How to create a backup plan by using Windows Live OneCare

This article describes how to create a backup plan by using Windows Live OneCare.

To help avoid losing important data, we recommend that you create a backup plan to back up your files regularly. By using OneCare, you can create separate plans for individual computers. Or, you can create a plan that uses a central backup device for all the computers in your OneCare circle. You can also create a plan that uses a central backup device only from a hub PC. To create backup plan by using OneCare, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Live OneCare.
2. Under Quick links, click Change settings.
3. On the Backup tab, click Configure backup.
4. Select one of the following methods:
   
   To create a backup plan for a single computer
   1. If you are creating a backup plan for the first time on a hub PC, click Skip this step on the Change backup settings screen. If you are creating a backup plan for the first time on a computer that is not a hub PC, click Next. Otherwise, click Change settings.
   2. In the left column, click the computer for which you want to create a backup plan.
   To create a backup plan for your OneCare circle
   1. If you have not created a OneCare circle, click Use an existing device on the Change backup settings screen. If you have created a OneCare circle, click Change settings.
   2. In the left column, click Backup plan for all PCs.
5. To select the location where you want to back up your files, click Select location or Change location next to Where.
6. Select a backup location, and then click OK.
7. To select a backup schedule, select a frequency, a day, and a time next to When.
8. Select the files or folders that you want to include or exclude from your backup. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Next to What, click Change this.
   2. To exclude file categories from the backup, clear the appropriate check boxes. For information about the types of files that are included in each backup category, click the category about which you want to learn more.
   3. To exclude specific files or folders from the backup, follow these steps:
      1. Click Exclude certain folders and files.
      2. To exclude all the contents of a folder, find the folder in the navigation pane, and then clear the check box next to that folder.
9. Click Next.
10. Review your backup plan, and then click Save.

For more information about how to create a backup plan, visit the following Web site to view the OneCare Help topic "Back up your files":Notes

• If you do not want other computers in your circle to be able to modify the backup settings, select the Only allow these settings to be changed on a hub PC check box in the Backup plan for all PCs area.
• If you want to use OneCare online photo backup as part of your backup plan, you must purchase an online photo backup subscription separately. For more information, visit the following Web site to view the OneCare Help topic "Purchase, renew, or cancel a OneCare online photo backup subscription":
  http://help.live.com/Help.aspx?market=en-US&project=onecarev2&querytype=topic&query=OneCare_PROC_OnlineBackupSubscription.htm (http://help.live.com/Help.aspx?market=en-US&project=onecarev2&querytype=topic&query=OneCare_PROC_OnlineBackupSubscription.htm)