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.

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Messengers AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, ICQ Backup

Instant messages are text messages which you can send to other people who are online when you are. Your message is delivered immediately, as well as the person you sent the message to can respond immediately-just as in a face-to-face conversation. You can do much more than just send text messages to other people. You can have audio and video conversations, place a phone call from your computer to almost anywhere in the world, hold an online meeting, play games, share programs that are installed on your computer, as well as more. The messenger is a special software program to send and receive instant messages over the Internet.

There are currently two dominating messengers on the Internet: MSN Messenger from Microsoft Corporation, as well as ICQ Messenger from ICQ Networks. The latter has a longer life and a wider spread in Europe. Other messengers include Yahoo! Messenger, AIM (AOL) Messenger, Trillian, as well as more. A simple messenger enables you to send instant messages to anybody on your contact list, see when your friends are online, share photos and files easily, use expressive emoticons to quickly communicate your mood, page a contacts mobile phone, make worldwide phone calls, receive alerts about local traffic, news, weather, sports, as well as travel, get out instantly which you have a new e-mail in your Inbox.

Often times you are interested in having a backup copy of your message database and your messengers contact list, to be able to recover your contacts after a computer crash, a virus or method re-installation. Backing up your messenger data can be somewhat a challenging task. The recent releases of most messengers usually keep its data either under the folder they are installed in or under one of the user profile folder subfolders. Typically, you can start your search from:

C:Program Files

C:Documents and SettingsUser Name

Older releases of AIM (AOL), Yahoo!, MSN, as well as ICQ messengers keep their settings at the following registry paths:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMirabilisICQDefaultPrefs

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftMessengerService

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareAmerica OnlineAOL Instant Messenger (TM)

in various registry variables. For example, ICQ stores the path to the message store in Database variable. Additionally, UIN Dir variable keeps track of the directory with the ICQ contact list (ICQ contacts). You can back up messenger data either through hand or automatically.

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Mozilla and Netscape E-Mail Back up

Recent versions of Netscape Communicator are built on top of Mozilla (Thunderbird), so both e-mail clients share the same folder locations for e-mail database:

C:Documents and SettingsUser NameApplication DataMozillaProfiles
C:WindowsProfilesUser NameApplication DataMozillaProfiles
C:WindowsApplication DataMozillaProfiles

Mozilla profile contains your bookmarks, mail/news files and account settings, stored passwords, address book, security certificates and preferences.

Mail. Mail messages are stored in the Mail sub-directory. To back up your mail messages, save the files without extension, i.e. INBOX. To back up filters too, save the rules.dat file. The *.msf files are index files that will be automatically regenerated if removed. Save the whole Mail directory if you are uncertain what to save.

News. News settings and messages are stored in the News sub-directory. Your subscribed groups are stored in the *.rc files. The complete news server groups list is stored in hostinfo.dat. *.msf files store message summaries. To back up news, save the *.rc, *.dat, as well as *.msf files.

Address book. In your profile directory, save abook.mab (personal address book) and history.mab (collected addresses). If you have more than one address book, save all *.mab files.

Bookmarks. Save the bookmarks.html file.

Saved password data. Username and password data is stored in 12345678.s (the number segment is random). Save the file.

Junk filters. Save the training.dat file which stores information for the new smart filtering system.

Cookies. Save the cookies.txt file.

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Outlook Express Backup

Outlook Express is the e-mail client included with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4, 5, six and Microsoft Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP operating systems. Outlook Express is created for home users who gain access to their e-mail messages. Built on open Internet standards, Outlook Express is created for use with Internet standard system, for example, SMTP, POP3, IMAPI, as well as NNTP. It provides full support for todays most important e-mail, news, as well as directory standards, as well as is very easy to use.

Outlook Express e-mail message store, along with the address book, usually resides in subfolders at the following paths:

C:Documents and SettingsUser NameApplication DataIdentities
C:Documents and SettingsUser NameApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook Express
C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook Express
C:Documents and SettingsUser NameApplication DataMicrosoftAddress Book

This is right for Outlook Express 4.0, however to correctly decide the location for Outlook Express 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0 e-mail store, it is recommended to search through the registry. HKEY_CURRENT_USERIdentities registry key contains ID subkeys which correspond to active identities. Under the each identity key there's a SoftwareMicrosoftOutlook Express5.0 subkey which holds the required Store Root string variable. To decide the location of the address book file, take a observe the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWABWab File Name
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWABWAB4Wab File Name

Outlook Express e-mail data is usually comprised of the following items:

E-mail and news (.dbx) folders for Outlook Express 5, 5.5, 6.

