Finding All Versions Of A File Among Many Directories?

[(PeteCresswell)]

I'm starting to use a backup utility (Cobian) in "Incremental"
mode.

That means that there is an initial "Full" backup in one
directory and then another directory for each time the utility is
run - which contains only files that have changed since the last
run.

So, after 10 days, I have that one "Full" directory and nine
smaller directories containing changed files.

Let's say that file "XYZ" changes every few days, and I want to
restore the second-to-latest version of it.

Doing it manually, I would have to open up each of the nine
directories and check to see if that file is present and choose
the appropriate one if it is present.

Bottom line: is there a utility that I can point at the parent
directory where I can specify the file name or fragment thereof
and have it go through all the subdirectories and return a list
of occurrences of files containing that fragment?

Or should I just bite the bullet storage-wise and go with
differential backups?

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per (PeteCresswell):

Bottom line: is there a utility

Understood that DIR /S on a command line can do this....

But what I'm hoping for is something that wraps that
functionality in a UI.

 

[Don Phillipson]

I'm starting to use a backup utility (Cobian) in "Incremental"
mode. . . .
Bottom line: is there a utility that I can point at the parent
directory where I can specify the file name or fragment thereof
and have it go through all the subdirectories and return a list
of occurrences of files containing that fragment?

Or should I just bite the bullet storage-wise and go with
differential backups?

1. The free utility at www.xxcopy.com may offer enough custom
parameters to meet your needs. (I do not know Cobian.)

2. As described, it sounds as if you have not planned in sufficient
detail your backup method. If you wish to archive all versions of a
file that changes frequently and to be able to "restore the
second-to-latest version," you may need first to define that
restoration process and then write a backup procedure that
supports that retrieval.

3. WinXP's built-in Fast File database may have been designed to
support your sort of search: but I do not use it (because xxcopy
meets my sort of requirement.)

 

[dadiOH]

I'm starting to use a backup utility (Cobian) in "Incremental"
mode.

That means that there is an initial "Full" backup in one
directory and then another directory for each time the utility is
run - which contains only files that have changed since the last
run.

So, after 10 days, I have that one "Full" directory and nine
smaller directories containing changed files.

Let's say that file "XYZ" changes every few days, and I want to
restore the second-to-latest version of it.

Doing it manually, I would have to open up each of the nine
directories and check to see if that file is present and choose
the appropriate one if it is present.

Bottom line: is there a utility that I can point at the parent
directory where I can specify the file name or fragment thereof
and have it go through all the subdirectories and return a list
of occurrences of files containing that fragment?

Why, yes, there is. Windows Search (Win key + S).

If that doesn't appeal to you, there are many other search programs...Agent
Ransack for one.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per dadiOH:

Why, yes, there is. Windows Search (Win key + S).

I feel so dumb right now that I'm almost embarrassed to reply.

But... Thanks!

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per Don Phillipson:

2. As described, it sounds as if you have not planned in sufficient
detail your backup method. If you wish to archive all versions of a
file that changes frequently and to be able to "restore the
second-to-latest version," you may need first to define that
restoration process and then write a backup procedure that
supports that retrieval.

My backup methodology has been "evolving".

Started out with a "Real" backup utility called Retrospect that
backed up to a database and had a killer restore functionality.
But the rest of the app was so buggy and the support so poor that
I abandoned in favor of a file-based backup.

The file-based utility I've been using is SecondCopy, which has
been pretty good convenience-wise. You tell it how many old
copies of incrementals you want saved, and it keeps everything
but the latest in a separate directory with version numbers
appended to file names.

Cobian is a freebie that some others hold in high regard.

It's still file-based with the downsides of that approach, but
it's bells and whistles are packaged in a way that I find more
pleasing than SecondCopy's. It also deals with files in use
using VSS - which I suspect that the other product does not.

dadiOH's pointing out of what SHB obvious to me pretty much
resolves the question raised in my OP.

 

[dadiOH]

Per dadiOH:

I feel so dumb right now that I'm almost embarrassed to reply.

But... Thanks!

NP. Everyone sometimes overlooks the obvious while trying to make the
simple complex. Especially engineers and politicians

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[Tim Meddick]

If you want a method of finding all the instances of, say, comdlg32.dll, on
your system drive (like dir /a /s \comdlg32.dll ), but displaying the
file-version number which [dir] does not, then dig out the FILEVER.EXE
command-line tool from the XP installation disk :

X:\SUPPORT\TOOLS\Support.cab

....where [x:] is your cd-rom drive containing the XP installation disk.

Extract he file : "filever.exe" to your C:\WINDOWS\system32 directory and
use :

filever /s \comdlg32.dll

....to locate all instances of "comdlg32.dll" (example) together with it's
version number (& size, date, etc ).

Also, using the [/v] (verbose) switch, it will display all the information
you usually find in the file's properties page under the "Version" tab.

The Support Tools for XP can also be downloaded from Microsoft at :
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...11-fd83-419d-939b-9a772ea2df90&displaylang=en

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.