The Process

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Backup Software

There are many software packages available.  The three popular ones are Veritas (Backup Exec), HP and NTBackup a.k.a., MSBackup.  These packages are generally used for large sessions and network servers but some can be used on smaller systems.  These are designed almost exclusively for tape backup systems and will not backup to a CD-R.  They may (or may not) be able to use  CD-RW or removable drive devices.   

These are all very good packages but each have their own little drawbacks/glitches.   

• The is the best option for individual users and small businesses is NTBackup.  It is free with the operating system is reasonably easy to use but is very limited when it comes to it's options.  
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  Note: Under Windows 2000, NTBackup has major problems with scheduled backups.  There are many articles at the Microsoft Knowledgebase regarding problems with scheduled backups.
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• HP Disaster Recovery is a very good application for servers but cannot span the network to backup data on other computers.
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• Veritas is a very good package but is like HP's software, is expensive!  This software requires true server software and will not even load on Windows XP Pro, Home, 2000 Pro or earlier versions.  But scheduling, options, reports and error handling is extremely good.

Since all of these packages operate about the same way, we will use NTBackup for or discussion and examples.  

Note: If NTBackup is not available from the Accessories > System Tools menu it will have to be installed from the original Windows CD.  See the appropriate article for installing it:  Windows 95 and 98, Windows ME, XP Home.

NTBackup other than Windows XP

This is the intro screen to NT back (although we believe the ASR option at the bottom is new under XP).

To initiate a backup without using a Wizards, click to the Backup tab (top) and you will get this screen:

In the left pane place a check mark in those folders you want to backup.   This is the source.

Bottom left will default to the tape drive if present or A:\Backup.  Since you probably do not want to backup to the A: drive, click browse and select the destination whatever that may be; the tape unit, a removable hard drive, a folder somewhere on the network, etc. 

Note: NTBackup does not recognize and will not list CD burner as a destination.

After you have select all the folders and select the destination, click the Start Backup button.  You will then see this dialog box:

Notice you different options: Append (add this backup to existing backups on the same media) or Replace the data on the current media.  You can also schedule the backup for whatever days, times and intervals desired.

Here is where that label we talked about is set.   Remember how important that label may be when it comes to Differential/Incremental (click here if you missed it.)  Rather than the default, keep it simple like Mon, Tue, Wed, etc and label the outside the tape identically.  If you will be doing normal/full backups all the time, consider labeling all of tapes the same, e.g., NewTape.

NTBackup with Windows XP

The Windows XP backup wizard appears to allow backing up of "all users" documents but we have not tested to see if this works when users have "protected" their files. It also appears to offer a disaster recovery backup of-sorts but again, is untested by us.   If you select the "Let me choose..." option or cancel the Wizard, the process will be identical to the processes discussed above

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