Idiot-proof backups with Windows’ built-in tools

By Zack Stern / Monday, June 30 2008

When Apple released its Time Machine backup tool in Mac OS X 10.5 last year, many hailed its convenience and simplicity. But your Windows PC comes with all of Time Machine’s slick backup tricks built-in.

When Apple released its Time Machine backup tool in Mac OS X 10.5 last year, many hailed its convenience and simplicity. But your Windows PC comes with all of Time Machine’s slick backup tricks built-in.

The backup utility built into Vista and XP doesn’t have a catchy name (it’s called Backup Status and Configuration), but it’s a powerful tool that gets far less attention than it deserves — and it costs nothing extra. Perhaps it should have a name like “Super-Better Backup,” or “Burger, Fries, and a Milk Shake Backup.”

Apple’s Time Machine makes backups on an automated schedule and allows incremental updates. So does Windows’ backup app. Your PC can even match Time Machine’s most interesting feature, rolling back any given file to an earlier version. I’ll explain how to use all of these tools, and I’ll provide tips along the way to protect your data from disaster.

Pick the destination

The most secure backup solution is one that stores your data far, far away from your PC — like, across town in a bank safe. Second best: an internet-based storage service. Third: a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device.

An external, USB-, FireWire-, or eSATA-connected backup drive is a good choice, especially if you …

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