Some time ago I wrote a post describing 5 best ways to backup your files. But today I came  across a file backup and synchronization tool that is really worth mentioning – PureSync Personal. It’s reliable, very easy to use, and free.

Unlike some other similar tools, PureSync mainly focuses on local backups. For example, it’s great if you use an external hard drive to backup your files and you want to back up only files that have changed and not the whole thing. Yes, I know Vista and 7 have their own backup and sync tools, but PureSync is a lot easier to use, saves you lots of time and lets you use one program instead of two. Let’s have a closer look at it!

Features

1. Synchronization – PureSync supports local drives, server volumes such as \\MyServer\folder, some MTP devices. It also offers WebDAV support. PureSync can compare files by date, name, and by contents. It can synchronize several folders at once and supports files larger than 4GB. Another handy thing about it is that it detects conflict, e.g. if a file has been modified on both sides since the last backup. You can use a filter to sort through files and there is a restore option to undo any changes.

2. Backup – the tool can backup several files or folders at once, including subfolders. You can also choose to exclude some folders. Backed up files can be encrypted and compressed too. You can use either normal or mirror mode. If you don’t fancy doing manual backups, you can either schedule automatic backups, or choose to backup a certain file or folder whenever it gets modified.

3. FotoSync for digital cameras – this is a handy little option that allows you to download only new photos from the camera rather than the whole lot over and over again.

4. Windows Explorer integration – PureSync provides a quick and easy way to synchronize or backup by integrating into Windows Explorer context menu:

How to Use It

The interface is very clear, which make the tool very easy to use even for novice users. All the settings are available in the wizard and are very easy to understand. Here’s how to use PureSync:

1. Set up a profile
2. Select a mode – Synchronization, Backup, or Foto-Sync mode
3. 
4. Select files and folders you wish to backup and select a destination
5. 
6. Set up synchronization type – schedule, when a file is modified, when a connection is found, or manual.

PureSync runs on Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7 including the 64 bit versions. The latest version was release on the 17th of June, 2009. The software (and the website) are originally in German, so don’t freak out if you encounter spelling errors in the English version!

Registry tweaks can speed up your computer a lot. But if performed incorrectly, they can seriously harm your system. To minimize the risk, you should backup the Windows Registry before applying any changes, so that you can always undo them. I’m going to show you two Registry backup methods.

1) Create a System Restore Point

One way to backup the Registry is to create a system restore point. System restore returns your computer to a previous date without losing any recent personal data, like documents, email, history, etc. This method is not the most reliable one, because older restore points get deleted by the system. So it can easily happen that your backup will not be there when you need it.

To create a restore point:

1. Go to Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - System Restore
2. Click Create a restore point, then click Next
3. 
4. In the Restore point description text box type a name for this restore point
5. Click Create

2) Export a Selected Branch of the Registry

This backup method is more reliable and is preferred if you are changing a particular key or area of the Registry.

1. Click Start - Run
2. Type regedit in the box and click OK
3. Find and click the Registry key that you are going to edit
4. Go to the File menu and click Export
5. 
6. Select where you want to save the file
7. Type the file name and click Save

Now you have created a backup of a particular Registry key. If in the future you’d like to undo the changes you’ve made, simply double-click this file and the information it contains will be added to the Registry.

Backing up your operating system and data is very important. There are a lot of things that can harm your computer in such a way, that you will have no other option but to format your hard drive and reinstall your operating system. That could happen unexpectedly, too. And if you don’t have all your settings and data backed up, they will be lost. In this article I’m going to show you how to back up Windows Vista.

Before you backup, I’d recommend you to partition your hard drive, or even better, get a second one. It is best to keep your OS and data on separate partitions – that keeps your files safer and allows various backup methods. Also it can make your computer faster, because this way disk fragmentation is reduced. Separating your data from your OS doesn’t mean that you have to install programs on a separate partition.

Creating a Disk Image

The best way to backup your operating system is to create a disk image. A disk image is an exact copy of a hard drive or partition. It can be stored on a removable hard drive or another computer.  I find that this backup method is the most reliable.

To create a disk image you can use Vista’s Complete Backup and Restore. Unfortunately this tool is not available in Windows Vista Home Basic or Vista Home Premium. But if you have either Vista Ultimate, Business, or Enterprise, you can use this feature. Here’s how:

1. Go to Start - Settings - Control Panel
2. In the standard view click System and Maintenance and then Backup and Restore Center. In the classic view just choose Backup and Restore Center.
3. 
4. Click Back up computer
5. Choose where you want to backup. Keep in mind that the backups are quite large and will not fit onto a standard DVD.
6. Click Next. After that it’s pretty straight-forward.

Backing Up Files

If you are a Vista Home user, you could backup your data using Vista’s Backup and Restore Center:

1. Go to Control Panel - Backup and Restore Center
2. Click on the Backup files button
3. Now choose where you want to save your backup
4. Then choose which disks or partitions you want to backup
5. Specify the type of files you are going to backup. Note that the following files are not included in the backup: files that have been encrypted using Encrypting File System (EFS), program files, system files, files that are using FAT file system, web-based email that is not stored on your hard drive, files that are in the Recycle Bin, user profile settings, temporary files.
6. Set a schedule and then click Save settings and start backup.

That’s it. Now your data is safe. I would advise to check your backups from time to time, because nothing lasts forever – hard drives can die and DVDs and CDs can become unreadable over time.