Question about the WinXP Backup Utility...

[Reese]

The WinXP Backup Utility (Program Files / Accessories / System Tools)
bundles the backup in a .bkf file.

Is there any way to regularly schedule one of these backups WITHOUT bundling
everything? Just to mirror-copy a bunch of folders, for instance. And
schedule it weekly, using only WinXP tools?

Thanks.

 

[Terry R.]

On 8/27/2007 5:11 PM On a whim, Reese pounded out on the keyboard

The WinXP Backup Utility (Program Files / Accessories / System Tools)
bundles the backup in a .bkf file.

Is there any way to regularly schedule one of these backups WITHOUT bundling
everything? Just to mirror-copy a bunch of folders, for instance. And
schedule it weekly, using only WinXP tools?

Thanks.

Hi Reese,

At a command prompt (Start, Run, type cmd and click OK) type, ntbackup /?

A command line reference should come up for the switches needed. After
you figure out what you want (test your switches at the command prompt
to verify it works as you want), use Scheduled Tasks in Control Panel to
set it up.

--
Terry R.

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[Reese]

Hi Reese,

At a command prompt (Start, Run, type cmd and click OK) type, ntbackup /?

A command line reference should come up for the switches needed. After
you figure out what you want (test your switches at the command prompt to
verify it works as you want), use Scheduled Tasks in Control Panel to set
it up.

So if I want to select several folders to back up and schedule the backup
weekly, I'd really need a 3rd party tool to do it, right? I mean, I don't
want to start command-lining each folder. I was hoping for a
menu-tree/checkbox GUI, exactly like the one found in the WinXP backup
utility. I just don't want to bundle everything in a .bkf file - I want to
be able to roam the backup folders and make sure they're OK (with my own
eyes) anytime I want.

 

[Terry R.]

On 8/27/2007 9:34 PM On a whim, Reese pounded out on the keyboard

So if I want to select several folders to back up and schedule the backup
weekly, I'd really need a 3rd party tool to do it, right? I mean, I don't
want to start command-lining each folder. I was hoping for a
menu-tree/checkbox GUI, exactly like the one found in the WinXP backup
utility. I just don't want to bundle everything in a .bkf file - I want to
be able to roam the backup folders and make sure they're OK (with my own
eyes) anytime I want.

No. In the backup program, make your folder selections (using the GUI)
and then click Job, Save Selection As. It saves it as a .bks file. Then
use the command line to use the file. Look at Example 3 in the
Command-line reference. It will show you.

What do you mean you don't want to, "bundle everything in a .bkf file"?
If you just want to copy files and folders to another location (like a
2nd drive) without compression or putting them into a single file, just
use xcopy in batch files to copy what you want when you want. Or you
can schedule the batch files to run at specific times using Scheduled
Tasks.

--
Terry R.

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[Reese]

....xcopy?

 

[ayestyles]

The WinXP Backup Utility (Program Files / Accessories / System Tools)
bundles the backup in a .bkf file.

Is there any way to regularly schedule one of these backups WITHOUT bundling
everything? Just to mirror-copy a bunch of folders, for instance. And
schedule it weekly, using only WinXP tools?

Thanks.

You can use the AT command and the XCOPY command. Very reliable even
in a server environment.

xcopy /e

 

[Terry R.]

On 8/28/2007 8:51 AM On a whim, Reese pounded out on the keyboard

...xcopy?

Yes. Open a command prompt and type xcopy /? and press Enter. It will
show you how to use it. Here is one line of a batch file I have to copy
everything from drive d: to drive g: on shutdown:
xcopy d:\*.* g:\ /e /y /d /r

--
Terry R.

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[RobF]

I get "ntbackup not recognized...". The DOS box opens with C:\documents and
settings. New to XP. How to get to C:\, main folder?

 

[Terry R.]

On 8/28/2007 11:51 AM On a whim, RobF pounded out on the keyboard

I get "ntbackup not recognized...". The DOS box opens with C:\documents and
settings. New to XP. How to get to C:\, main folder?

Rob,

To go up a level at a command prompt type cd..

Are you using Home or Pro? Read here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302894

--
Terry R.

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[Reese]

Yes but I don't want to back up a single volume, or even a single folder...
I want to back up dozens of individual folders, and a GUI is really the
easiest way for someone like me (re: noob) to do that. Sooner or later, I'd
screw up with that batch process if you had me manually inputting command
lines for every folder being backed up.

Then someone told me about dsyncronize (dimio.altervista.org) and POOF!
Problem solved. =)

 

[RobF]

My post about ntbackup and your reply didn't show up in OE, but did in
google groups. I registered for first time to reply there but couldn't get
past googl'e cookie functionality objection. Fire Fox. G has no how-to's for
versions beyond 5.5. Current is 5.8. Much 'help' in G but of the useless
kind. I accepted cookies lavishly. Hate to do that. G's nose is still up.
Anyway, thanks. I get to C:\in DOS box but still "cannot find" or something
like that is the response. Running XP Home, not PRO. That's probably "it".

RobF

 

[RobF]

Thanks, Terry. I get root directory but the cmd line still brings up 'can't
find'...or whatever. Running XP-SP2-Home. Maybe that's why no find. I
posted 8/28 but OE didn't grab it. Hope this doesn't duplicate in your
reader. Google shows the thread but doesn't let me sign in to reply there,
though I'm registered. Something about cookies in FireFox, all allowed but
Goog not satisfied.

Rob