How to backup Windows before formatting

Before formatting your PC you can backup a lot of files used by some softwares, here the paths where the most commonly used programs store their data in operating systems Windows Vista/Windows 7.

In this way is possible to restore the data after formatting and reinstalling Windows.

N.B.: to be able to access at these paths you have to enable the viewing of hidden files.

Here the paths:

  • Firefox

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla

  • Various

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local

  • MSN

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Messenger

  • NVU

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Nvu

  • Outlook

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Signatures

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WindowsMessaging Subsystem\Profiles

  • PC Suite

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\PC Suite

  • Ovi Suite

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Nokia\Nokia Ovi Suite

  • PCSync

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Nokia\PCSync

  • Skype

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Skype

  • Windows Sidebar

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar