Backup and Restore General Questions

Currently have Vista Home Premium with SP2.

Whenever I have formatted the disc in the past I have always used CD's/DVD's/flash drive to back up everything. I have a system freezing problem now that is getting progressively worse and cannot be resolved so I utilized the Backup and Restore Center for the first time ever yesterday. The Backup took 10 1/2(?) hours to complete. I have done my homework on restoring the system to factory specs, but have a few questions that I know the Vista Forums people will know.

1. What files and folders are backed up during this process? (I know that temps and some other file types are not, but I am mainly interested in what folders are backed up). I've created so many folders over the years that are in various locations (C:\Folder, C:\Windows\Users\Me\Folder, C:\Windows\Users\Me\My Documents\Folder, etc. and some contain some very sensitive material. Just want to know if all these folders were backed up regardless of where they are on the computer.
2. I backed up to my laptop utilizing Networking. I've read on Vista Forums that files/folder can become corrupted during the Backup and Restore Center process. How frequent is this and is it dependent on the location of the backed up files/folders, ie., is Networking more prone to errors than backing up to DVD or Flash drive?
3. When restoring should this be done before or after I have re-installed all the programs I want?

Thanks in advance for any help. I'm just a little paranoid of losing 4 years worth of data.

Dont rely on back up and restore to back up your stuff. Use Karens replicator.
It will back up all your documents on schedule. If you make a change to one or more of your documents the change will be made at the next back up You can schedule back ups or all or only some of your documents. I use it and am 100% satisfied. Some have expressed dissatisfaction with Back up and restore.
Karen's Replicator
It is very easy for to user to back up only the documents that are important or to back up everything.
Be sure to back up to an external hard drive in case your internal hard drive crashes.
The beauty of this software is that you do not have to ask what is backup, you decide what to back up.

Thanks, Rich. Exactly why I asked. From the backup I did do to there are 135 zip files and have no idea what's in them. I just fear that some file that I desperately need may not be there. If you know, in Karen's Replicator can the backup be done over a wireless network or is hard wiring required?

Karens is software that is downloaded to your computer. If you connect to your external wireless, I am sure that you can back up wirelessly. Hey, why not make a system restore point, download Karens and test. If you are happy keep it, if not use restore to go back just the way you were.

Just spent the last few days backing up years and years of stuff using Karens Replicator. Worked like a charm over the wireless. Can't thank you enough Rich. Nice being able to see exactly what was backed up and not corrupted unlike Window Backup and Restore.

You are very welcome, glad that I and this great forum were able to help.

richc46 said:

You are very welcome, glad that I and this great forum were able to help.

Click to expand...

Agreed that Vistax64 is a great forum. If I could only get this problem solved (http://www.vistax64.com/crashes-debugging/296976-random-system-freezing.html), life would be so much nicer not having to operate in safe mode with networking. wither 3 has been busting his hump to help, but we can't seem to find a solution.
Thanks again for your tip on Karens Replicator....at least I'm now ready in the event the above mentioned problem can't be solved.