Backup and restore questions

I have two user accounts on my computer. My administrator account that I
very rarely ever use, and my normal, general user account I named "Bob1". I
use Vista Windows Mail as my email application. I just searched and found
the "hidden" folder where my Windows Mail stuff is
(C:\Users\Bob1\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\ Local Folders &
Microsoft Communities & Compact & Backup) I save everything to my Bob1 user
account to the appropriate folder (Documents in documents folder, pictures
into pictures folder, etc.) I never vary from this habit.

I have been backing up using Vista32 backup. It gives me the option to
backup "Pictures, Music, Videos, E-mail, Document, TV-shows, Compressed
files, Additional files". I check all of these options so all are backed
up. It comes on automatically every day to backup anything new or changed.

I checked the restore part of vista32 backup & restore found in control
panel. I looked up Bob1 and all my folders are there. It appeared the
application data folders were there (difficult to find because the
application data folders are hidden). I specifically checked the Windows
Mail folders in the hidden application data folders and they were there. It
appeasers everything is backed up.

I am going to reformat HD & reinstall the operating system and all
applications.

Questions:
1. Is my assumption correct that everything I saved in my user account
(Bob1) is backed up ready for restore?
2. Using vista32 restore, when I get to "select the files and folders to
restore" I just select "C:\Users\Bob1\" and that should restore everything,
right? (everything I saved that is)
3. Does restoring "C:\Users\Bob1\" restore my windows mail stuff like
"windows contacts", my email messages, "Mail Account Settings", "News
Account Settings"?
4. I was pointed to the web page http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx in an
answer to a previous question I posted. It says I needed to backup
"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Mail",
"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities" (maybe), and
"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IAM" for windows mail to work. Does
vista32 backup & restore backup the registry? If so where do I find these
registry entries in the backup?
5. What would happen if I restored everything in my "C:\Users\Bob1\" and did
not restore the three registry entries for windows mail. Would my contacts,
email messages, Mail Account Settings, News Account Settings work right?

Background info: I have a desktop AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way
bigger than I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new February
2008 running 32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP2 box. I use MS auto updates.
I think it has onboard shared memory for video and sound. My ISP is Comcast
12mbps with Motorola SURFboard SB5101 Cable Modem direct to computer. No
other switches or routers or wireless or phone line or any other networking
hardware hooked up to this computer.

Thanks for the help.
Bob

On 1/27/10, Bob posted:
> I have two user accounts on my computer. My administrator account that I
> very rarely ever use, and my normal, general user account I named "Bob1". I
> use Vista Windows Mail as my email application. I just searched and found
> the "hidden" folder where my Windows Mail stuff is
> (C:\Users\Bob1\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\ Local Folders &
> Microsoft Communities & Compact & Backup) I save everything to my Bob1 user
> account to the appropriate folder (Documents in documents folder, pictures
> into pictures folder, etc.) I never vary from this habit.

> I have been backing up using Vista32 backup. It gives me the option to
> backup "Pictures, Music, Videos, E-mail, Document, TV-shows, Compressed
> files, Additional files". I check all of these options so all are backed up.
> It comes on automatically every day to backup anything new or changed.

> I checked the restore part of vista32 backup & restore found in control
> panel. I looked up Bob1 and all my folders are there. It appeared the
> application data folders were there (difficult to find because the
> application data folders are hidden). I specifically checked the Windows
> Mail folders in the hidden application data folders and they were there. It
> appeasers everything is backed up.

> I am going to reformat HD & reinstall the operating system and all
> applications.

> Questions:
> 1. Is my assumption correct that everything I saved in my user account (Bob1)
> is backed up ready for restore?
> 2. Using vista32 restore, when I get to "select the files and folders to
> restore" I just select "C:\Users\Bob1\" and that should restore everything,
> right? (everything I saved that is)
> 3. Does restoring "C:\Users\Bob1\" restore my windows mail stuff like
> "windows contacts", my email messages, "Mail Account Settings", "News Account
> Settings"?
> 4. I was pointed to the web page http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx in an
> answer to a previous question I posted. It says I needed to backup
> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Mail",
> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities" (maybe), and
> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IAM" for windows mail to work. Does
> vista32 backup & restore backup the registry? If so where do I find these
> registry entries in the backup?
> 5. What would happen if I restored everything in my "C:\Users\Bob1\" and did
> not restore the three registry entries for windows mail. Would my contacts,
> email messages, Mail Account Settings, News Account Settings work right?

