Thanks Lanwench and Ron, great help.

Lanwench, sounds like a good idea to create another "Data" folder and to
redirect My Docs there. I actually have a whole second internal drive
currently empty which is supposed to be for data, rather than the OS
(original spec of laptop). However I have no idea how to redirect My
Documents there (change the target path), moving the files I could manage.
How should I go about doing this?

You also mentioned creating subfolders for Outlook, and moving the data
files to the appropriate folders, where would you recommend I find the
specific ways to do this that you mentioned?

Following any changes to My Docs and Outlook subfolders, will there be any
problems while programs, etc. are unable to find the new locations? Do you
think there would be any issues caused by storing the data on a separate
internal drive from the OS?

Thanks and best wishes



"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

> Taxed Mind <TaxedMind@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> > With Win XP I am obviously backing up all that can be found in My
> > Documents, I have my Outlook.pst file and I have exported my
> > Bookmarks from IE. Am I missing anything other than specific program
> > settings that I can redo on reinstallation? Would any standard
> > programs save stuff outside My Docs? Any help is much appreciated.
> > I am burning everything on to DVDs and am not using any specific
> > backup software.
> >
> > Thanks for your help, much appreciated.
>
> Basics....
>
> documents & settings\username\My Documents
> documents & settings\username\Desktop
> documents & settings\username\Favorites
>
> Plus -
>
> Outlook data
> Outlook Express data
>
> Personally, I like to create a folder such as c:\data.
>
> Then I redirect My Documents there (change the target path & move the
> files).
> I create subfolders for Outlook & OE, and move their data files to the
> appropriate folders (there are specific ways to do this).
>
> I think it's tidier than using the built-in/default paths, and it's a good
> way to know that the lion's share of your data is in a single folder. HTH.
>
>
>