Hard disk overwrite danger ?

[Blue Max]

We are using the standard copy of Windows Backup that ships with Windows XP
Professional. So far it works well, but we do have one question as follows:

One of the options during backup is whether to APPEND or OVERWRITE the
original. Since many of our backups are to an alternate hard disk, we are
wondering what would be the result of inadvertantly choosing to OVERWRITE
versus APPEND? Will such a choice overwrite the hard disk, overwrite the
folder contents - including subfolders, overwrite just the folder files, or
ignore the option when writing to a hard disk? Can anyone confirm what the
potential risk is when choosing this option while backing up to a hard disk?

Thank you for any help.

 

[Rock]

We are using the standard copy of Windows Backup that ships with Windows
XP Professional. So far it works well, but we do have one question as
follows:

One of the options during backup is whether to APPEND or OVERWRITE the
original. Since many of our backups are to an alternate hard disk, we are
wondering what would be the result of inadvertantly choosing to OVERWRITE
versus APPEND? Will such a choice overwrite the hard disk, overwrite the
folder contents - including subfolders, overwrite just the folder files,
or ignore the option when writing to a hard disk? Can anyone confirm what
the potential risk is when choosing this option while backing up to a hard
disk?

It would overwrite any previous backup files created by ntbackup. It
doesn't overwrite other files.

 

[Blue Max]

Thank you, Rock, that was very helpful. Please see additional inline
questions below:

It would overwrite any previous backup files created by ntbackup. It
doesn't overwrite other files.

FIRST, is the shipping version of Windows XP Backup, that we are usiing, the
same application as NTbackup which you mentioned?

SECOND, we assume that you mean the backup operation will only overwrite all
previous backup (.bkf) files, but do you mean only those located in the
backup destination folder? What about backup files located in subfolders of
the destination folder?

THIRD, when restoring, it seems that any options we choose always restore
the full folder hierarchy of the selected files to the destination. Isn't
there a way to have just the selected folders and files restored to the
destination folder without the unselected folder hierarchy above the files
being restored? We have looked at the option to restore to a 'Single
Folder,' but are afraid the option will also purge the folder hierarchy of
the folders and files that are selected for restore, not just the unselected
hierarchy.

Thanks for your assistance!

 

[Rock]

Thank you, Rock, that was very helpful. Please see additional inline
questions below:



FIRST, is the shipping version of Windows XP Backup, that we are usiing,
the same application as NTbackup which you mentioned?
Yes.

SECOND, we assume that you mean the backup operation will only overwrite
all previous backup (.bkf) files, but do you mean only those located in
the backup destination folder? What about backup files located in
subfolders of the destination folder?

I would say just in the folder where the new backup is pointing. I can't
answer that for sure since I haven't used ntbackup in ages. Easy enough to
test, though.

THIRD, when restoring, it seems that any options we choose always restore
the full folder hierarchy of the selected files to the destination. Isn't
there a way to have just the selected folders and files restored to the
destination folder without the unselected folder hierarchy above the files
being restored? We have looked at the option to restore to a 'Single
Folder,' but are afraid the option will also purge the folder hierarchy of
the folders and files that are selected for restore, not just the
unselected hierarchy.

Again it's been a long time. I use a disk imaging program for backups now.
I do recollect restoring individual files and folders without anything in
the tree above it being restored. This should be easy to test.

 

[Gary Walker]

append is incremental, overwrite is complete

I would say just in the folder where the new backup is pointing. I can't
answer that for sure since I haven't used ntbackup in ages. Easy enough
to test, though.

overwrite creates a new .bkf entry.

Again it's been a long time. I use a disk imaging program for backups
now. I do recollect restoring individual files and folders without
anything in the tree above it being restored. This should be easy to
test.

"single folder"(and the associated subsequent choices) are the option(s)
necessary for single entry restores.