system backup

[X2Xtreme360]

I've heard a lot about backing up the system when installing a new OS.

ie: I have windows 2000/XP/etc. and I want to install a new/same OS but I should back up my files.

how do you restore the backed up files after the installation of the new/same OS is complete? Do you have to save the backed up files to a disk or can you access them from the PC after you format the hard drive and install/reinstall the OS? I guess I'm just confused on if you ever have to save the backup to a disk or not and if so, under which conditions should you backup your registry to a disk? Also, how do you restore the registry to the OS after you've reinstalled it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Osiris]

several ways..you can send them to a cd/dvd or send them to a slave hard drive, or if you have one harddrive, partition it to 2 and save it like that, etc