> Background info: I have a desktop AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way
> bigger than I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new February
> 2008 running 32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP2 box. I use MS auto updates. I
> think it has onboard shared memory for video and sound. My ISP is Comcast
> 12mbps with Motorola SURFboard SB5101 Cable Modem direct to computer. No
> other switches or routers or wireless or phone line or any other networking
> hardware hooked up to this computer.

> Thanks for the help.
> Bob

Your post confuses me, but if you reformat C: you will lose everything
on the C: drive. If, as I read you, that's where your backup files are,
they'll be gone too.

You should save everything on an external USB drive before formatting.

--
Gene Bloch 650.366.4267 lettersatblochg.com

On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:56:19 -0600, "Bob"
<bobbREMOVE-> wrote:

>I have two user accounts on my computer. My administrator account that I
>very rarely ever use, and my normal, general user account I named "Bob1". I
>use Vista Windows Mail as my email application. I just searched and found
>the "hidden" folder where my Windows Mail stuff is
>(C:\Users\Bob1\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\ Local Folders &
>Microsoft Communities & Compact & Backup) I save everything to my Bob1 user
>account to the appropriate folder (Documents in documents folder, pictures
>into pictures folder, etc.) I never vary from this habit.
>
>I have been backing up using Vista32 backup. It gives me the option to
>backup "Pictures, Music, Videos, E-mail, Document, TV-shows, Compressed
>files, Additional files". I check all of these options so all are backed
>up. It comes on automatically every day to backup anything new or changed.
>
>I checked the restore part of vista32 backup & restore found in control
>panel. I looked up Bob1 and all my folders are there. It appeared the
>application data folders were there (difficult to find because the
>application data folders are hidden). I specifically checked the Windows
>Mail folders in the hidden application data folders and they were there. It
>appeasers everything is backed up.
>
>I am going to reformat HD & reinstall the operating system and all
>applications.
>
>Questions:
>1. Is my assumption correct that everything I saved in my user account
>(Bob1) is backed up ready for restore?
>2. Using vista32 restore, when I get to "select the files and folders to
>restore" I just select "C:\Users\Bob1\" and that should restore everything,
>right? (everything I saved that is)
>3. Does restoring "C:\Users\Bob1\" restore my windows mail stuff like
>"windows contacts", my email messages, "Mail Account Settings", "News
>Account Settings"?
>4. I was pointed to the web page http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx in an
>answer to a previous question I posted. It says I needed to backup
>"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Mail",
>"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities" (maybe), and
>"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IAM" for windows mail to work. Does
>vista32 backup & restore backup the registry? If so where do I find these
>registry entries in the backup?
>5. What would happen if I restored everything in my "C:\Users\Bob1\" and did
>not restore the three registry entries for windows mail. Would my contacts,
>email messages, Mail Account Settings, News Account Settings work right?
>
>Background info: I have a desktop AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way
>bigger than I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new February
>2008 running 32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP2 box. I use MS auto updates.
>I think it has onboard shared memory for video and sound. My ISP is Comcast
>12mbps with Motorola SURFboard SB5101 Cable Modem direct to computer. No
>other switches or routers or wireless or phone line or any other networking
>hardware hooked up to this computer.
>
>Thanks for the help.
>Bob

It's not clear to me what you are trying to do. If you are wanting to
protect yourself against a hard drive failure you need to back up
"your entire computer", not just the data files, if you want to
restore EVERYTHING to a new drive. If all you want is to be able to
save your data files that what you are doing will probably work, more
or less although I'm not sure there isn't some Microsoft utility that
will just move the stuff from an old drive to a new drive as you are
installing a new OS on it.

