Backup files does not backup EXE files

[Peter Meinl]

Vista files backup does not backup .EXE files (and other file types). This
is a documented "feature".
Does anybody understand the rationale behind this and how to come up with a
usable backup scheme.

My problem is that many of the files I want to protect with backup are .exe
files (e.g. tool downloads, .exes I create) and are not suitable for an
image backup.

 

[Tim]

The Vista backup will not be usable for many people. Unless and until
Microsoft revises their backup program, your only option is a Complete PC
Backup, or a third party app.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

Vista files backup does not backup .EXE files (and other file types). This
is a documented "feature".
Does anybody understand the rationale behind this and how to come up with
a
usable backup scheme.

My problem is that many of the files I want to protect with backup are
.exe
files (e.g. tool downloads, .exes I create) and are not suitable for an
image backup.

..exe files are not really 'files'; they are programs. I suppose the
rationale is that 'files' are things that the products of using the
applications.

You really ought to have installer files and such like on a seperate
partition from all your files. You can backup this partition with Acronis
TrueImage or the like.

ss.

 

[Rich Milburn [MVP]]

or just put your downloaded utils in a common folder, and schedule a task to
archive them. So it's not as clean as letting backup do it all, but it's
included with the OS.

Rich

 

[Jill Zoeller [MSFT]]

Fyi, the workaround is to add the .exes to a .zip file and select the
Compressed Files option.

I have passed your feedback on to the Backup team.

 

[Peter Meinl]

@Jill: please forward this additional information to the backup team:

What Vista backup does comes close to my standard backup scheme:

My backup scheme is:
Separate partitions for System and Data
(with Vista I force \users to Data\users using the \unattend switch of
setup).
Manual image backups of System after important changes.
Automatic weekly full file backups of Data using rolling filenames (Ex:
week1...week4).
Automatic daily differential backups of Data using rolling filenames (Ex:
Mo...Su).

With Vista I did a manual "Backup computer".
Configured automatic daily "Backup files".
Manually changed the scheduled task to wake computer (to force backups to
run at night).

If Vista only would allow me to backup all(!) file types (including .exe,
....) everything would be fine.
Without this feature it is absolutely unusable for me.

 

[Jill Zoeller [MSFT]]

Peter, I have passed this and your newer comment about waking up to back up
to the product team.

--
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Want to learn more about Windows Server file and storage technologies? Visit
our team blog at http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/default.aspx.

 

[Guest]

Rename .exe files as .txt

you can try
ren *.exe *.txt

its a workaround but at least it works.
After a restore you can always rename is back using

ren *.txt *.exe