XP Backup Using NTBackup Backup or Restore Wizard

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XP Backup Using NTBackup Backup or Restore Wizard

This page is designed primarily as a graphical walkthrough of the Wizard from NTBackup for users that want to see the program before committing to installing it on their machine. The article Protecting the XP System and Data provides a discussion of techniques including System Restore and NTBackup to formulate protection strategy.

	Opening Screen for Backup or Restore Wizard Microsoft does love its Wizards and NTBackup is no exception. The first time NTBackup is launched from Start > All Programs > Accessories> System Tools > Backup, the program will open to the Backup or Restore Wizard by default. To escape the Wizard, remove the checkmark from *Always Start in Wizard Mode* and click *Advanced Mode*.

	Backup or Restore The choice is simple. Select whichever operation is intended.

	What to Back Up A number of different preset backup groupings are displayed as well as the option to make custom backup selections. If custom is selected, the Items to Back Up screen shown below will open. Any of the other selections will take you to the Backup Type, Destination, and Name screen.

	Items to Back Up If you selected the Let Me Choose What To Back Up selection in the What To Back Up screen, this gives you the opportunity to select the files to be included. The view is a slightly modified version of the standard Windows Explorer view with selection boxes.

	Backup Type, Destination, and Name The screen where a name and destination for the backup are entered.

	Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard The final screen where the actual backup process is imitated. This location also contains the Advanced button where important additional backup parameters may be specified.

	Type of Backup Specify the type of backup that will be performed. Choices include Normal, Differential, Incremental, Copy, and Daily. For specific details of each type click here.

	How to Back Up Allows specifying verification, compression, and shadow copying settings for the backup.

	Backup Options Set specifications for overwriting data and who is allowed to access the backups

	When to Back Up Set whether you want the backup to be done immediately or placed on a schedule.

	Schedule Job - Schedule Tab Set the details for the backup schedule or multiple backup jobs that have been created.

	Advanced Schedule Options Set more detailed options for a specifically scheduled backup.

	Schedule Job - Settings Tab Contains specific conditions that determine whether a scheduled backup will commence, i.e., do not run if on battery power or if certain timeframes have elapsed.

	Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard The final screen where the actual backup process is initiated when the Advanced button was selected from this same screen previously. The Advanced button is no longer available.

	Backup Progress Screen showing the details of the current backup in progress, including elapsed and estimated time remaining.

	Backup Progress - Complete The final backup progress screen showing the final time elapsed and the total number of files processed. Contains the Report button that will show the Backup Log.

	Backup Log A savable and printable log generated from the Report button on the final Backup Progress screen that is generated in Notepad.