I am backing up to a DVD. I just want to save data. I will install the
apps individually. Thanks for the help. Bob

"Gene E. Bloch" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On 1/27/10, Bob posted:
>> I have two user accounts on my computer. My administrator account that I
>> very rarely ever use, and my normal, general user account I named "Bob1".
>> I use Vista Windows Mail as my email application. I just searched and
>> found the "hidden" folder where my Windows Mail stuff is
>> (C:\Users\Bob1\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\ Local Folders &
>> Microsoft Communities & Compact & Backup) I save everything to my Bob1
>> user account to the appropriate folder (Documents in documents folder,
>> pictures into pictures folder, etc.) I never vary from this habit.
>
>> I have been backing up using Vista32 backup. It gives me the option to
>> backup "Pictures, Music, Videos, E-mail, Document, TV-shows, Compressed
>> files, Additional files". I check all of these options so all are backed
>> up. It comes on automatically every day to backup anything new or
>> changed.
>
>> I checked the restore part of vista32 backup & restore found in control
>> panel. I looked up Bob1 and all my folders are there. It appeared the
>> application data folders were there (difficult to find because the
>> application data folders are hidden). I specifically checked the Windows
>> Mail folders in the hidden application data folders and they were there.
>> It appeasers everything is backed up.
>
>> I am going to reformat HD & reinstall the operating system and all
>> applications.
>
>> Questions:
>> 1. Is my assumption correct that everything I saved in my user account
>> (Bob1) is backed up ready for restore?
>> 2. Using vista32 restore, when I get to "select the files and folders to
>> restore" I just select "C:\Users\Bob1\" and that should restore
>> everything, right? (everything I saved that is)
>> 3. Does restoring "C:\Users\Bob1\" restore my windows mail stuff like
>> "windows contacts", my email messages, "Mail Account Settings", "News
>> Account Settings"?
>> 4. I was pointed to the web page http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx in an
>> answer to a previous question I posted. It says I needed to backup
>> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Mail",
>> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities" (maybe), and
>> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IAM" for windows mail to work.
>> Does vista32 backup & restore backup the registry? If so where do I find
>> these registry entries in the backup?
>> 5. What would happen if I restored everything in my "C:\Users\Bob1\" and
>> did not restore the three registry entries for windows mail. Would my
>> contacts, email messages, Mail Account Settings, News Account Settings
>> work right?
>
>> Background info: I have a desktop AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way
>> bigger than I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new
>> February 2008 running 32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP2 box. I use MS
>> auto updates. I think it has onboard shared memory for video and sound.
>> My ISP is Comcast 12mbps with Motorola SURFboard SB5101 Cable Modem
>> direct to computer. No other switches or routers or wireless or phone
>> line or any other networking hardware hooked up to this computer.
>
>> Thanks for the help.
>> Bob
>
> Your post confuses me, but if you reformat C: you will lose everything on
> the C: drive. If, as I read you, that's where your backup files are,
> they'll be gone too.
>
> You should save everything on an external USB drive before formatting.
>
> --
> Gene Bloch 650.366.4267 lettersatblochg.com
>
>

OK, looks good then.

For additional security you could make extra copies of your data to
DVDs as just plain files, so you wouldn't be stuck if Windows Backup
fails you.

I use two forms of backkup, clones and images or the *entire* hard
drive, on separate external hard drives. Sort of belts and suspenders.

If only I did it more often :-)

On 1/28/10, Bob posted:
> I am backing up to a DVD. I just want to save data. I will install the apps
> individually. Thanks for the help. Bob

