Windows XP 100 tips tricks (16)

Use Backup to Back Up Files and Folders on Your Computer in Windows XP
This article describes how to use Backup Utility for Windows (included with Windows XP) to back up files and folders on your computer.
The Backup tool in Windows XP helps you protect your data in case your hard disk fails or files are accidentally erased. By using Backup, you can create a duplicate copy of all of the data on your hard disk and then archive it on another storage device, such as a hard disk or a tape.
If the original data on your hard disk is accidentally erased or overwritten, or becomes inaccessible because of a hard-disk malfunction, you can easily restore the data from the disk or archived copy by using the Restore Wizard or Automated System Recovery Wizard.
Note: You must have permissions as an administrator or a backup operator on your computer to back up files and folders. Also, backup operators and administrators can back up and restore encrypted files and folders without decrypting the files or folders.
· Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup. The Backup or Restore Wizard starts.
· Click Advanced Mode.
· Click the Backup tab.
· On the Job menu, click New.
· Select the check boxes for the drives that you want to back up. If you want to be more specific in your selections, expand the drive that you want, and then click the check boxes for the files or folders that you want.
· Select the System State check box.
Note: If you want to back up your system settings as well as your data files, you should back up all the data on your computer plus the System State data, which includes such things as the registry, the COM+ class registration database, files under Windows File Protection, and boot files.
· In the Backup destination list, click the backup destination that you want to use.
· If you clicked File in the previous step, type the full path and file name that you want in the Backup media or file name box. Note that you can also specify a network share as a destination for the backup file.
· Click Start Backup. The Backup Job Information dialog box appears.
Under If the media already contains backups, use one of the following steps:
· If you want to append this backup to previous backups, click Append this backup to the media.
If you want to overwrite previous backups with this backup, click Replace the data on the media with this backup.
· Click Advanced.
· Select the Verify data after backup check box.
· In the Backup Type box, click the type of backup that you want. When you click a backup type, a description of that backup type is displayed under "Description."
· Click OK, and then click Start Backup. A Backup Progress dialog box appears, and the backup starts.
· When the backup is complete, click Close.

Use Backup to Restore Files and Folders on Your Computer in Windows XP
This article is a step-by-step guide to using the Backup program in Windows XP to restore files and folders on your computer.
The Backup utility in Windows XP helps you protect your data in case your hard disk fails or files are accidentally erased. By using Backup, you can create a duplicate copy of all of the data on your hard disk and then archive it on another storage device, such as a hard disk or a tape.
If the original data on your hard disk is accidentally erased or overwritten, or becomes inaccessible because of a hard-disk malfunction, you can easily restore it from the disk or archived copy by using the Restore Wizard or Automated System Recovery Wizard.
Note: You must have permissions as an administrator or a backup operator on your computer to restore files and folders. Also, backup operators and administrators can back up and restore encrypted files and folders without decrypting the files or folders.
· Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup. The Backup or Restore Wizard starts.
· Click Advanced Mode.
· Click the Restore and Manage Media tab.
If you want to restore from a backup file:
· Expand File, and then expand the backup file that you want. For example, expand Backup.bkf created 01/01/2002 at 1:15 PM. Backup includes the date and time of the backup as part of the file name by default.

If you want to restore from a tape backup:
· Expand the tape device that you want (for example, Travan), and then expand the media name that you want. For example, expand Media created 01/01/2002 1:15 PM.
Select the check boxes for the folders that you want to restore. If you want to be more specific in your selections, double-click the folder that you want, and then select the check boxes for the files or folders that you want to restore.
If you are restoring the entire operating system, select the System State check box.
Note: If you want to restore the operating system as well as your data files, you should restore the System State data, which includes such things as the registry, the COM+ class registration database, files under Windows File Protection, and boot files.

In the Restore files to box, use one of the following steps:
· Click Original location if you want to restore the files to the location from which you backed them up. Use this selection when you restore the entire computer.
· Click Alternate location if you want to restore a file or files to another location on the hard disk. Type the location that you want in the Alternate location box. Use this selection to prevent the restore operation from overwriting existing files on your computer.
· Click Single folder if you want to restore a file or files to a single folder on the hard disk. Type the location that you want in the Alternate location box. Use this selection to separate the restored files or folders from the rest of the files on the hard disk.
· On the Tools menu, click Options.
· Click the method that you want Backup to use when it restores a file that is already on the computer, and then click OK. Backup uses this selection to determine whether to overwrite an existing file only when it restores a file in a folder that contains the existing file.
Note: If you are restoring the operating system, click Always replace the file on my computer.
· Click Start Restore.
· If the following message appears, click OK if you want to restore the System State information with the selected backup:
Warning!
Restoring System State will always overwrite current System State unless restoring to an alternate location.
· In the Confirm Restore prompt that appears, click OK. A Restore Progress dialog box appears, and the restore operation starts.
· When the restore process is complete, click Close.
· If you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.

