Customize Server Backup - Windows Server Essentials

Applies To: Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials

In addition to the internal hard disks on the server, customers should consider using external USB hard disks for backups. Ideally, the customer would have at least two external hard disks with enough capacity to back up all of the data on the server. If external hard disks are used, the customer can take one disk off-site each night to further protect the data.

Turn off Server Backup by Default

To turn off Server Backup by default you need to set the value of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows Server\Deployment\ServerBackupDisabled to 1 to turn it off. When this key is set, the Server Backup User interface will not be exposed through Dashboard or Launchpad. This allows you to utilize third-party applications for Server Backup.

Note

If the regkey is updated in a live computer, you must restart wsemgmtsvc to make the change active.

To add “ServerBackupDisabled” registry key and set the value to 1

  1. On the server, click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open textbox, and then click OK.

  2. In the navigation pane, expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, expand SOFTWARE, expand Microsoft, expand Windows Server, and then expand Deployment.

  3. Right-click Deployment, click New, and then click DWARD Value.

  4. For name, enter ServerBackupDisabled.

  5. Right-click the name, select Modify, enter 1 for the value data, and then click OK.

Turn on Server Backup

To turn on Server Backup after creating ServerBackupDisabled registry key, delete the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows Server\Deployment\ServerBackupDisabled. This enables default server backup.

To delete “Deployment\ServerBackupDisabled” registry key

  1. On the server, move your mouse to the upper right corner of the screen, and click Search.

  2. In the Search box, type regedit, and then click the Regedit application.

  3. In the navigation pane, expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, expand SOFTWARE, expand Microsoft, expand Windows Server, and then expand Deployment.

  4. Right-click ServerBackupDisabled, and then click Delete.

See Also

Other Resources

Windows Deployment Tools Technical Reference