> "Gene E. Bloch" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> On 1/27/10, Bob posted:
>>> I have two user accounts on my computer. My administrator account that I
>>> very rarely ever use, and my normal, general user account I named "Bob1".
>>> I use Vista Windows Mail as my email application. I just searched and
>>> found the "hidden" folder where my Windows Mail stuff is
>>> (C:\Users\Bob1\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\ Local Folders &
>>> Microsoft Communities & Compact & Backup) I save everything to my Bob1
>>> user account to the appropriate folder (Documents in documents folder,
>>> pictures into pictures folder, etc.) I never vary from this habit.
>>
>>> I have been backing up using Vista32 backup. It gives me the option to
>>> backup "Pictures, Music, Videos, E-mail, Document, TV-shows, Compressed
>>> files, Additional files". I check all of these options so all are backed
>>> up. It comes on automatically every day to backup anything new or changed.
>>
>>> I checked the restore part of vista32 backup & restore found in control
>>> panel. I looked up Bob1 and all my folders are there. It appeared the
>>> application data folders were there (difficult to find because the
>>> application data folders are hidden). I specifically checked the Windows
>>> Mail folders in the hidden application data folders and they were there.
>>> It appeasers everything is backed up.
>>
>>> I am going to reformat HD & reinstall the operating system and all
>>> applications.
>>
>>> Questions:
>>> 1. Is my assumption correct that everything I saved in my user account
>>> (Bob1) is backed up ready for restore?
>>> 2. Using vista32 restore, when I get to "select the files and folders to
>>> restore" I just select "C:\Users\Bob1\" and that should restore
>>> everything, right? (everything I saved that is)
>>> 3. Does restoring "C:\Users\Bob1\" restore my windows mail stuff like
>>> "windows contacts", my email messages, "Mail Account Settings", "News
>>> Account Settings"?
>>> 4. I was pointed to the web page http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx in an
>>> answer to a previous question I posted. It says I needed to backup
>>> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Mail",
>>> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities" (maybe), and
>>> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IAM" for windows mail to work. Does
>>> vista32 backup & restore backup the registry? If so where do I find these
>>> registry entries in the backup?
>>> 5. What would happen if I restored everything in my "C:\Users\Bob1\" and
>>> did not restore the three registry entries for windows mail. Would my
>>> contacts, email messages, Mail Account Settings, News Account Settings
>>> work right?
>>
>>> Background info: I have a desktop AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way
>>> bigger than I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new February
>>> 2008 running 32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP2 box. I use MS auto updates.
>>> I think it has onboard shared memory for video and sound. My ISP is
>>> Comcast 12mbps with Motorola SURFboard SB5101 Cable Modem direct to
>>> computer. No other switches or routers or wireless or phone line or any
>>> other networking hardware hooked up to this computer.
>>
>>> Thanks for the help.
>>> Bob
>>
>> Your post confuses me, but if you reformat C: you will lose everything on
>> the C: drive. If, as I read you, that's where your backup files are,
>> they'll be gone too.
>>
>> You should save everything on an external USB drive before formatting.
>>
>> -- Gene Bloch 650.366.4267 lettersatblochg.com
>>
>>

--
Gene Bloch 650.366.4267 lettersatblochg.com

Looks like I forgot to speell-chekc :-)
Here's a corrected copy of part of a line below:

"...backup, clones and images of the *entire* hard drive..."

I.e., one 'k' in 'backup', 'of' instead of 'or'.

On 1/28/10, Gene E. Bloch posted:
> OK, looks good then.

> For additional security you could make extra copies of your data to DVDs as
> just plain files, so you wouldn't be stuck if Windows Backup fails you.

> I use two forms of backkup, clones and images or the *entire* hard drive, on
> separate external hard drives. Sort of belts and suspenders.

> If only I did it more often :-)

> On 1/28/10, Bob posted:
>> I am backing up to a DVD. I just want to save data. I will install the
>> apps individually. Thanks for the help. Bob

>> "Gene E. Bloch" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> On 1/27/10, Bob posted:
>>>> I have two user accounts on my computer. My administrator account that I
>>>> very rarely ever use, and my normal, general user account I named "Bob1".
>>>> I use Vista Windows Mail as my email application. I just searched and
>>>> found the "hidden" folder where my Windows Mail stuff is
>>>> (C:\Users\Bob1\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\ Local Folders &
>>>> Microsoft Communities & Compact & Backup) I save everything to my Bob1
>>>> user account to the appropriate folder (Documents in documents folder,
>>>> pictures into pictures folder, etc.) I never vary from this habit.
>>>
>>>> I have been backing up using Vista32 backup. It gives me the option to
>>>> backup "Pictures, Music, Videos, E-mail, Document, TV-shows, Compressed
>>>> files, Additional files". I check all of these options so all are backed
>>>> up. It comes on automatically every day to backup anything new or
>>>> changed.
>>>
>>>> I checked the restore part of vista32 backup & restore found in control
>>>> panel. I looked up Bob1 and all my folders are there. It appeared the
>>>> application data folders were there (difficult to find because the
>>>> application data folders are hidden). I specifically checked the Windows
>>>> Mail folders in the hidden application data folders and they were there.
>>>> It appeasers everything is backed up.
>>>
>>>> I am going to reformat HD & reinstall the operating system and all
>>>> applications.
>>>
>>>> Questions:
>>>> 1. Is my assumption correct that everything I saved in my user account
>>>> (Bob1) is backed up ready for restore?
>>>> 2. Using vista32 restore, when I get to "select the files and folders to
>>>> restore" I just select "C:\Users\Bob1\" and that should restore
>>>> everything, right? (everything I saved that is)
>>>> 3. Does restoring "C:\Users\Bob1\" restore my windows mail stuff like
>>>> "windows contacts", my email messages, "Mail Account Settings", "News
>>>> Account Settings"?
>>>> 4. I was pointed to the web page http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx in an
>>>> answer to a previous question I posted. It says I needed to backup
>>>> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Mail",
>>>> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities" (maybe), and
>>>> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IAM" for windows mail to work. Does
>>>> vista32 backup & restore backup the registry? If so where do I find
>>>> these registry entries in the backup?
>>>> 5. What would happen if I restored everything in my "C:\Users\Bob1\" and
>>>> did not restore the three registry entries for windows mail. Would my
>>>> contacts, email messages, Mail Account Settings, News Account Settings
>>>> work right?
>>>
>>>> Background info: I have a desktop AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way
>>>> bigger than I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new
>>>> February 2008 running 32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP2 box. I use MS
>>>> auto updates. I think it has onboard shared memory for video and sound.
>>>> My ISP is Comcast 12mbps with Motorola SURFboard SB5101 Cable Modem
>>>> direct to computer. No other switches or routers or wireless or phone
>>>> line or any other networking hardware hooked up to this computer.
>>>
>>>> Thanks for the help.
>>>> Bob
>>>
>>> Your post confuses me, but if you reformat C: you will lose everything on
>>> the C: drive. If, as I read you, that's where your backup files are,
>>> they'll be gone too.
>>>
>>> You should save everything on an external USB drive before formatting.
>>>
>>> -- Gene Bloch 650.366.4267 lettersatblochg.com
>>>
>>>

