Can I customize backup with Home Premium edition?

[Iggy Blue]

Hi, all. I am using Windows Vista Home Premium and am encountering a problem
using Microsoft's own Automatic Backup.

I have been using running backups weekly now for many months with no
problems. Except for the initial full backup, this weekly backup has only
taken approx. 20-30% of a DVD. However, since I have fully installed "The
Orange Box," my weekly backup now takes 2 full DVD's.

Even though, backup does NOT backup any temp files & does NOT back up
programs, I am forced to do such a big backup because this gaming software
does constant updates whenever I go online.

I don't want or need to backup these game settings and updates, but I can't
see any way to tell my backup software to ignore these files.

The only solution I have for now is to disable automatic backups.

Any suggestions?
Thanks. Iggy.

 

[Bob]

Approximately how many files do you change or create per week?
It might be easier to simply copy them to a DVD.

 

[Iggy Blue]

Thanks, guys. I hardly change any files during normal usage; however, I
suspect a large number of files are change by "Steam" updates online. (The
Orange Box includes four games and other files that are constantly being
updated).

These little updates have caused Automatic Update to require 2 DVD's the
last two times I have updated. I realize I can update to an external hard
drive, to save DVD's, but, what I would really like to do is find a way to
better control which files get updated.

I guess I need to find different back up software than what comes with Home
Premium?

Any suggestions? Would I be able to select which files to backup with
Ultimate edition?

Thanks. Iggy.

 

[Iggy Blue]

Thanks, t-4-2. As your screenshot shows, I cannot specify which files to
ignore. I have all of the items checked except for recorded TV. I think my
best bet is to get some dedicated software that allows more control. I'm
wondering if it's worth upgrading to Ultimate edition.
Thanks again.

 

[Iggy Blue]

Maybe that would work. But I don't want to mess with the default location of
these files. I plan on storing a lot of photos and home movies on this
computer; so, I probably should learn more about full backups and dedicated
software. Thanks, t-4-2. Iggy

 

[Adam Albright]

Maybe that would work. But I don't want to mess with the default location of
these files. I plan on storing a lot of photos and home movies on this
computer; so, I probably should learn more about full backups and dedicated
software. Thanks, t-4-2. Iggy

How many is a lot? I have in excess of a million photos and thousands
of movies. I would never trust Microsoft crap for backup. Ditto for
disk imaging. The technology is too prone to fail. Too many things can
go wrong and sooner or later do. Burning to DVD's also a no-no. Can't
trust it, unless you make multiple copies to reduce the chance of
critical error sometime down the road which is still all too common
with DVD's. I know, I've burned thousands of those also. The failure
rate during and AFTER burning is much higher than most people realize.

Be smart, get some simple yet powerful free standing backup utility
like Bounce Back that makes actual copies of files and monitors what
as yet isn't backed up. You'll sleep better knowing you have at least
two good copies of everything you consider valuable.

 

[Iggy Blue]

Thanks, Adam. Sounds like good advice. I am rather new to the whole digital
storage game. My usual backup method was a print; but, as I use my film
camera less, I am more concerned about losing stuff that can't be replaced.
I'm curious. What is your preferred method of backup? Do you use an
external hard drive? Are they not also prone to failure over time? Is there
some dual-redundancy method that novices could use? Thanks. Iggy.