Schedule Tasks in Windows XP
With Scheduled Tasks, you can schedule any script, program, or document to run at a time that is most convenient for you. Scheduled Tasks starts every time that you start Windows XP and runs in the background, and it starts each task that you schedule at the time that you specify when you create the task.
To open Scheduled Tasks:
· Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scheduled Tasks.
To schedule a new task:
· Double-click Add Scheduled Task to start the Scheduled Task Wizard, and then click Next in the first dialog box.
The next dialog box displays a list of programs that are installed on your computer, either as part of the Windows XP operating system, or as a result of software installation.

Use one of the following procedures:
If the program that you want to run is listed, click the program, and then click Next.
If you want to run a program, script, or document that is not listed, click Browse, click the folder and file that you want to schedule, and then click Open.
Type a name for the task, and then choose one of the following options:
· Daily
· Weekly
· Monthly
· One time only
· When my computer starts (before a user logs on)
· When I log on (only after the current user logs on)
· Click Next, specify the information about the day and time to run the task, and then click Next.
Note that the information about the day and time to run the task vary depending on the selection that you made in the previous wizard dialog box. For example, if you chose Weekly, you must indicate the day of the week, the time, and if the task should run every week, every 2 weeks, every 3 weeks, and so on.
· Type the name and password of the user who is associated with this task. Make sure that you choose a user with sufficient permissions to run the program. By default, the wizard selects the name of the user who is currently logged on.
· Click Next, and then click Finish after you verify the choices that you have made.

Using Advanced Options in Scheduled Tasks
If you want to change the configuration of the task:
· Click Open in the Advanced properties for the task before you click Finish. After you click Finish, the Properties dialog box opens for the task.
· On the Schedule tab, you can change any of the scheduling options that you chose in the wizard, and you can also change the task configuration so that the task does not run too long, does not run if the computer is running on batteries (for laptops), and to specify whether or not the computer should be idle for the task to run.
Note: You can open the Properties dialog box for the task at any time if you open Scheduled Tasks, right-click the task, and then click Properties.
You cannot schedule a task so that it repeats in an interval less than one day; however, you can do this in the Properties dialog box:
Click the Schedule tab, and then click Advanced.
· Click to select the Repeat task check box, and then specify the number of minutes or hours in which you want the task to be repeated.

