Backup Docs and Settings

[McGuire]

I am making a backup of Documents and Settings onto a thumb drive.  I get an error that I cannot backup ntuser while it's in use.  I'm assuming that's me (administrator) and I'm the only user so I'm not sure how to backup without being logged on.  Suggestions?

[Allan]

I am making a backup of Documents and Settings onto a thumb drive. 

May I ask why you're trying to do that?

[McGuire]

backup

[Allan]

What possible good would that do? Use an Imaging Utility. Create an image of the system partition (you can save it to your usb drive if you like). The image will, of course, include the Docs & Settings folder. But just backup up that entire folder makes no sense at all.

[McGuire]

It's just another backup in case my hd goes down.  Everything I need is in the docs and settings folder.  It's about 6GB worth of data.  Not sure why I need to complicate it ... don't have image iso software...

[Allan]

You can download good, free imaging software. The documents and settings folder on its own is completely useless.

[McGuire]

Well, there's a lot I don't know.  I do know that my docs, pics, etc are all in the documents and settings folder.  Anyway, thanks for your help.  Can you suggest a good imaging software?

[Allan]

They are in your "My Documents" folder. If you want to backup up that, that makes sense - but not the entire Documents & Settings folder.

Here's a link to free disk imaging software: http://www.thefreecountry.com/utilities/backupandimage.shtml

[McGuire]

Yeah, you're right ... I only need to backup "My Documents."  Thanks for your help.

[Allan]

Yep