Can I backup specific folders only? - Windows Vista Forum

Parm · #1 03-27-2007, 08:49 PM

Hi all,

I have a query about Windows Backup, I'd like to make automatic scheduled backups of my PC but would only like to backup certain folders. Let's say for examples sake that I just want to backup My Documents and My Music.

Is there anyway I can set Windows Vista to only backup folders of my choice? At present it seems I can only choose filetypes and it will then backup any of those files, I'd much rather be able to choose folders.

Any advice?

Thanks,
Parm

Znod · #2 03-27-2007, 08:53 PM

As I recall, the sort of control you want is not possible with Vista backup. I don't do the sorts of backups you want to do, but I recommend Acronis True Image to make them. I use True Image for all my disk-image creations. And, welcome Parm.

Midway · #3 03-27-2007, 09:44 PM

I saw this over on Neowin earlier about Cobian Backup:

"Cobian Backup is a multi-threaded program that can be used to schedule and backup your files and directories from their original location to other directories/drives in the same computer or other computer in your network. FTP backup is also supported in both directions (download and upload). Cobian Backup exists in two different versions: application and service. The program uses very few resources and can be running on the background on your system, checking your backup schedule and executing your backups when necessary. Cobian Backup is not an usual backup application: it only copies your files and folders in original or compressed mode to other destination, creating a security copy as a result. So Cobian Backup can be better described as a "Scheduler for security copies". Cobian Backup supports several methods of compression and strong encryption."

http://www.educ.umu.se/%7Ecobian/cobianbackup.htm

It was just updated to work with Vista plus it is freeware. I might try this out myself.

Snuffy · #4 03-28-2007, 12:56 AM

NOTE: Xcopy is now deprecated, please use Robocopy.

Quote:

XCOPY source [destination] [/A | /M] [/D[:date]] [/P] [/S [/E]] [/V] [/W]
[/C] [/i] [/Q] [/F] [/L] [/G] [/H] [/R] [/T] [/u]
[/K] [/N] [/O] [/X] [/Y] [/-Y] [/Z] [/b]
[/EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...]

source Specifies the file(s) to copy.
destination Specifies the location and/or name of new files.
/A Copies only files with the archive attribute set,
doesn't change the attribute.
/M Copies only files with the archive attribute set,
turns off the archive attribute.
/D:m-d-y Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
If no date is given, copies only those files whose
source time is newer than the destination time.
/EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...
Specifies a list of files containing strings. Each string
should be in a separate line in the files. When any of the
strings match any part of the absolute path of the file to be
copied, that file will be excluded from being copied. For
example, specifying a string like \obj\ or .obj will exclude
all files underneath the directory obj or all files with the
.obj extension respectively.
/P Prompts you before creating each destination file.
/S Copies directories and subdirectories except empty ones.
/E Copies directories and subdirectories, including empty ones.
Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T.
/V Verifies the size of each new file.
/W Prompts you to press a key before copying.
/C Continues copying even if errors occur.
/I If destination does not exist and copying more than one file,
assumes that destination must be a directory.
/Q Does not display file names while copying.
/F Displays full source and destination file names while copying.
/L Displays files that would be copied.
/G Allows the copying of encrypted files to destination that does
not support encryption.
/H Copies hidden and system files also.
/R Overwrites read-only files.
/T Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not
include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes
empty directories and subdirectories.
/U Copies only files that already exist in destination.
/K Copies attributes. Normal Xcopy will reset read-only attributes.
/N Copies using the generated short names.
/O Copies file ownership and ACL information.
/X Copies file audit settings (implies /O).
/Y Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
existing destination file.
/-Y Causes prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
existing destination file.
/Z Copies networked files in restartable mode.
/B Copies the Symbolic Link itself versus the target of the link

The switch /Y may be preset in the COPYCMD environment variable.
This may be overridden with /-Y on the command line.

Simply write your own backup.bat and do it your way....

It is FREE with Vista....

Midway · #5 03-28-2007, 03:18 AM

I installed Cobian a while ago and it's a nice little app. I have it set up to copy folders such as Documents, Downloads, Pictures, etc to my 2nd hard drive every Sunday (which is actually more frequent than I used to do--when I thought about it, lol). I have it running as a service. The only thing is the icon in the systray:

This version is called Black Moon and the icon is hard to see in the tray. It does turn into a blue revolving thingy when it is backing up though.

Parm · #6 03-28-2007, 11:01 AM

Thanks for the tips guys, I'm going to give Cobian a whirl.

It's a shame that Vista's built in backup doesn't offer more features. Whilst it is a nice inclusion to the OS, it could be more.