--
Gene Bloch 650.366.4267 lettersatblochg.com

"Gene E. Bloch" <> wrote in message
news:u%...
> OK, looks good then.
>
> For additional security you could make extra copies of your data to DVDs
> as just plain files, so you wouldn't be stuck if Windows Backup fails you.

What if the DVD media fails him? I trust magnetic media (ext hard disks)
more than optical media. I got so many 3-5 year old CD media that I can't
read anymore. No scratches, no dust on the media but I still can't copy data
off of the CD.

You're a perfectionist, aren't you? You can write "baKCup"... we'd still
understand it.

"Gene E. Bloch" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> Looks like I forgot to speell-chekc :-)
> Here's a corrected copy of part of a line below:
>
> "...backup, clones and images of the *entire* hard drive..."
>
> I.e., one 'k' in 'backup', 'of' instead of 'or'.
>

> I am going to reformat HD & reinstall the operating system and all
> applications.

My two cents,

In this case, you could also consider using copy/paste to move
non-application user files
(documents, pictures, etc.) to an external drive and simply move them back
when you're ready, which should be easier than using backup/restore.

For email messages and accounts, you could also investigate the
import/export function, but I don't know Windows Mail enough to tell you the
procedures and the possible outcome.

Good luck.

"Bob" <bobbREMOVE-> wrote in message
news:#...
> I have two user accounts on my computer. My administrator account that I
> very rarely ever use, and my normal, general user account I named "Bob1".
> I use Vista Windows Mail as my email application. I just searched and
> found the "hidden" folder where my Windows Mail stuff is
> (C:\Users\Bob1\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\ Local Folders &
> Microsoft Communities & Compact & Backup) I save everything to my Bob1
> user account to the appropriate folder (Documents in documents folder,
> pictures into pictures folder, etc.) I never vary from this habit.
>
> I have been backing up using Vista32 backup. It gives me the option to
> backup "Pictures, Music, Videos, E-mail, Document, TV-shows, Compressed
> files, Additional files". I check all of these options so all are backed
> up. It comes on automatically every day to backup anything new or
> changed.
>
> I checked the restore part of vista32 backup & restore found in control
> panel. I looked up Bob1 and all my folders are there. It appeared the
> application data folders were there (difficult to find because the
> application data folders are hidden). I specifically checked the Windows
> Mail folders in the hidden application data folders and they were there.
> It appeasers everything is backed up.
>
> I am going to reformat HD & reinstall the operating system and all
> applications.
>
> Questions:
> 1. Is my assumption correct that everything I saved in my user account
> (Bob1) is backed up ready for restore?
> 2. Using vista32 restore, when I get to "select the files and folders to
> restore" I just select "C:\Users\Bob1\" and that should restore
> everything, right? (everything I saved that is)
> 3. Does restoring "C:\Users\Bob1\" restore my windows mail stuff like
> "windows contacts", my email messages, "Mail Account Settings", "News
> Account Settings"?
> 4. I was pointed to the web page http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx in an
> answer to a previous question I posted. It says I needed to backup
> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Mail",
> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities" (maybe), and
> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IAM" for windows mail to work. Does
> vista32 backup & restore backup the registry? If so where do I find these
> registry entries in the backup?
> 5. What would happen if I restored everything in my "C:\Users\Bob1\" and
> did not restore the three registry entries for windows mail. Would my
> contacts, email messages, Mail Account Settings, News Account Settings
> work right?
>
> Background info: I have a desktop AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way
> bigger than I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new February
> 2008 running 32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP2 box. I use MS auto updates.
> I think it has onboard shared memory for video and sound. My ISP is
> Comcast 12mbps with Motorola SURFboard SB5101 Cable Modem direct to
> computer. No other switches or routers or wireless or phone line or any
> other networking hardware hooked up to this computer.
>
> Thanks for the help.
> Bob