Obtain Remote Assistance by Sending an E-mail Message in Windows XP
This article describes how to obtain help by using the Remote Assistance feature in Microsoft Windows XP.
Remote Assistance allows a remote connection to your computer that can be used to view your computer screen, participate in real-time chat and, with your permission, remotely control your computer.
Note: The following requirements must be met before you can use Remote Assistance:
· Both the local and the remote computer must be using either Windows Messenger or a Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI)-compliant e-mail program such as Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express.
· Both computers must be connected to the Internet while using Remote Assistance.
Note: If your computer is behind a firewall, you may need to reconfigure the firewall to allow Remote Assistance. Contact your network administrator before using Remote Assistance.
· Click Start > Help and Support. The Help and Support Center dialog box appears.
· Under Ask for assistance, click Invite a friend to connect to your computer with Remote Assistance. The Remote Assistance pane appears.
· Under Remote Assistance, click Invite someone to help you.
· Under or use e-mail, type your assistant's e-mail address in the Type an e-mail address box, and then click Invite this person.
Note: Click Address Book if you want to select a contact from the address book.
The Remote Assistance - E-mail an Invitation page appears.
· In the From box, type the name or identification that you want.
· In the Message box, type the message that you want, and then click Continue.
· Under Set the invitation to expire, select the duration that you want to allow the invitation for assistance.
Click to clear the Require the recipient to use a password check box if you do not want to password-protect the remote connection.
Note: Using a password is recommended.
· If you protect this connection with a password, type the password that you want your assistant to use in the Type password box. Retype that password in the Confirm password box, and then click Send Invitation. The invitation is sent using your e- mail program.
You receive the following message:
Your invitation has been sent successfully. Note: You must communicate this password to the remote assistant in order for the Remote Assistance session to be created.
· When your remote assistant accepts your invitation, you receive the following message Assistant has accepted your Remote Assistance invitation and is ready to connect to your computer.
Do you want to let this person view your screen and chat with you? where Assistant is the name of the remote assistant.
· Click Yes.
The Remote Assistance dialog box appears. The remote assistant can view your computer screen and chat with you in real time.
· If the remote assistant wants to remotely control the computer, you receive the following message:
Assistant would like to share control of your computer to help solve the problem.
Do you wish to let Assistant share control of your computer? (where Assistant is the name of the remote assistant).
· To accept, click Yes.
The remote assistant can now control your computer remotely. This includes the ability to shut down the computer.
Note: Do not use the mouse while the remote assistant controls the computer.
Remote Assistance Features Use the following features of the Remote Assistance dialog box to participate in the remote assistance session:
The Connection Status box displays the following information:
· The name of the assistant.
· Whether you are connected or disconnected.
· The assistant's privileges during this session. For example, Screen View Only.
· The Stop Control (ESC) button.
Press the ESCAPE key to stop the computer from being remotely controlled. When you press ESCAPE, you receive the following message:
User name or Assistant has stopped remote control by pressing the ESC key, or a key sequence or combination including the ESC key where User name is the name of the logged on user, and where Assistant is the name of the remote assistant.
The Send a File button.
Use this button to initiate file transfers between the local and remote computer.
The Start Talking button.
Use this button to initiate voice chat with the remote assistant.
The Settings button.
Use this button to adjust quality settings according to the connection speed that you have.
The Disconnect button.
Use this button to terminate the Remote Assistance session.
The Help button.
Provides Remote Assistance help.
The Message Entry box.
Use this box to type messages to the remote assistant in real time. Click the Send button, or press ENTER to send the message.
The Chat History window.
This window records the text messages typed by you and the remote assistant.
Troubleshooting
The ability to control your computer remotely is disabled by default.
When the remote assistant attempts to remotely control the computer, the following message appears:
Remote Control of this computer is not allowed. To configure the computer for remote control, follow these steps.
Note: You must be a member of the local Administrators group to perform these steps.
· Click Start > Control Panel.
· Under Pick a category, click Performance and Maintenance.
· Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click System.
· The System Properties dialog box appears.
· On the Remote tab, click to select the Advanced button under Remote Assistance.
· Under Remote control, click the Allow this computer to be controlled remotely check box, and then click OK.
· In the System Properties dialog box, click OK.
Remote Control is now enabled. Note that you must still expressly permit the remote control of your computer in each Remote Assistance session.
The computer appears to stop responding
When you use Remote Assistance over a dial-up connection, the computer may appear to stop responding (hang) or may respond slowly. This behavior may be caused by the slow speed of the Internet connection. For best results, use Remote Assistance over
a high-speed Internet connection.

Remote Assistance allows access to sensitive data
The remote assistant can see as well as, with your permission, gain access to the information on your computer. For this reason, invite only trusted sources to remotely assist you.
More Information
Use Remote Assistance to view and edit your Remote Assistance invitations. To do this, follow these steps:
· Click Start > Help and Support.
· The Help and Support Center dialog box appears.
· Under Ask for assistance, click Invite a friend to connect to your computer with Remote Assistance.
· The Remote Assistance pane appears.
· Under Remote Assistance, click View invitation status. A table similar to the following appears:
Sent To Expiration Time Status
User_name@microsoft.com Tuesday, August 28,2001 10:37:47 AM Open
User_name@hotmail.com Monday, August 27,2001 8:35:05 PM Expired
Assistant@mycompany.com Monday, August 27,2001 1:51:02 PM Expired
· Select the invitation that you want, and use the following buttons to change or view
the status of that invitation:
Details
Use this button to view the Invitation Details page for this invitation. When you are finished, click Close.
Expire
Use this button to rescind the invitation. The remote assistant can no longer use this invitation to connect to your computer.
Resend
Use this button to resend an e-mail-based invitation to the selected contact.
Delete
Use this button to remove the invitation from the View or change your invitation page.

source:
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