How to Perform a Basic Backup

This topic explains how to perform a basic backup using Backup.

Before You Begin

One subtle difference between the backup utility in Windows Server 2003 and the backup utility in Windows 2000 Server is how files that are marked for backup and restore appear in the user interface (UI). A cleared check box signifies that no items in the corresponding node will be backed up or restored. A check mark that appears dimmed indicates that only some of the files and folders in that node will be backed up or restored. To see which files will be backed up or restored, expand the node. It is possible for a check mark that appears dimmed to indicate that no files will be backed up if nothing in the node is scheduled for backup. For example, although the Program Files node in the following figure is checked, there are no files in that node scheduled for backup.

Using Backup to perform a basic backup

Procedure

To perform a basic backup

1. Start Backup in Advanced Mode.

   For detailed instructions, see the following procedures:

   • How to Start the Backup Utility

   • How to Switch Backup to Advanced Mode

2. Click the Backup tab, and then on the Job menu, click New.

3. Under Click to select the check box for any drive, folder or file that you want to back up, select the check box next to the drive, file, or folder that you want.

4. In the Backup destination list, click a destination device for your backup, such as File if you want to back up to a disk, or the name of an attached tape drive.

5. In the Backup media or file name box, type the backup media or file name to use for your backup.

   Note

   For detailed information about the Backup destination list and the Backup media or file name box, see Selecting the Destination for a Backup.

6. On the Tools menu, click Options. Select the appropriate backup options, and then click OK.

   Note

   For detailed information about the Options dialog box, see How to Specify the Default Settings for Backup.

7. Click Start Backup, and then in the Backup Job Information dialog box, verify that the settings for the backup are correct.

   The Backup Job Information dialog box

   

   Warning

   If the backup file name you use for this backup already exists in the backup media or file location, confirm that the settings in Backup Job Information are correct to avoid overwriting a backup file that you might want to keep.

   Note

   For detailed information about the options in the Backup Job Information dialog box, see Selecting Options for a Backup.

8. In Backup Job Information, click Advanced if you want to set advanced backup options such as data verification or hardware compression. Then, click OK.

   Note

   For detailed information about advanced backup options, see Selecting Options for a Backup.

9. If you want to perform this backup immediately, click Start Backup.

10. If you want to schedule this backup to run automatically at a later time, in Backup Job Information, click Schedule.

11. If you choose to schedule the backup job, in Save Selections, specify a name for the backup job you want to schedule, and then click Save.

12. If you choose to schedule a backup, in Set Account Information, enter the user name and password you want Backup to use when it runs the scheduled backup. Make sure that the account you specify has the necessary permissions. For more information, see Permissions Required.

    Set Account Information dialog box

    

13. If you want to schedule a backup, in Scheduled Job Options, in the Job name box, type a name for the scheduled backup job. Click Properties to enter the date, time, and frequency parameters for the scheduled backup, and then click OK.

    Scheduled Job Options dialog box

    

    Note

    For general information about scheduling backups, see Scheduling a Backup.

For More Information

For more information about using the Backup utility, see Using the Backup Utility in Windows Server 2003 to Backup and Restore Your Data.