Checklist: Safeguarding your system

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Checklist: Safeguarding your system

You can take a number of steps as precautions against the possibility of disk failure or other serious system problems.

Step Reference

Follow the best practices for security and keep your computer in a secure location.

Best practices for security

Specify what you want to do if the system stops unexpectedly. For example, you can specify that you want your computer to restart automatically.

Specify what happens when the system stops unexpectedly

Perform regular backups (including backups of your boot and system partitions and your System State). Keep your backup media in a safe place where it is not accessible to a malicious user.

Back up files to a file or a tape

Use the Automated System Recovery Preparation Wizard to create a backup of your system settings and your local system partition. Keep your Automated System Recovery (ASR) set in a safe place where it is not accessible to a malicious user.

Create an Automated System Recovery set using Backup

Keep the installation CD in a safe place where you can easily find it but it is not accessible to a malicious user. Then, if needed, you can start the computer from the CD and use the Recovery Console or Automated System Recovery.

Start the computer and use the Recovery Console

Recover from a system failure using Automated System Recovery

Install the Recovery Console as a startup option.

Install the Recovery Console as a startup option