When I am backing up without using a backup utility, maybe using Nero
Express to write to DVD, what is the best way to make sure I get XP stuff
(registry), in case I need them when I restore my programs and data on my
new computer?
It seems you're mixing two things that should be kept separate.
Data Backup: Do it every week to an independent medium (e.g. to DVD),
using a dedicated backup command or just a copy process.
System Files, Programs: Take a snapshot of your system drive once
every few months, using an imaging program (e.g. DriveImage, Ghost,
TrueImage). If you system goes south then you can restore it from the
snapshot in about half an hour.
The above approach works well if your hard disk is split: Drive C: for
Windows and programs, drive D: for data. It does not work well for
single drive systems.