E-mail and news (.mbx, .idx, .nch) folders for Outlook Express 4.

Address book (.wab) file.

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Registry Backup

Microsoft Windows stores its configuration information in a database called the registry. The registry is the central storage for all computer configuration data. The Windows method configuration, the computer hardware configuration, information about installed programs, the kinds of documents that each program can create, as well as user preferences are all stored in the registry. Windows continually references this information during its operation. The registry stores the data in a structured hierarchy of keys, subkeys, as well as named values. Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. Microsoft recommends which you backup the registry before you edit it.

Although the registry appears to be in one file, it is actually placed on your computer in several files. Depending on your method configuration, registry files can be found in the following locations:

C:Documents and SettingsUser Name on Windows 2000, XP.
C:WindowsSystem32Config on Windows 2000, XP.
C:Windows on Windows 95, 98, ME.
C:WindowsProfiles on Windows 95, 98, ME.

Registry data is usually stored in the following files, typically referred to as registry hives:

System.dat, User.dat, as well as Policy.pol, on Windows 95, 98 and ME.

Security, System.alt, Default, Sam, Software, System, Ntuser.dat, as well as other files, on Windows NT, 2000 and XP.

How To Back Up Windows Registry ?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to back up registry files under Windows NT, 2000, as well as XP, while the operating method is running. Registry files remain fully locked all the time while Windows is running, so there's no access to those files. You can how ever use an integrated Windows XPs System Restore feature for registry backup.

Alternatively, the registry editor (regedit.exe) allows you to export partial or complete copies of the registry, while the Windows is up, as well as the exported files can then be backed up with other traditional file backup utility. If there's a registry problem, the exported file can be easily imported to restore all or segment of the registry. And the exported file is a text file that is easily read and manipulated. You can follow these simple steps to back up the entire registry or particular registry subkey:

1. Click Start, as well as then click Run.

2. In the Open box, mode regedit, as well as then click OK.

3. Locate and then click the root subkey that contains all the child subkeys and values which you want to back up.

4. On the File menu, click Export.

5. In the Save in box, select a location where you want to save the Registration Entries (.reg) file, mode a file name in the File name box, as well as then click Save.

The exported registry file is about 10-50 MB in size on a typical Windows NT/2000/XP installation. The registry exported files are text files and are usually well-compressed (by up to 75percent and more). To restore registry subkeys which you exported, double-click the Registration Entries (.reg) file which you saved.

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Outlook Data Backup

Outlook is a Microsofts premier application thats integrated into Microsoft Office 97, 98, 2000, 2002 and Microsoft Exchange Server. Outlook provides complete integration of e-mail, calendaring, as well as contact management. Outlook helps you get and organize information so which you can work seamlessly with Office applications, communicate and share information more effectively. Outlook enables you to filter and organize e-mail messages, integrate and manage e-mail from multiple e-mail accounts, personal and group calendars, contacts, folders, as well as tasks.

Outlook data is usually stored at the following paths:

C:Documents and SettingsUser NameApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook
C:Documents and SettingsUser NameLocal SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook
C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook
C:WindowsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook
C:Windows

Outlook data is usually comprised of the following items:

Personal Folders (.pst) files. The most important Outlook files. Your personal folders .pst file contains all of your local Outlook folders, like Calendar, Inbox, Tasks, Sent Items, Outbox, Deleted Items, as well as user-created folders. When running, Outlook usually keeps its .pst folders partially locked, so it is recommended to close Outlook prior to making a backup.

Offline Storage (.ost) files.

Personal Address Book (.pab) files.

Rules (.rwz) files.

Nickname (.nick, .nk2) files for AutoComplete.

Additional Outlook settings files:

Toolbar and menu (.dat) settings.

Favorites (.fav) for the Outlook bar.

AutoSignature (.htm, .rtf, .txt) files.

Template (.oft) files.

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How to Backup?

Back up regularly, back up often. It is important which you get into the habit of backing up your files on a regular basis. Just having things stored on your hard drive is not enough. A computer crash, a virus, or a hard drive failure can wipe out everything. Dont make this simple mistake! Back up everything at least once a week. Daily is better. If you use your computer daily, it is best to back up important files daily and other data weekly. At the absolute minimum, back up your files monthly.

Keep several backup copies. Never back up over a prior backup copy - keep several copies over time so which you can back up more than one version if necessary. Remember, a problem thats backed up will remain a problem when restored!