Thank You all for your very kind help and suggestions!!! Bob

"xfile" <> wrote in message
news:...
>> I am going to reformat HD & reinstall the operating system and all
>> applications.
>
> My two cents,
>
> In this case, you could also consider using copy/paste to move
> non-application user files
> (documents, pictures, etc.) to an external drive and simply move them back
> when you're ready, which should be easier than using backup/restore.
>
> For email messages and accounts, you could also investigate the
> import/export function, but I don't know Windows Mail enough to tell you
> the procedures and the possible outcome.
>
> Good luck.
>
> "Bob" <bobbREMOVE-> wrote in message
> news:#...
>> I have two user accounts on my computer. My administrator account that I
>> very rarely ever use, and my normal, general user account I named "Bob1".
>> I use Vista Windows Mail as my email application. I just searched and
>> found the "hidden" folder where my Windows Mail stuff is
>> (C:\Users\Bob1\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\ Local Folders &
>> Microsoft Communities & Compact & Backup) I save everything to my Bob1
>> user account to the appropriate folder (Documents in documents folder,
>> pictures into pictures folder, etc.) I never vary from this habit.
>>
>> I have been backing up using Vista32 backup. It gives me the option to
>> backup "Pictures, Music, Videos, E-mail, Document, TV-shows, Compressed
>> files, Additional files". I check all of these options so all are backed
>> up. It comes on automatically every day to backup anything new or
>> changed.
>>
>> I checked the restore part of vista32 backup & restore found in control
>> panel. I looked up Bob1 and all my folders are there. It appeared the
>> application data folders were there (difficult to find because the
>> application data folders are hidden). I specifically checked the Windows
>> Mail folders in the hidden application data folders and they were there.
>> It appeasers everything is backed up.
>>
>> I am going to reformat HD & reinstall the operating system and all
>> applications.
>>
>> Questions:
>> 1. Is my assumption correct that everything I saved in my user account
>> (Bob1) is backed up ready for restore?
>> 2. Using vista32 restore, when I get to "select the files and folders to
>> restore" I just select "C:\Users\Bob1\" and that should restore
>> everything, right? (everything I saved that is)
>> 3. Does restoring "C:\Users\Bob1\" restore my windows mail stuff like
>> "windows contacts", my email messages, "Mail Account Settings", "News
>> Account Settings"?
>> 4. I was pointed to the web page http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx in an
>> answer to a previous question I posted. It says I needed to backup
>> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Mail",
>> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities" (maybe), and
>> "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IAM" for windows mail to work.
>> Does
>> vista32 backup & restore backup the registry? If so where do I find
>> these
>> registry entries in the backup?
>> 5. What would happen if I restored everything in my "C:\Users\Bob1\" and
>> did not restore the three registry entries for windows mail. Would my
>> contacts, email messages, Mail Account Settings, News Account Settings
>> work right?
>>
>> Background info: I have a desktop AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way
>> bigger than I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new
>> February
>> 2008 running 32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP2 box. I use MS auto
>> updates.
>> I think it has onboard shared memory for video and sound. My ISP is
>> Comcast 12mbps with Motorola SURFboard SB5101 Cable Modem direct to
>> computer. No other switches or routers or wireless or phone line or any
>> other networking hardware hooked up to this computer.
>>
>> Thanks for the help.
>> Bob
>