What files to backup before hard disk format?

[whoami2000au]

It's a format time and I need to backup every sent/received emails and personal files stored somewhere..
I looked at the outlookexpress directory but couldn't find something like.. email.txt.. Which files should I backup?
Ah, and also I need to backup IE favourites.. wherever it is..
Is there any other personal files I need to backup?
What files do you backup before you format your disk?

 

[MrBond]

I usually get MyDocs, my desktop, start menu, and outlook email.

For outlook email, it's going to be in c:\application data\microsoft\identities\{long sting of numbers}\outlook express. There should be a mail folder in there with some files like inbox.something, sent items.something, etc. Back those up as well.

Not sure where the favorites are...I never back those up

 

[fow99]

I suppose you can use ghost to mirror your hd.

 

[Antisocial Virge]

your Favorites is a folder in your windows directory.

 

[Shudder]

I've reformatted a LOT of times and no matter what else I back up, I always forget my favourites.

Yes they're in a folder, but the easiest way is to export them.

Go to file - import/export in IE.

Then the rest should be self explanatory. It'll save all your favourites to one .html file and you can just import them if you remembered to save that html file.

 

[whoami2000au]

Umm what about the microsoft outlook? Iyou know, the one that comes with office) Where are the all necessary settings/personal files for this one..?

 

[juiio]

For outlook, go to File->Import and Export. Export everything to a .pst file.