Modify an Automatic Backup Schedule

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

Once you have created a backup schedule using Windows Server Backup, you should periodically review the schedule to confirm that it still meets the needs of your business. In addition, you should review the configuration of the scheduled backups and consider revising it when you add or remove applications, features, roles, volumes, or disks.

Note

The selections that were made when the backup schedule was created are reflected in the Backup Schedule Wizard when you run it again to make modifications.

To update a backup schedule using the Windows Server Backup user interface

  1. Click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Windows Server Backup.

  2. In the Actions pane of the snap-in default page, under Windows Server Backup, click Backup Schedule. This opens the Backup Schedule Wizard.

  3. On the Scheduled backup settings page, click Modify Backup, and then click Next.

  4. On the Select backup type page, do one of the following, and then click Next:

    • Click Full Server to back up all volumes on the server. This is the recommended option.

    • Click Custom to back up just certain volumes, and then click Next. On the Select backup items page, select the check boxes for the volumes that you want to back up and clear the check boxes for the volumes that you want to exclude from the scheduled backup.

Note

Volumes that contain operating system components are included in the backup by default and cannot be excluded.
You cannot use Windows Server Backup to back up volumes that are more than 2043 GB.

  1. On the Specify backup time page, do one of the following, and then click Next:

    • Click Once a day, and then enter a new time to start running the daily backup.

    • Click More than once a day. Then, to select a start time, under Available time, click the time that you want the backup to start, and then click Add to move the time under Scheduled time. Under Scheduled time, click Remove to delete a time. Repeat for each start time that you want to add to or remove from the schedule.

  2. On the Add or remove backup disks page, do one of the following, and then click Next:

    • Click Do nothing.

    • Click Add more disks.

    • Click Remove current disks.

  3. If you choose to add more disks to store backups, do the following:

    1. On the Select destination disk page, select the check box for the disk that you attached for this purpose, and then click Next.

Note

By default, the likely disk or disks are shown in the list. These disks are external disks that can be used for moving backups offsite for disaster protection. If the disk that you want to use is not listed, click Show All Available Disks. Then select the check box next to each disk that you want to use to store the automatic backups.

    A message informs you that the selected disk will be formatted and any existing data will be deleted. Click **Yes**.  
      

Important

Do not click Yes if you have data on the disk that you need. To use a different disk, click No, and then select a different disk under Available disks.

2.  On the **Label destination disk** page, each disk that you selected is listed. A label that includes your user name, the current date, the current time, and a disk name is assigned to each disk. Click **Next**.  
      

Important

We recommend that you record and then physically attach the label information to each external disk. If you need to recover data from the backup stored on the disk, you will need this information to identify the disk.

  1. If you choose to remove disks, on the Remove current disks page, select the check box next to each disk that you want to remove from the disks used to store backups.

  2. On the Confirmation page, review the details, and then click Finish. The wizard modifies the schedule and formats any added disks.

  3. On the Summary page, click Close.

You can also use this wizard to stop running scheduled backups.

To stop running scheduled backups using the Windows Server Backup user interface

  1. Click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Windows Server Backup.

  2. In the Actions pane of the snap-in default page, under Windows Server Backup, click Backup Schedule. This opens the Backup Schedule Wizard.

  3. On the Scheduled backup settings page, click Stop Backup to stop running scheduled backups and release the disk or disks where you were storing the backups, and then click Next.

  4. On the Confirmation page, review the details, and then click Finish. You will see a message asking you to confirm the change. Click Yes.

  5. On the Summary page, click Close.

Additional considerations

  • To modify a backup schedule using Windows Server Backup, you must be a member of the Administrators group, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.

Additional references