Performing Backups

Plan a backup strategy before performing the task of data backup. The backup strategy involves, planning the type of backup and frequency of the backup. To create an efficient backup strategy, you must consider the timeand size of the backup job. You also need to consider the time required to restore a system in the event of failure.
The backup strategies are as follows:

> Normal and Differential backups - Requires more time to backup but takes less time to restore the data because the backup is stored on the smaller amount of disks or taps.

> Normal and Incremental backups - Requires less time to backup but more time to restore because you need to restore all the subsequent incremental backups.

You can choose any of the strategy as per your requirement for the backup process. To perform the backup process on the local computer, you must be an administrator or the backup operator in a local group on that computer.Backup operator refers to a type of local or global group who are assigned required user rights to perform backup and restore process. You can always perform backup of files and folders of which you are the owner.

To perform backup:

1. Select Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backups. The Welcome to the Backup or Restore Wizard screen appears.
The Welcome to the Backup or Restore Wizard screen enables to create a backup. You can create basic backup by clicking Next. You can also create advance backup by clicking Advanced Mode link. Advanced backup enables to select various backup setting options.

2. Click the Advanced Mode link. The Backup Utility window appears.
The Backup Utility window enables to create a backup using wizard mode or can create the backup manually by clicking Backup tab.

3. Click the Backup tab. The Backup tab appears.
The Backup tab enables to select the drive, file or folder to create backup. It enables to select the path of the backup file in the Backup media or file name text box.

4. Select the drive, files or folders that you want to backup under Click to select the check box for any drive, folder or file that you want to back up. The selected folder for backup appears.
The selected folder has a blue check mark, which indicates that the entire folder is selected for backup. The C drive has dimmed mark, which indicates a partial backup. Any file or folder added in the selected folder will be backed up. However, any file or folder added to the C drive or any other folder will not be backed up. The different options available in this tab are:

> Backup destination - Enables to specify the destination where you want to save the backup data. You can select a file or tape device if it is installed on your machine. > Backup media or file name - Enables to specify the name of the media or a file where you want to store backup.

> Start Backup - Displays the Backup Job Information dialog box. This dialog box enables you to select the advanced option for the backup.

5. Enter name of the backup media or file where you want to store backup in Backup media or file name text box.

6. Select Tools > Options. The Backup Type tab appears.
The Backup Type tab enables to select the required type of backup.

7. Select the required backup type from Default Backup Type drop-down list box.

8. Click the Backup Log tab. The Backup Log tab appears.
The Backup Logs tab enables to select the level of details you want to use when backup logs are created for backups. This is an important troubleshooting tool if the backup completes with some errors.

The different options available on the backup Log tab are:

> Detailed - Enables to log all the information about the backup. It records the name of all files and folders included in backups.

> Summary - Enables to log only important information. It records details of only key operation, such as, starting backup or errors in opening a file.

> None - Does not record any information.

9. Select the appropriate option.

10. Click the Exclude Files tab. The Exclude Files tab appears,
The Exclude Files tab enables to select the files that you want to remove from the backup process. You can exclude certain files from the backup if the administrator performs the backup process and exclude certain files if other user performs the backup process.

The different options available in the Exclude Files tab are:

> Add new - Enables to add files to exclude from the backup process

> Edit - Enables to edit the files that are excluded from the backup process. It enables to change the properties and path of the file. You can also specify whether to exclude the selected file from all the subfolder in that path.

> Remove - Enables to remove the files that are included in the exclude the file from backup process list. The file that you remove will be backed up in the current backup process.

11. Select the required files.

12. Click the General tab. The General tab appears.

The different options available in the General tab are:

> Compute selection information before backup and restore operations - Displays the number of files and bytes that will be backed up or restored during backup or restore operation. This information is displayed before the backup or restore process starts.

> Use the catalogs on the media to speed up building restore catalogs on disk - Enables to specify that you want to use on-media catalog .Catalog contains files and folders that are included in the backup. This option enables to build an on-disk catalog very fast.

> Verify data after the backup completes - Enables to verify the backed up data with the original data on the hard disk to ensure that the data are same. Backed up data files can be compared with the original files but system backups are difficult to verify as the system files changes more frequently.

> Back up the contents of mounted drives - Enables to backup the data of the mounted drive. If this option is not selected and you backup the mounted drive then only the path information of the mounted drive will be backed up.

> Show alert message when I start the Backup Utility and Removable Storage is not running - Displays the alert message box when backup process starts and removable storage is not running. After displaying the alert message, the backup process will start the removable storage automatically.Select this option only if you backup data to a tape or other media that is managed by the removable storage.

> Show alert message when I start the Backup Utility and there is recognizable media available - Displays the alert message box when backup process starts and a new media is available. Select this option only if you backup data to a tape or other media that is managed by the removable storage.

> Show alert message when new media is inserted - Displays the alert message box when new media is identified by the removable storage. Select this option only if you backup data to a tape or other media that is managed by the removable storage.

> Always allow use of recognizable media without prompting - Enables to move the new media that is identified by the removable storage to the backup media pool automatically. Select this option only if you want all new media to be available to the backup programs only.
13. Select the required option.

14. Click OK to return to Backup Utility window.

15. Click Start Backup. The Backup Job Information dialog box appears,

The different options available in the Backup Job Information dialog box are:

> Backup description - Displays the description of the backup. You can enter unique name for the backup.

> Append this backup to the media - Enables to add the backup to the existing backup file or media. This option will not affect any previous backup data stored in the existing backup file or media.

> Replace the data on the media with this backup - Enables to replace the existing backups with the new backup job. This option will erase all the previous backup data.

> If the media is overwritten, use this label to identify the media - Enables to specify the name of the file or media that you are using to save the backup data.

> Allow only the owner and the Administrator access to the backup data - Enables to specify that only the members of the administrator group can access the current backup data. You can select this option only when you select Replace the data on the media with this backup option.

> Start Backup - Enables to start the backup processSchedule - Enables to select the schedule for the backups.

> Advanced - Enables to select the advanced options before starting with the backup process

16. Click Start Backup. The Backup Progress dialog box appears.
The Backup Progress dialog box displays the status of backup process. When the process is running, the Status text box displays the message Preparing to backup shadow copy.

After the backup process is completed, Backup Completion dialog box appears.
Backup Completion dialog box displays the status of backup process as completed. It displays complete information about the backup. The different information displayed in this dialog box are:
> Report - Displays the backup log that contains complete information about the backup process. It also contains information about errors if any occurred during the backup process.

> Drive - Displays the name of the drive where backup file is stored.

> Label - Displays the name of the backup file. The backup file is saved with the extension .bkf. It also displays the date and time when backup file is created.

> Status - Displays the status of the backup process.

> Time - Displays the elapsed and remaining time for the backup process.

> Files - Displays information about the processed and remaining files for backup.

> Bytes - Displays information about the processed and remaining bytes for backup.