The Backup utility in Windows Vista makes it easy to back up and restore your important data files. If you ever have a system problem that causes you to lose some or all of your data, you can easily restore it from your backup.

Backing up files is not difficult, but it's easy in the hustle and bustle of life to forget to do it. Windows Vista helps by automating the backup process. You go through the setup once, and from then on the backup occurs on a schedule.

To set up recurring automatic file backups, perform the following:

1. Select Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup Status and Configuration.
2. Click Set up automatic file backup.

If this option has already been run on your PC, the option won't appear; instead select Change backup settings.

3. Choose where to store the backup, such as:

On a hard disk, CD, or DVD: Click this option and then open the drop-down list and select from the available drives.

You can't back up directly to a tape backup drive using the Vista version of Backup. Earlier versions of Windows had backup programs that did back up to tape.

On a network: Click this option and then click Browse to open the Browse for Folder dialog box. Navigate to the desired folder, click OK, and then click Next.

4. Select which disks to include in the backup. The disk on which Windows resides is automatically chosen; other hard disks are optional. Click Next.
5. Check or clear the checkboxes for the types of files to be backed up, as shown in Figure 4-15.

Figure 4-15: Selecting the types of files to back up.

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6. Specify how often you want the backup to occur, and what day and time.
7. Click Save settings and start backup.

If you're backing up to CD or DVD and backing up more files than will fit on a single disc, you'll be prompted to insert a new blank disc. Therefore, the backup cannot run completely unattended unless the entire backup will fit on one disc, or unless you're backing up to a hard disk or network location with enough space for it.

After you set up the backup and enable it to begin running for the first time, as in the preceding steps, it runs in the background. You can continue working with Windows normally as the backup runs. The Backup Status area in the Backup Status and Configuration window reports that the backup is in progress; you can stop the backup by clicking stop this backup, if needed. For example, if you find that the backup is slowing down system performance to an unacceptable level while completing an important task, stop the backup and start it again later.

Restoring Files

If you need to restore one file from your backup, multiple files, or even all the files, you can easily do so with the Restore Files feature in the Backup Status and Configuration window. Just open the Backup Status and Configuration window, click the Restore icon, and then follow the prompts to select the backup and the folders and files you want to restore.

Next, find out how Windows Calendar and Windows Contacts can help you organize your family's activities.