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General discussion

Backup?

Feb 5, 2005 11:43PM PST

Is "backup" and "restore" the same thing? Do they serve the same purpose? Does "creating a restore point" backup my registry? Thanks

Discussion is locked

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Vesta, Multiple Questions...Multiple Answers...
Feb 6, 2005 4:01AM PST

Backup and Restore do not mean the same thing and they do not serve the same purpose although .

Creating a "restore point" DOES backup parts of the registry.

System Restore is a utility provided in Windows ME, XP, and 2003. It creates a backup of the registry and certain system files so if a problem occurs, you can "restore back" to a previous time when the computer was working correctly. It DOES NOT create backups of personal documents such as those placed in the "My Documents" folder. It also is not a "backup" should the computer's hard drive die or malfunction.

As such, you should always make "backups" of your important documents, drivers, and progams that can't be replaced easily. Burning those files and programs to a removable media such as a CD is one of the best ways to save those types of files. Most computers come with a "Recovery Disk" or partition which will reinstall all files and programs as it came from the factory. If there is no "Recovery CD" with the computer, they generally come with a Windows installation CD and program CD which will install the files and programs on the computer. If you combine the Recovery CD and your personal documents saved to a CD and you should be able to reinstall everything should your hard driver head south. "Backups" are exactly that. A "backup" to your system, should it die.

HOpe this helps.

Grif

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Thanks
Feb 6, 2005 6:21PM PST

Thanks again for your help. I just had a hard drive die and had to have a new one installed and my computer guy told me to backup periodically. And I'm still a little confused. If the hard drive really "dies" and can't be re-formatted as my last one was, will a "system" backup resurrect it?

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Save what you
Feb 6, 2005 6:46PM PST

can afford to loose. I save data, photos, music, downloads and anything I've created. I don't "back up". I burn what I want to save to either a CD or DVD. If you have a major failure or need to reinstall the operating system, you need to reinstall your software programs as well.