Windows System Backup

System shell folders are special folders that Windows uses to indicate the default location for lots of kinds of settings and data. Most of those special folders hold important configuration data, so it is strongly recommended to regularly back up lots of of the method shell folders. The locations will vary from method to system, as well as the only way to get out the right path for sure is to programmatically call the Windows method API function supplying it with the proper CSIDL value. Given below are typical folder locations for Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

The following folders are highly recommended for regular backup:

My Documents
C:Documents and SettingsUser NameMy Documents
The most important folder on your computer holding your personal documents. It is intended to be a users common repository for documents and folders. This folder usually already includes the My Music folder for music files and digital audio, the My Pictures folder for image files, as well as the My Videos folder for video files. Those folders usually take up a bunch of space, as well as they are therefore recommended to be taken care separately. Check the Backing up My Documents topic for possible backup strategies for My Documents folder, as well as other related information.

Start Menu
C:Documents and SettingsUser NameStart Menu
C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersStart Menu
The file method folders containing Start menu items. These folders already include the users program groups, users Startup program group, common program groups that appear on the Start menu for all users, as well as the program shortcuts that appear in the Startup folder for all users. Recommended for backup if you do not want to lose your Start menu along with the program groups and icons.

Desktop Items
C:Documents and SettingsUser NameDesktop
C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersDesktop
The file method directories used to store file objects and shortcuts on your desktop and on the desktop for all users. Recommended for backup if you want to keep your desktop icons and shortcuts safe and secure.

Favorites
C:Documents and SettingsUser NameFavorites
C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersFavorites
The file method folders that serve as a common repository for the users favorite items. These favorites are usually displayed in the Internet Explorer menu. For some users this might be somewhat a huge collection of links they have been collecting for years, the collection they may be wanting to keep safe and saved.

Recent Documents
C:Documents and SettingsUser NameRecent
The method shell directory that contains shortcuts to the users most recently used documents. They are listed in the My Recent Documents submenu of the Start menu. In most cases backing up is not that necessary.

SendTo Locations
C:Documents and SettingsUser NameSendTo
The method shell folder that contains Send To menu items. These items may be backed up.

Internet Cookies
C:Documents and SettingsUser NameCookies
The file method directory that serves as a common repository for Internet cookies. Cookies are a means of saving web-site information, like browser settings, user preferences, personal information, as well as passwords, on the client machine. If you surf on the Internet a lot, it is recommended to back up cookies.

Internet History
C:Documents and SettingsUser NameLocal SettingsHistory
The method folder that serves as a common repository for Internet history items, like typed URLs etc. Internet Explorers AutoComplete feature uses this collection, so you may want to back it up.
There is generally no must backup the following folders:

Internet Cache
C:Documents and SettingsUser NameLocal SettingsTemporary Internet Files
The directory that serves as a repository for temporary Internet files. Internet Explorer uses this directory as a cache of recently downloaded documents to speed up the Internet access. You generally do not must back up this folder, rather you should clean it up from time to time.

Program Files
C:Program Files
The Program Files folder to store executable files for most of the programs and applications installed on your computer. In terms of a critical backup, executable files have low value, especially because lots of programs will not run or will run incorrectly if they have not been correctly installed in advance. A simple copy or restore just do not work.

Windows System Components
C:Windows
C:WindowsSystem32
The Windows method folders contain a bunch of method application components, like .exe, .dll, .ocx and more. The note from above applies to Windows method locations as well. Although you can choose to back up Windows folders, this backup will not help you much if you ever want to re-install Windows.
Additional important folder locations that demand special consideration for backup:

Application Data
C:Documents and SettingsUser NameApplication Data
C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication Data
C:Documents and SettingsUser NameLocal SettingsApplication Data
These method shell folders serve as a common repository for application-specific data for a particular user, for all users on the computer, as well as for a particular user for local, non-roaming applications. Most Windows compatible applications keep your personal settings and, sometimes your document data, in these folders. For example, Outlook Express usually stores your e-mail database in the Identities subfolder. Similarly, Outlook places all of your folders and settings in the MicrosoftOutlook subfolder. The Application Data folders are generally recommended for backup, however, these folders usually demand special treatment and selective backup. See the paragraph below for more information.

User Profiles
C:Documents and SettingsUser Name
C:Documents and Settings
The folder locations containing users profile and all user profiles on this computer. The corner stone locations to store most of the configuration data and most of the personal documents and files. You can see now that lots of of the locations, recommended for regular backup, described in this article and in other topics of this Windows Backup Guide, are simply subfolders of the main Profiles folder. This makes this folder very important! You may have already arrived at an idea to back up this folder in whole. Actually, this idea may not be as good as it first seems, as the profile folders frequently include lots of huge files and a bunch of superfluous data, thus complete backup may be inefficient, slow, as well as simply unjustified. It is therefore recommended to do a selective, fine-tuned backup.