RE: Pc backups ideas

Lots of stuff winds up in the registry which is probably why the restore
after re-installing Windows is usually done.

Applications can store their data & settings pretty much anywhere, so
there would be data scattered everywhere.  For instance, c:\program
files\ibm\client access\emulator\private stores your Client/iSeries
Access workstation profiles.  Lots of settings still get scattered in
the Windows directory.  Most are convenience-type things like personal
dictionaries in Word, browser Favorites, etc.  While not critical they
can be a huge annoyance if lost.

If you backup software support it, why not do the equivalent of a Save
Changed Objects?  Do your full and then do incrementals.  If you look at
the incrementals you'll probably get a fair idea as to where other
settings & data get stored.

(I upgraded my wife's PC from 98 to XP and forgot to save her IE
favorites.  Let's just she was disappointed they weren't there.)

John A. Jones, CISSP
Americas Information Security Officer
Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.
V: +1-630-455-2787  F: +1-312-601-1782
john.jones@xxxxxxxxxx

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Crosby [mailto:jlcrosby@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 1:32 PM
To: 'PC Technical Discussion for iSeries Users'
Subject: [PCTECH] Pc backups ideas

A while back there was a discussion about how and what to back up from
PCs that got me to thinking. (Dangerous, I know)

The more I think about it, the more the PC backups we do don't make
sense.
We back up the entire PC to tape via Backup Exec or Tapeware or some
equivalent.  But if a reload is required what would actually be done,
from a clean slate, is to install windows, reinstall software, then
bring in the actual "user files" such as those contained within My
Documents.

So if I was going to back up only "user files" on a PC, how does one go
about determining what are "user files"?  The Documents and Settings
directory with all subdirectories would be an obvious one, but what
else?
It would really depend on what applications were installed and how those
apps behaved.  How does one go about ascertaining that, if it's even
possible?

--
Jeff Crosby
Dilgard Frozen Foods, Inc.
P.O. Box 13369
Ft. Wayne, IN 46868-3369
260-422-7531

The opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily the opinion of my
company.  Unless I say so.



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