Is there some specific way I'm supposed to backup the wallet?
Usually I just copy the wallet file and put it on a flash drive right from the directory, but when I try to restore the wallet with XPM I get wallet data corrupt, can't restore.
Copy and paste only wallet.dat file
That's all I copied.
I put the wallet.dat file on a flash drive, then deleted the one that XPM uses on the computer and then tried copying it back from the flash drive to the computer and after I did it gave me the corrupt, can't restore error.
I've had similar issues before but solved them with persistence. It could be that you are using the wrong wallet.dat altogether (check the date the backup was made, it could help) and or it is in fact corrupt. If its worth it, then there are a few ways to get the keys. I suggest you try starting the client with the salvagewallet option and or try the wallet.dat in the newest official client first to see if you can salvage the keys or the wallet.dat itself might just work. This is to make sure its not isolated to the xpmserver if thats what you are running it on. If you are running it on the official client then do the reverse and try the xpmserver client.