How to create a Windows 7 Backup Image

Sure, you back up all your important data files, but a nice feature of Windows 7's built-in backup program is that it can create a complete system backup image, which will restore all your programs and settings too. Here's how to do it: Click Start and in the Search box, type Backup Click Backup and Restore in the list of programs shown In the left pane, click Create A System Image Select a location where you want to save the system image. It should not be on the same partition where Windows is installed Click Next Choose which drive to back up. To back up your operating system and program files, select the drive where Windows is installed, usually C: Click Start Backup After the backup finishes (which could take a while if you have lots of programs and/or data), click Create a System Repair Disk in the left pane Insert a blank DVD or CD and click Create Disk Now you can use the System Repair Disk and your system image to restore your computer.

Reinstall Windows 7 from downloadable ISOs

Did you know there are ISO files of the Windows 7 OS available free for download from Microsoft and Amazon? Of course, you need a valid product key. Read more: Click Here

How to network XP and Mac OS X

Here's the procedure you need to follow:

1. Make sure you know the local IP addresses assigned to both the XP and Mac computers (for XP, go to Start | Run and type cmd, then type ipconfig. For OS X, go to Applications | Utilities | Terminal (run app) and type (for wired): ipconfig getifaddr en0 or (for wireless): ipconfig getifaddr en1
2. Make sure the XP user account has a password set.
3. Put the Mac in the same workgroup as the XP machine. On the Mac, go to Applications | Utilities | Directory Access and open Directory Access. Click the icon in the left bottom corner to make changes. Enter your password. Make sure SMB checkbox is checked. Click SMB and Configure, and enter the name of the Windows workgroup.
4. Make sure you have a shared folder on the XP computer.
5. On the Mac desktop, go to the Finder menu and click Go | Connect to Server.
6. In the Server Address box, type in smb:///
7. In the Workgroup/Domain box, type in the name of the XP PC.
8. In the Username and Password boxes, type in the credentials for the account with which you're logged onto the XP computer. Click OK.
9. This will mount the shared folder as a network drive on the Mac desktop and you can access its files.