access to the system. We recommend ESET NOD32 or ESET Smart Security to keep your computer secure.

Q: What is DVD-RAM?
A: DVD-RAM is a re-writable DVD that can be rewritten hundreds of thousands of times. Typically DVD-RAM discs will not play in standard DVD Players. It is often used in Video Cameras.

Q: Why are Back-Ups necessary?
A: Keeping an up-to-date back-up of your computer is critical if you have files on the system that you do not want to lose. If your computer gets hit by a bad virus or the hard drive crashes, you may lose all information on the computer. Keeping information saved on an external hard drive using backup software ensures that it will always be available.

Q: What is a HomeGroup?
A: A HomeGroup is an easy way to share files, printers and other resources when multiple Windows 7 computers are connected to one router.

Q: Where is the Microsoft Office product key?
A: To obtain the Microsoft Office product key, activate the trial by clicking the 60-day trial icon located on the desktop, or Activation Assistant icon in the Microsoft Office folder found in the Start Menu.

Q: Where can I see how much battery life is left?
A: In the system tray in the bottom right corner of the screen there is a battery or power icon that will show how much charge is left in the battery, as well as whether or not it is currently charging.

Move Files to New Computer with Windows Easy Transfer

Upgrading to a new computer is easier than ever before using Windows Easy Transfer. This feature of Windows transfers your files, settings, and user account information from your old machine to the new one.

It works with an Easy Transfer Cable, over a Network, or an external storage device like a flash drive or hard drive.

There are two methods for transferring files from an old machine (Windows XP) to a new machine (Windows 7):

• Using the Easy Transfer Wizard to install the software in Windows XP.
• Downloading the Easy Transfer Wizard from Microsoft’s website.

This guide shows how to transfer information from an old Windows XP computer to a new Windows 7 machine using a flash drive.

1. On the NEW COMPUTER Click on Start and type "easy transfer" without the quotes in the search bar. Choose the Windows Easy Transfer option as highlighted in this example to bring up the Windows Easy Transfer wizard.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. The Welcome screen shows information regarding the wizard and what can be transferred. Click on Next to begin the transfer wizard.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Choose An External Hard Disk or USB Flash Drive and have a flash drive ready.
   Consider how much space is being used on your old computer.
   Make sure that the flash drive or external hard drive has enough free space to hold your information.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Choose This Is My New Computer as files will be transferred to this computer.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Choose No here to create the installation files on the flash drive.
   If you chose to download the installation files, you can skip to step 11.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Choose I Need To Install It Now so that you can create an installation file on your flash drive.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Plug in the flash drive and choose USB flash drive so that it will create the installation media.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Select the flash drive from the list. Note that the name and letter might vary. It will often be named after the manufacturer of the flash drive. Example: usbflash (E:)
   
   
   
   
   
9. Wait a moment as the program copies the installation files to the flash drive. This process should only take a minute.
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. Click on Next, remove the flash drive and leave the window open.
    To prevent data loss, it's recommended to remove your flash drive by opening Computer, right clicking on the drive and choosing Eject, then unplugging the flash drive.
    
    
At this point in the process it is time to move over to the Windows XP computer, the Old Machine. When you plug the drive in you may see a screen similar to this. Install Easy Transfer on the old PC.

11. If it does not start, you may have to open it manually. To do this click on Start, then click on My Computer and then double-click on the flash drive.
    
    
    
    
    
    
12. Windows Easy Transfer will install on the Windows XP computer and prepare to run. This process should only take a couple of minutes to complete.
    
    
    
    
    
13. Next, the program will scan the system to find out what can be transferred.
    Depending on the amount of data and settings, this process may take a few minutes. The program will check all the account settings as well as shared directories for files and settings to transfer.
    
    
    
    
    
14. Select the users to copy and click on Next. Make sure the flash drive is large enough to store the transfer file.
    
    Note the bottom right corner of the screen where it says "Easy Transfer file size: 2.5GB" in the above example. In your case, it may be more or less. Make sure your flash drive has enough free space to hold that data.
    
    You can check how much free space is available by clicking on Start, then opening My Computer, right clicking on the flash drive and choosing Properties.
    
    
    
    
    
15. If desired, create a password to secure the transfer data, and then click on Start.
    A password is used to secure the transfer information, just in case the flash drive is lost or stolen. Keep this password handy or you will have to restart the whole process.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
16. Select the flash drive and save the file to the drive.
    Saving the file may take some time based on the amount of data transferred. Be patient as it transfers the files on to your flash drive.
    
    
    
    
    
17. Click on Next, then click on Close and remove the flash drive.
    To prevent data loss, it is recommended to remove your flash drive by opening Computer, right clicking on the drive and choosing Eject, then unplugging the flash drive.
    
    
    

Now it's time to move back to the Windows 7 computer, the New Machine. Plug the flash drive in to the new computer and choose Yes.

If this window is no longer on your screen, repeat steps 1-5 and then jump back to this point.

1. Select the flash drive and choose the transfer file saved on the old machine.
At step 16, the files were saved on to the flash drive. Open those files in this window.

2. If you created a password to protect your file earlier, enter it here.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Check the user files and settings to transfer to the new computer, and then click Transfer. In most cases, you will want to have everything checked.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Wait as the items transfer. This process could take several minutes or more, depending on the amount of information.
   
   
   
   
   
5. The transfer is complete. Click on Close, the computer will restart. At this point, all of the files and settings you chose have been transferred.
   
   
Click See what was transferred to get a report on the files and settings that were moved from the old computer. Click See a list of programs you might want to install on your new computer to get a report on the applications that would need to be installed in order to work correctly. Shortcuts that were on the old computer desktop may not work correctly until the application that they are associated with are installed on the new computer.