How To Use The Backup Utility In Windows XP (NTbackup.exe)

This article is part of Windows XP Backup Strategies For Home Users

Because of the number of pictures involved I have broken this into 3 section to make page loads faster.

   XP comes with its own backup utility known as NTbackup. While far from an ideal backup method it can be used to quickly get yourself out of trouble. NTbackup is not an imaging program but simply a file copy program. It is a more complete backup method than System Restore. In addition you can schedule NTbackup to run periodically and specify the type of backup.

 XP Home Users

   NTbackup is not installed by default in XP Home Edition. To install it:

Put your XP CD in the CDROM drive and exit out of the screen that pops up > Open My Computer (pressing the Windows + E keys is a quick way to do this) > right-click on the drive containing the XP CD and choose Explore > double-click the VALUEADD folder then MSFT and next NTBACKUP > in that folder double-click on the NTBACKUP.msi file and install it. That's it!

Using NTbackup

Creating a backup

Open NTbackup. Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > system Tools > Backup.

or

Press the Windows + R keys > type ntbackup and hit Enter. It's best to use "wizard mode" until you become familiar with NTbackup. Click Next.

You'll be backing up first, click Next.

What you choose to backup is up to you. In my example I'll do Let me choose what to back up.

Click Next.

I'm going to backup all my C drive and the System State. Exactly what that is can be viewed in the right pane.

Click Next.

Choose where to save the file. It can be on your computer or on another computer on you network. You cannot burn the backup file to CD directly from NTbackup but you can restore from a CD. Just save the file to a location on your computer and burn to a CD with your favorite CD burning application.

I choose to save it to the 2nd drive on my computer. Pick a name for it and then click Next.

Here you can choose Advanced for more options. Lets do it.

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