Be selective. You do not need to do a total method backup. In fact, why waste your time backing up all those executable program files when you can easily re-install them from the original media in case of a problem. Just back up your important files. Backing up the whole hard drive is time-consuming, not practical, as well as should not be done. A backup of specific data files is the way to go.

Know whats really important. The most important things to copy are files you make yourself. Be they text documents, e-mail messages, pictures, or game saves, if you made them, be sure to keep their current backup handy. Beyond that, its helpful to back up the configuration settings for a programs you use, along with critical Windows data like the registry.

Organize your folders. Backing up is easy if you set your folder structure properly. Its faster and easier to back up if all your files and subfolders are in a single folder, rather than having your documents scattered across the hard drive. The My Documents folder is a good place to store files on Windows computer. When all your personal files are in one place you are less likely to forget a file when you back up. Organization can be the key.

Use backup software. To automate your everyday backup tasks. You do not need to copy your files manually. You can accidentally omit something, or simply make a mistake. Many decent backup program are available which can creates the backup of your data reliably and automatically.

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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.

Read more

Messenger backup

Instant messages are text messages which you can send to other people who are online when you are. Your message is delivered immediately, as well as the person you sent the message to can respond immediately-just as in a face-to-face conversation. You can do much more than just send text messages to other people. You can have audio and video conversations, place a phone call from your computer to almost anywhere in the world, hold an online meeting, play games, share programs that are installed on your computer, as well as more. The messenger is a special software program to send and receive instant messages over the Internet.

There are currently two dominating messengers on the Internet: MSN Messenger from Microsoft Corporation, as well as ICQ Messenger from ICQ Networks. The latter has a longer life and a wider spread in Europe. Other messengers include Yahoo! Messenger, AIM (AOL) Messenger, Trillian, as well as more. A simple messenger enables you to send instant messages to anybody on your contact list, see when your friends are online, share photos and files easily, use expressive emoticons to quickly communicate your mood, page a contacts mobile phone, make worldwide phone calls, receive alerts about local traffic, news, weather, sports, as well as travel, get out instantly which you have a new e-mail in your Inbox.

Often times you are interested in having a backup copy of your message database and your messengers contact list, to be able to recover your contacts after a computer crash, a virus or method re-installation. Backing up your messenger data can be somewhat a challenging task. The recent releases of most messengers usually keep its data either under the folder they are installed in or under one of the user profile folder subfolders. Typically, you can start your search from:

C:Program Files

C:Documents and SettingsUser Name

Older releases of AIM (AOL), Yahoo!, MSN, as well as ICQ messengers keep their settings at the following registry paths:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMirabilisICQDefaultPrefs

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftMessengerService

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareAmerica OnlineAOL Instant Messenger (TM)

in various registry variables. For example, ICQ stores the path to the message store in Database variable. Additionally, UIN Dir variable keeps track of the directory with the ICQ contact list (ICQ contacts). You can back up messenger data either through hand or automatically.

Read more

Registry backup

Microsoft Windows stores its configuration information in a database called the registry. The registry is the central storage for all computer configuration data. The Windows method configuration, the computer hardware configuration, information about installed programs, the kinds of documents that each program can create, as well as user preferences are all stored in the registry. Windows continually references this information during its operation. The registry stores the data in a structured hierarchy of keys, subkeys, as well as named values. Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. Microsoft recommends which you backup the registry before you edit it.

Although the registry appears to be in one file, it is actually placed on your computer in several files. Depending on your method configuration, registry files can be found in the following locations:

C:Documents and SettingsUser Name on Windows 2000, XP.
C:WindowsSystem32Config on Windows 2000, XP.
C:Windows on Windows 95, 98, ME.
C:WindowsProfiles on Windows 95, 98, ME.

Registry data is usually stored in the following files, typically referred to as registry hives:

System.dat, User.dat, as well as Policy.pol, on Windows 95, 98 and ME.

Security, System.alt, Default, Sam, Software, System, Ntuser.dat, as well as other files, on Windows NT, 2000 and XP.

How To Back Up Windows Registry ?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to back up registry files under Windows NT, 2000, as well as XP, while the operating method is running. Registry files remain fully locked all the time while Windows is running, so there's no access to those files. You can how ever use an integrated Windows XPs System Restore feature for registry backup.

