The Backup Utility can be used to create various types of backups, including one just for media.

While full backups can be quite useful, sometimes you just need to back up your media files. When creating this type of backup, you browse to all of your media files, no matter where they are stored, and select them for

backup. The files don’t have to be on only one drive, and they can be backed up from Network Places. Once you configure the backup, you can schedule it to run at a time that’s convenient for you.

To create a backup for media only:

1. Open the Backup Utility, located in the All Programs | Accessories |

System Tools list. By default, it opens in Wizard Mode. For the

purposes of creating the type of media backup you want to create

here, you should start the program in Advanced Mode. If a wizard

starts, close it.

2. Once in Advanced Mode, choose the Backup tab. From here, you

can create a backup that is specific only to the media stored on your

computer. Expand each drive and locate and check all folders that

contain media.

3. For the Backup Media Or File Name box located at the bottom of

the Backup tab, click Browse and locate a place to permanently or

temporarily store the backup. Later, you can drag and drop the file

to another drive or to a CD or DVD.

4. Click Start Backup, read the choices, and click Start Backup again.

You’ll need to make a choice about the type of backup based on

whether you prefer to create a new backup each time or append the

data to the old backup. I prefer to create a new backup each time,

but it takes longer.

5. Once the backup is created, you can save it as a job for future use.

Click Job | Save Selection As. Name the selection Media.

The next time you want to run the job manually, click Job | Media.bks, the saved selection

in Step 5.

Keeping your backups on an external hard drive is a pretty safe way to keep them. That is, until there’s a fire or flood, in which case having saved them to a CD and put them in another room or home may avoid some additional anguish. To burn to a CD, simply locate the backup and drag and drop it to your CD-R or DVD burner. If there’s ever a disaster, you’ll be glad you did.