Ultimate Backup questions. (Hey, Jill, are you out there :-) )

[Dunc Fowler]

I have a 1T USB external drive that I want to use as a backup drive.
I have been able to make a "complete Backup" of my computer.... which is
swell. I replace it when I add hardware or new programs.

But the questions I have are:
1) I know I can schedule backups of documents photos etc. But it is my
understanding that even if checking "additional files" will not cause a copy
..exe files. I have a directory of downloaded files and programs I want
included in a nightly backup. It contains .dll, ,exe, .zip and other misc
files. How can I direct the nightly backup program to also backup that
directory?

2) I do want to preserve work I have done each day... but really only need
an incremental backup to get copies of files I have changed or created
during the day. I have not seen an option for this in Ultimate. Am I
missing something?

3) All HD's get full some time :-( using the existing Windows backup
program, can I just delete the oldest version of the daily backup (Not an
incremental one)?

Is there a workaround or fix for my problem?

 

[Jill Zoeller [MSFT]]

To answer your questions:

1. I hear you about the lack of backup for executables. The workaround is to
zip them and then choose the Compressed Files option when backing up.

2. After the first full backup, subsequent backups should be incrementals.
BUT, see our blog post at
http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/ar...n-windows-vista-are-larger-than-expected.aspx
for more info about why these incrementals can be larger than you expect.
You might also be interested in knowing that we do occasionally prompt you
for a new full backup. Here's the logic behind the prompt:
http://cfsbloggers.members.winisp.net/backup_fullvsincrementall.jpg

3. I don't think there's a way to delete old backups using the backup
app--you'd need to do this manually. You might be better off taking a new
full backup and then deleting your oldest backup + incrementals.

 

[Dunc Fowler]

Thanks Jill,

From reading your other posts I figured you were the right person to ask.

I guess that seeing as how the file backup is an incremental, it does make
sense to just delete them all and start a new set.

Thanks for the links too. Interesting.

I hope that future versions would let you pick certain directories and allow
them to be backed up in whole as well. That would solve my executable
issue.

Dunc