Backup utility

[Guest]

A couple of questions about using the backup utility:

1. Is there any way you can save (or name) what you selected on a backup so
you don't have to select the same files next time you decide to backup,
assuming all the files are the same?

2. If you backup your data to a USB mass storage device can you restore it
if your computer will not start by using the command prompt?

 

[John]

A couple of questions about using the backup utility:

1. Is there any way you can save (or name) what you selected on a backup so
you don't have to select the same files next time you decide to backup,
assuming all the files are the same?

2. If you backup your data to a USB mass storage device can you restore it
if your computer will not start by using the command prompt?

Try these freeware programs:

http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp

http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm

Both are excellent, but check out which one is right for your application.

John.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

A couple of questions about using the backup utility:

1. Is there any way you can save (or name) what you selected on a backup
so
you don't have to select the same files next time you decide to backup,
assuming all the files are the same?

2. If you backup your data to a USB mass storage device can you restore it
if your computer will not start by using the command prompt?

Instead of using the backup facility built into Windows, use
a batch file or a third-party utility. Both give you better functionality
and both make it easy to retrieve files from backup. Post again
if you wish to find out more about a batch file solution.

 

[Guest]

Please explain more about the batch file solution.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

You could create the following batch file:
@echo off
set Source=%UserProfile%\My Documents\
set Target=U:\
echo.
echo Backing up "My Documents". Please wait . . .
xcopy /s /d /y /c "%Source%" "%Target%"
set e=%ErrorLevel%
echo.
if %e% EQU 0 echo Backup successful.
if %e% GTR 0 echo One or more errors occured during the backup process.
echo.
echo Press the Space Bar to close this window.
pause > nul

Save the above lines in the file c:\Windows\MyBackup.bat, then
create a shortcut to this batch file.

You may need to adjust lines 2 and 3 to suit your requirements.
When you invoke the batch file, it will copy all new and modified
files from the Source area to the Target area. It will not touch old
files that exist already in the Target area.

It would be a trivial matter to pick up several source areas.

File recovery is very easy: You simply open the target area with
Explorer or with My Computer, then copy the backed up file
back to its original location. There is no need for any special
programs.

Note that this solution is only suitable for backing up data
files. When backing up a Windows installation then you
need an imaging program such as Acronis TrueImage. It lets
you create a recovery CD that you can use in case Windows
will not start.

Remember that an untested backup solution is useless, as is
a backup solution where the backup medium is kept on or
near the main computer.