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After you make changes to your collections, such as adding, deleting, moving, copying, or renaming clips, it is a good idea to back up your collections file. The collections file, which has a .dat file name extension, is a database that stores information about the organization of your collections and the clips within your collections.

In case you accidentally remove a clip or collection, or the collections file becomes corrupted, you can use your backup file to restore the appropriate information. The collections file is located on your hard disk in the following folder: \Documents and Settings\UserAccountName\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Movie Maker. For example, if Windows is installed on drive C, and your account name is John, your collections file would be located in C:\Documents and Settings\John\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Movie Maker. A collections file is created for each user.

Backing up the collection file does not back up the source files that you import into your collections. If the source file is deleted, renamed, or moved from the location from where it was imported, you cannot use the source file unless you locate the source file or import it again. Consider backing up the location or folder that contains the source files as well.

Note

• To see the Local Settings folder and its contents, as well as other hidden folders and files, you must have the Show hidden files and folders setting selected in the Windows operating system. For more information, see Windows Help and Support.

Related topics

• To back up the collections file
• To restore the collections file
• Organizing collections and clips