Types of data to include on system state backup?

Answer 1

The system state components on a domain controller include the following:

• System startup (boot) files. These files are required for Windows Server 2003 to start.
• System registry
• Class registration database of component services. The Component Object Model (COM) is a binary standard for writing component software in a distributed systems environment.
• System volume (SYSVOL). SYSVOL provides a default location for files that must be shared for common access throughout a domain. The SYSVOL folder on a domain controller contains the following:
  • Net Logon shared folders. These folders usually host user logon scripts and policy settings for network clients that are running pre-Windows 2000 operating systems.
  • User logon scripts for Active Directory-enabled clients
  • System policies
  • Group Policy settings
  • File system junctions
  • File Replication service (FRS) staging directories and files that are required to be available and synchronized between domain controllers
• Active Directory, including the following:
  • The Active Directory database (Ntds.dit)
  • The checkpoint file (Edb.chk)
  • The transaction logs, each 10 megabytes (MB) in size (Edb*.log)
  • Reserved transaction logs (Res1.log and Res2.log)

If you installed Windows Clustering or Certificate Services on your domain controller, they are also backed up as part of system state.

Answer 2

Anything you find important and cannot download via internet. Here are some ideas; work documents, music you have, important videos you have, saved games, anything like that.