QUESTION: I have never performed a backup and thought I'd better give it a try. I use Windows 98SE. I followed the system directions but found an important question ambiguous.

“Where do you want to backup?”

I had to figure out whether it meant to put in the destination (floppy disk) or the source, i.e. files on C Drive.

I don't think I did a good job. It performed a backup onto the hard drive. That doesn't seem to make sense to me. How could a backup to the hard drive be retrieved in the event of a failure of the hard drive?

Anything you can tell me about doing a backup would be helpful.

Also I am getting ready to upgrade to Windows XP. Is this something I can do myself? Thanks very much

Reply: First of all Windows 98 is an old operating system and you are very wise to consider moving up to XP if your computer can accept the upgrade.

Yes, you can carry out the upgrade yourself, providing you have a certain comfort level and degree of competency with working on your computer.

Also be careful and, at every stage, read all the screens before acting. Analyse your PC first.

One of the requirements for Windows XP is that your computer must have a minimum of 128MB of RAM, although XP doesn't really come alive unless you have twice that much.

You will also need a processor speed of no less than 300mhz and at least 1.5gb of free disk space. If you don't know how fast your processor is you can usually find out by clicking the My Computer icon, and there under Properties, you should find a summary of the size of your processor and amount of RAM your computer contains.

Otherwise look through the documentation that came with the PC or visit the manufacturers web site and type in your computer model number and look up the specifications.

Often more RAM can be added if there's a free slot. Another way to get an impressive analysis of what your computer consists of is to download the Belarc Advisor free from http://www.belarc.com/ad_link.html?/try/google.prem.feb.2002.cgi.

Download it to your Desktop, run it from there and uninstall it afterwards if you don't want to keep it.

Prior to committing to the change, run the XP Upgrade Manager which appears as a preliminary option. This is used to check your computer for software and hardware compatibility. Often old device drivers will have to be upgraded before XP can install and work properly.

The process is quite lengthy but is straightforward enough.

Backing up: “Where do you want to backup?” That means where do you want the files about to be copied for safeguarding to be kept? I agree there isn't much point in backing up drive C somewhere else on drive C in case you have a hard drive failure. The best and easiest method (but expensive) I have found for backing up computer systems uses an external hard drive and especially the features incorporated in the Maxtor One-Touch hard drive system.

The Maxtor One-Touch drive comes with Retrospect software and allows backing-up by pressing one button (there's only the one anyway) on the external hard drive which is connected to a USB port on your computer.

Obviously, it works better (i.e. faster) if you have USB 2 connectivity instead of USB 1 but it is unlikely that you will have USB 2 in a computer that is still running Windows 98.

The other option, and the most cost-effective per megabyte, is simply to copy your essential files and other important items like your e-mail address book, e-mail messages and essential documents onto a CD-R.

That assumes that you have a CD burner in your computer.

Other options include copying to an internal or external zip drive which allows the storage of 100 megabytes of data at a time on one zip disk, that's the same amount of data as 69 floppy disks would hold.

Tape drives are still used in many places for backing-up but at about $1200 for the tape drive unit alone, the hardware is expensive added to which there is an additional substantial cost for each blank tape.

Tape backup is not the usual method for individual users and I don't recommend their use unless there is a corporate backup policy and perhaps an IT department to set them up in the first place as they require a fairly complicated installation process to administer the rotation of the capture media and to check its integrity from time to time.

Even an old computer has a floppy disk drive, but this only allows 1.44 MB of data to be stored per floppy and that is now too small to be truly useful. But, whatever the method, be sure to back up at least your most important items before you carry out the upgrade or any other extensive system changing process.

Once you've made the change to XP for future backups you will have the option of using the backup software which comes built-in with the standard installation of XP Pro or as an additional option off the original operating system CD on XP Home.

Be sure you have an up-to-date virus checker in the system and, following the installation, go out to the Windows Update site periodically to look for the latest available security fixes and upgrades that are applicable to your computer.

Did you know, Windows XP is leased to customers not sold as was the case with previous iterations? This allows Microsoft the right to change the system, hopefully by improving it, from time to time.

I hope that helps or at least gives you some food for thought.

@EDITRULE:

James W. Lapsley is the founder of ComputerWorks, specialising in PC repairs, upgrades and advice for the home and small office user. ComputerWorks welcomes your questions and comments Send your PC questions by e-mail to computerworkslogic.bm or by phone to 293-0992.