Make a backup copy of vista

A secondary hard drive of some sort is the neatest, and quickest, solution. How regularly you make a drive image is up you. If you buy a new PC with Vista pre-installed, or are about to upgrade, it's a good idea to make an image as soon as possible, so you have a 'clean' system you can revert to.

It's a good idea to create a new image each time you install a Service Pack, too. Making a drive image is not the same as backing up individual data files, as with a drive image all the applications, system files and registry details are also copied. It's not the same as System Restore, either, which reverts a system to an earlier date, without disturbing data. When you restore a drive image, it overwrites the entire contents of the drive: system, applications and files.

If you are prompted to close programs, make sure that you have saved any open documents, and then click Close all.

As a precaution, you can use the Backup and Restore Center feature in Windows 7 and Windows Vista to back up your data. Note Data that you back up by using the Windows 7 Backup and Restore Center can be restored only on a Windows 7-based operating system. Note If you are prompted to close programs, make sure that you have saved any open documents and close those programs. Or, click Close Programs. Under Back up or restore your files , click Set up backup.

Select where you want to save your backup, and then click Next. Note Remember to save your backup files to removable media or a network location. Click Let Windows choose or Let me choose , and then click Next. Make the appropriate selections, and then click Next or Save Settings and run backup. Click Back up files under Back up files or your entire computer.

Select where you want to store the file backup, and then click Next. Select the disk or disks that you want to back up, and then click Next. Select the file type or file types that you want to back up, and then click Next. Click Next , click Old computer , and then click Next. Select how you want to transfer your files. If you select Other , you can save to a network location or to removable media so that you can keep a backup for your records.

Note Manufacturers frequently configure a recovery partition on a computer. Typically, a recovery partition is displayed as a hard disk drive. Always store the media that you use for backups in a secure location to prevent unauthorized access to your files.

Try to use a fireproof location that's separate from your computer's location. Also, consider encrypting the backup data. Need more help? However, just like System Restore, you can only make a full backup of the registry by using this feature. Registry cleaners are also convenient tools to create registry backups. Advanced registry cleaners, such as RegServe , are compatible with Windows Vista and enable you to make registry backups without any problems.

These advanced tools help you make both selective and full backups of the registry. Using these tools you can perform registry backups and restore with just a few clicks of your mouse. This method of maintaining registry backups is quite popular among users and computer technicians. Now that you know how to backup the Windows Vista registry, ensure that you perform registry backups at regular intervals.

It is also recommended that in addition to saving on your hard drive, that you also save your backups on external sources, such as tape drives, DVDs and CDs, so that you can recover your system even if your hard disk fails. Registry Editor The Registry Editor tool is primarily used to perform manual edits to the Windows registry. To back up the Windows Vista registry using Registry Editor, perform the following steps: Open the Start menu, select Run , type regedit , and press Enter.