Recommended Backup Procedures
Recommended Backup Procedures

Check for Windows Updates
Update and run your Anti-Virus Program
Clean up your email system, desktop and empty your recycle bin
Backup your data

Step 1 - Check to see if you need updates for Windows, your programs, your hardware or your devices. To do this follow the instructions below.

1. Click on [Start]
2. [All Programs]
3. [Internet Explorer]
4. Paste the following URL into the Address bar - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us
5. Select the [Express] button to check for the most urgent updates, wait for the site to check for available updates.
6. Once the site has checked for available updates, select the updates you wish to install by ticking the box next to them.
7. Hit the [Review and install] button to install the selected updates. [Install Updates] Your computer may need to restart during or following this process, if this is the case, follow the on screen prompts.
8. Once all updates have been installed move on to step 2 - Note: You may need to repeat this process a number of times to install all the available updates.

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Step 2 - Update your Anti-Virus Program and run a full system scan.

If you do not have an Anti-Virus Program we recommend you download & install one immediately.

If you have Norton Anti-Virus.

Run Norton Anti-Virus, This can be found by clicking on:
1. [Start]
2. [All Programs]
3. [Norton Anti-Virus]
4. [Norton Anti-Virus ****]
5. [Live Update] - Welcome to LiveUpdate [Next] - Follow on screen prompts until [Finish]
6. [Scan for Viruses] - [Scan my computer]
7. Wait until scan is complete.
8. Close All Windows
9. Move on to Step 3

If you have AVG Free Edition.

Run AVG Free Edition. This can be found by clicking on:
1. [Start]
2. [All Programs]
3. [AVG Free Edition]
4. [AVG Free Edition for Windows]
5. [Check for Updates]
6. [Scan Computer]
7. Wait until scan is complete.
8. Close All Windows
9. Move on to Step 3

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Step 3 - Clean up your email system, desktop and empty your recycle bin.

To clean up your Outlook Express email folders:
1. Open Outlook Express.
2. Wait until any emails are downloaded.
3. Open the [Spam] folder
4. Click on any file within this folder, it will turn blue.
5. Whilst holding down the [Ctrl] Button hit the [A] Key to highlight all the messages.
6. Whilst holding the [Shift] Key hit [Delete], a prompt should appear on screen asking you if you wish to permanently delete these files.
7. Click on the [Yes] button.
8. Empty the Deleted Items - Open this folder then follow instructions 4 to
9. Close Outlook Express.

To start the Desktop Cleanup Wizard:
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, click Appearance and Themes under Pick a category.
3. Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Display. The Display Properties dialog box is displayed.
4. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Desktop tab, and then click Customize Desktop. The Desktop Items dialog box is displayed.
5. Under Desktop cleanup, click to clear the Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days check box if you do not want the Desktop Cleanup Wizard to automatically start every 60 days.
6. Click Clean Desktop Now. The Desktop Cleanup Wizard starts.
To remove unwanted shortcuts:
7. In the Welcome to the Desktop Cleanup Wizard dialog box, click Next.
8. In the Shortcuts dialog box, a list of shortcuts are displayed in the Shortcut to Clean Up list. The shortcuts that you click are removed from the desktop and placed in the Unused Desktop Shortcuts folder on the Windows desktop. If you do not want a shortcut to be removed from the desktop, click to clear the check box for that shortcut, and then click Next when you are finished.
9. In the Completing the Desktop Cleanup Wizard dialog box, view the items in the Shortcuts box to confirm that you want them removed from the desktop, and then click Finish. The Desktop Cleanup Wizard moves the selected shortcuts to the Unused Desktop Shortcuts folder and then quits.

To empty your recycle bin:
1. Locate the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and double-click it.
2. When the Recycle Bin opens, click 'File' on the menu bar and a list of options appears.
3. Select 'Empty Recycle Bin' from this list and every item in the Recycle Bin is deleted.

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Step 4 - Backup your data.

Run Genie Backup Manager.

To upgrade to a full version following a free trial period, click here

This can be found by clicking on:
1. [Start]
2. [All Programs]
3. [Genie-Soft]
4. [Genie Backup Manager Home Edition 6.0]
5. [Backup]
6. [Create New Backup Job] - [Next]
7. [CD/DVD Media] - [Next]
8. Select the files you wish to backup by ticking the boxes, navigate to there files by clicking on My Profile & My Folders- The most important files include:

My Profile My Folders 9. [Next] - Backup Settings - [Next]
10. Insert a blank CD/RW.
11. [Backup Now]

IF THE DISK FAILS TO WRITE:

A new window should open showing the files currently on the CD - Go to instruction No 3. - If this does not happen, click on:
1. [My Computer]
2. [CD-RW] (D:)
3. [Erase this CD-RW]
4. The CD-RW Writing wizard opens.
5. Tick the [Close the wizard when erase completes] box.
6. Hit [Next]
7. Return to the Genie Backup Manager on the bottom tool bar.

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