backing up internet explorer favourites

in the past on reinstalls i've mucked this all up and lost them

this time i still went to file >>> import/export,ran the wizard and exported fav's to my desktop,then exported cookies to my desktop. saved them both to my external harddrive.
on my new fresh xp installation of xp, dragged those saved files onto the desktop and ran the import wizard, brill all worked and saved this time, happy bear