If you are a Windows Vista user, before you start looking around for an external tool to backup your important data, consider using Windows Vista’s built-in backup tool. Before going any farther I need to point out this feature is only included with Vista Business and Ultimate (much like the way the NTBackup tool was only included with XP Pro and not XP Home). Other versions do not have this function built-in.

That said, if you do have this tool available to you here is a very simple walkthrough on how to set up a backup plan. Overall the tool is pretty simple and should be self explanitory. In addition to covering the backup tool, Outlook users should take note of the the walkthrough on how to create a backups of your email data file (PST).

There are hundreds of tool out there (some free, some comercial), so regardless of what backup method you use, the important thing to remember is you need to be backing up. You may think you don’t need it until it comes time when you really need it.