Help backing up C drive

[AlanSr]

I need help backing up my C drive so when I format I don't loose all my swap
files from other programs.

(ok I have my 60gig broke into 5 drives of 12 and my 45 is used for storage.
So I have all my windows files in C, games in E, office in F....etc) But
when I format C I have to reinstall everything. How can I back up my C
drive so that after I format and reload it, it will remember all the other
programs I have?

I hope you can understand what I'm askin, if not I'll try to explain a lil
better

[Tebore]

I think u'll need to back up the Regstry and that's it. But i think u should wait for a couple more replies, i might be wrong. For a fool proof way tho, just make shortcuts.

[JigPu]

Along with the registry (would never have thought of it), you should back up the start menu directory. That way, when you install windows, you can just copy over the short cuts to the games, documents, and such.

Anybody else have suggestions?
JigPu

[AlanSr]

so after I do that and reinstal windows, do I just copy and paste everything back in?

[David]

The registry stores all that stuff, but if you are reinstalling windows to cut out all the fat, then using the same registry means it may not make much of a difference.
(by fat i dont mean the fs)