My clients often ask me what data they should back up. My standard reply is they should only backup what they produce. For example, if you use QuickBooks, then you produce the file, “yourcompany.qbb”. You do not produce qbw32.exe; so you do not need to back it up. You already have a backup, your installation cd.
Applications and operating systems do not change. There may be downloadable service packs or patches that update the application or o/s; but they are readily available and do not need backup. If you want, you can duplicate your application and o/s cds and store them off site (I do); but your originals are your backup.
On the typical Windows machine, you will want to back up the “My Documents” folder, any folder you created and any sub-folder within the “Program Files” folder that contains data you produced. If you use Outlook Express, you will want to back up the files contained in the folder,
“Documents and Settings\Your User Name\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book”
and the files contained in the folder,
“Documents and Settings\Your User Name\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities.”
If you use Outlook, back up all files with the file extension “.pst.” By default these are in the folder,
“Documents and Settings\Your User Name\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook.”
When you open “Explore” (right click on the start button, click on “Explore”), you may not see the “Application Data” folder or the “Local Settings” folder. If not, click on the menu item “Tools”; and select “Folder Options…” Click on the “View” tab. Click on “Show hidden files and folders.” Uncheck “Hide extensions for known file types.” You will now see both folders.
