In order to back up a computer you will need an external hard drive or a flash drive with ample free space available.

For each system, creating a backup is different. Here you can find instructions for creating a back up for Windows XP (pg. 1), Windows 7  (pg. 2), Windows 8 (pg. 3), and Mac (pg. 4).

Windows XP

1. Click the Start button > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup. 
2. The Windows XP backup tool enables one to back up all user files in just one task. To do this, select the option of the “My Documents” backup. This will copy the entire contents of the “My Documents” and “Settings” folders, including Microsoft Outlook messages, and settings as well as your profile settings. 
3. However, in most cases a full backup is not necessary. The “My Documents” folder is usually large in size and contains a lot of unnecessary information. For this reason, the Windows XP backup tool suggests manually selecting specific files that you want to include or exclude from the backup.
   
4. Lastly, it is also a good idea to backup your internet browser favorites. You can export them from the Menu, as shown above.