Alternatively, the registry editor (regedit.exe) allows you to export partial or complete copies of the registry, while the Windows is up, as well as the exported files can then be backed up with other traditional file backup utility. If there's a registry problem, the exported file can be easily imported to restore all or segment of the registry. And the exported file is a text file that is easily read and manipulated. You can follow these simple steps to back up the entire registry or particular registry subkey:

1. Click Start, as well as then click Run.

2. In the Open box, mode regedit, as well as then click OK.

3. Locate and then click the root subkey that contains all the child subkeys and values which you want to back up.

4. On the File menu, click Export.

5. In the Save in box, select a location where you want to save the Registration Entries (.reg) file, mode a file name in the File name box, as well as then click Save.

The exported registry file is about 10-50 MB in size on a typical Windows NT/2000/XP installation. The registry exported files are text files and are usually well-compressed (by up to 75percent and more). To restore registry subkeys which you exported, double-click the Registration Entries (.reg) file which you saved.

Read more

Outlook backup

Outlook is a Microsofts premier application thats integrated into Microsoft Office 97, 98, 2000, 2002 and Microsoft Exchange Server. Outlook provides complete integration of e-mail, calendaring, as well as contact management. Outlook helps you get and organize information so which you can work seamlessly with Office applications, communicate and share information more effectively. Outlook enables you to filter and organize e-mail messages, integrate and manage e-mail from multiple e-mail accounts, personal and group calendars, contacts, folders, as well as tasks.

Outlook data is usually stored at the following paths:

C:Documents and SettingsUser NameApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook
C:Documents and SettingsUser NameLocal SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook
C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook
C:WindowsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook
C:Windows

Outlook data is usually comprised of the following items:

Personal Folders (.pst) files. The most important Outlook files. Your personal folders .pst file contains all of your local Outlook folders, like Calendar, Inbox, Tasks, Sent Items, Outbox, Deleted Items, as well as user-created folders. When running, Outlook usually keeps its .pst folders partially locked, so it is recommended to close Outlook prior to making a backup.

Offline Storage (.ost) files.

Personal Address Book (.pab) files.

Rules (.rwz) files.

Nickname (.nick, .nk2) files for AutoComplete.

Additional Outlook settings files:

Toolbar and menu (.dat) settings.

Favorites (.fav) for the Outlook bar.

AutoSignature (.htm, .rtf, .txt) files.

Template (.oft) files.

Read more

My Documents backup

The My Documents folder most likely contains lots of of your important files. Most Windows programs, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as Access save their data in My Documents folder. The My Documents folder may contain subfolders such as My Pictures, My Music and My Downloads which you may wish to backup separately. Those folders usually take up a bunch of space, as well as they are therefore recommended to be taken care separately.

We recommend backing up only those files that cannot be easily re-created. Generally speaking, these would be files which you make and save to your hard drive. Files which you created usually have a name which you assigned to them. Do backup your personal files, such as files created or named through you, files that are difficult to re-create, your financial files, files used frequently, such as your contacts, files special to you, such as your digital pictures. Dont back up operating method files, program files or applications, those with the .exe, .dll, .ocx, .hlp or .chm extensions. Dont back up temporary files with the .tmp and .bak extensions.

Also note which you may have placed some or of the important files on your desktop, the common location for program shortcuts and start icons. Many users tend to do this. My Documents, a standard Windows folder for storing personal documents, is where we are advising you to put all the important documents, pictures, files, as well as other information you do not wish to loose, so that your data can easily be backed up from one central location. The default location of My Documents folder will vary depending on what version of Windows youre running:

C:WindowsPersonal on Windows 95.

C:My Documents on Windows 98, ME.

C:Documents and SettingsUser NameMy Documents on Windows ME, 2000, XP.

These are typical locations, as well as they may vary greatly across unique computer configurations.

Your most important personal files usually have some of the following common file data extensions:

Microsoft Word (.doc, .rtf, .dot) documents.

Microsoft Excel (.xls, .xlt) tables and spreadsheets.

Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pps, .pot) presentations.

Database (.mdb, .dbf, .csv, .db, .xml) files.

Internet (.html, .txt, .pdf) documents.

Digital photo (.tif, .jpg) pictures.

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The Importance of Backup

The first thing a new or experienced computer user should learn is the importance of backing up. Are you still not backing up your data? You should know this through now: computers can and do fail. The problem is which you usually get no warning before its too late. This has happened to lots of people. In extreme cases, it has put companies out of business. Computers are becoming more and more reliable. This creates a false sense of security - we begin to think all our data are safe and secure and will never go away. Its not real - and never will be. If you do not back up your computer method regularly. Backups are really a necessity, as well as you are responsible for making backups of your files.

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