Back Up Files and Settings in Win XP

While the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard, a new feature in Windows XP, is normally used to transfer files and settings from an older system to a new one, it can also be used as a backup utility. Once the wizard has collected all the necessary files into a single place, it can be moved onto a removable storage device, such as an external hard drive or recordable CD or DVD, for later use.

To use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard as a backup utility:

On the Start menu, click Programs, point to Accessories, System Tools, Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
Click Next.
Because you are collecting data, select Old Computer (even if this is your primary system) and then click Next.
A Please Wait screen displays as the Wizard collects the locations of some files. This screen may remain for several minutes; if the hard drive activity light is visible, it is still running.
On the next screen, select Other. Save the wizard's data file to your storage medium of choice.
At this point, you can save the data file to a temporary location on the hard drive (for example, the Desktop), and then copy or move it to the backup storage medium of your choice at a later time. Backup storage includes external hard drives, CDs/DVDs, and USB memory keys.
Click Next.
Under What do you want to transfer?, select the appropriate option. The Settings only option requires very little space, whereas the Both files and settings option requires however much space all the files take up. This can be a significant amount of data.
The Let me select a custom list of files and settings when I click Next option is for advanced users who know where additional file folders they want to keep are located. If you want to add additional files to the backup, select this option.
Click Next. If any programs require special procedures, they are mentioned now and instructions are provided.
The file collection process begins.
You may now save the .DAT file generated by the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard to the storage medium of your choice (mentioned in Step 5), as long as you selected the appropriate option in the steps above