Backup and recovery
Maintenance and Service Guide
8–3
Backing up your information
As you add new software and data files, you should back up your system on a regular basis to maintain a reasonably
current backup. Back up your system at the following times:
■
At regularly scheduled times
✎
Set reminders to back up your information periodically.
■
Before the computer is repaired or restored
■
Before you add or modify hardware or software
Note the following when backing up:
■
Create system restore points using the Windows System Restore feature, and periodically copy them to disc.
■
Store personal files in the Documents library and back up this folder periodically.
■
Back up templates stored in their associated programs.
■
Save customized settings in a window, toolbar, or menu bar by taking a screen shot of your settings. The screen
shot can be a time-saver if you have to reset your preferences.
To copy the screen and paste it into a word-processing document, follow these steps:
1. Display the screen.
2. Copy the screen:
To copy only the active window, press
alt+prt sc
.
To copy the entire screen, press
prt sc
.
3. Open a word-processing document, and then select
Edit > Paste
.
4. Save the document.
■
You can back up your information to an optional external hard drive, a network drive, or discs.
■
When backing up to discs, use any of the following types of discs (purchased separately): CD-R, CD-RW,
DVD+R, DVD-R, or DVD±RW. The discs you use will depend on the type of optical drive installed in your
computer.
✎
DVDs store more information than CDs, so using them for backup reduces the number of recovery
discs required.
■
When backing up to discs, number each disc before inserting it into the optical drive of the computer.
