Backup question

Dblaze · 25 Feb 2013 at 12:59

Sorry that this is another backup question.

I have been doing a lot of reading online to try to cover all the bases of backing up my business data which I think is adding to the confusion.

I have read online that it is best to backup the pc user folder but when I do that it is giving me errors if an application has been opened or closed during the backup.

My question is do I need to backup the entire user folder?

Thanks

Dblaze · 25 Feb 2013 at 13:50

I currently have two pcs to backup and I am backing them up as follows:

PC1

User folder Mirrored daily to (Z) Network drive and usb Hdd.

Lantek folders Mirrored daily to (Z) Network drive and usb Hdd.

Inflow inventory Mirrored daily to (Z)Network drive and usb Hdd.

PC2

User folder Mirrored daily to (Z) Network drive and usb Hdd.

Files stored on (Y) Network drive Mirrored daily to usb Hdd.

I also do a monthly drive image of both pcs and store that on the USB Hdd.

The usb hard drive is taken home daily as the offsite backup.

Dblaze · 25 Feb 2013 at 14:27

I read that Windows stores settings for programs in the user folder, so rather than go through all programs trying to determine where these folders and files might be, its better to back up the entire folder.
Problems that I am currently having are that the backup is failing on:

C:\Users\US\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files

And

C:\Users\US\AppData\Local\Temp

I don’t know if these are folders that do not need to be backed up, if it is ok not to backup those folders are there any other folders that also do not need to be backed up.

Thanks

Dblaze · 25 Feb 2013 at 14:36

bledd. said:
Set it to ignore those folders

Temporary internet files and the user temp folder. You won't need anything in them.

Thanks for that can you think of any other folders to ignore that might cause errors?

Cheers

Dblaze · 25 Feb 2013 at 15:08

Thanks for the replies.

Dblaze · 25 Feb 2013 at 15:21

bledd. said:
What do you use to back things up by the way?

robocopy is a great tool for backing up

http://ss64.com/nt/robocopy.html

Either /E or /MIR for making mirrors

I use Syncback Pro for file backups and Paragon Drive backup.
I am opting for mirror backups because I don’t have the need to go back because of human error.
I have been bitten in the past so I want to cover the bases as much as possible without being too paranoid.

Thanks for the link

Dblaze · 25 Feb 2013 at 21:52

Halfmad said:
C:\windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

Generally speaking you don't need the contents of that folder (but need the folder itself).

Thanks for that.