How to Specify the Default Settings for Backup

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This procedure explains how to specify the default settings for Backup.

Procedure

To specify the default settings for Backup

  1. Start Backup in Advanced Mode.

    For detailed instructions, see the following procedures:

  2. On the Tools menu, click Options.

    On the General tab, either clear or select the check boxes to select the default settings that you want. The following table provides detailed descriptions of the options available on the General tab. For more information about these options, see the online Help in your Windows Server 2003 operating system.

    The General tab in the Options dialog box

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    Explanation of the available General options

    Option Explanation

    Compute selection information before backup and restore operations.

    Estimates the number of files and bytes that will be backed up or restored during the backup or restore operation. This information is calculated and displayed before the backup or restore begins.

    Use the catalogs on the media to speed up building restore catalogs on disk.

    Specifies that you want to use the on-media catalog to build the on-disk catalog for restore selections. This is the fastest way to build an on-disk catalog. However, if you want to restore data from several tapes, and the tape with the on-media catalog is missing or you want to restore data from media that is damaged, do not select this option. Backup will then scan your whole backup set (or as much of it as you have), and build an on-disk catalog. This might take several hours if your backup set is very large.

    Verify data after the backup completes.

    Note

    This option does not verify Exchange databases.

    Compares the backed-up data and the original data on your hard disk to make sure that they are the same. It is recommended that you only verify backups of data files System backups are difficult to verify because of the large number of changes that happen to system files on a continual basis. Some data files that were in use during the backup might also cause verification errors, but you can generally ignore these errors. If there are many verification errors, there might be a problem with the media or the file you are using to back up data. If this behavior occurs, use different media or designate another file, and run the backup operation again.

    > [!IMPORTANT]
> Do not select this option when you back up Exchange databases, although this option helps you verify data integrity in some types of data backups (for example, System State backups and full computer backups). If you select this option, the time it takes to perform an Exchange database backup increases substantially.

    Back up the contents of mounted drives.

    Backs up the data that is on a mounted drive. If you select this option, and then you back up a mounted drive, the data that is on the mounted drive will be backed up. If you do not select this option, and then you back up a mounted drive, only the path information for the mounted drive will be backed up.

    Show alert message when I start the Backup Utility and Removable Storage is not running.

    Displays a dialog box when you start Backup, and Removable Storage is not running. Backup will then start Removable Storage automatically. If you typically back up data to a file, and you save the file to a floppy disk, a hard disk, or any type of removable disk, do not select this option. If you primarily back up data to a tape or other media that is managed by Removable Storage, select this option.

    Show alert message when I start the Backup Utility and there is recognizable media available.

    Displays a dialog box when you start Backup, and there is new media available. If you primarily back up data to a file, and you save the file to a floppy disk, a hard disk, or any type of removable disk, do not select this option. If you primarily back up data to a tape or other media that is managed by Removable Storage, select this option.

    Show alert message when new media is inserted.

    Displays a dialog box when new media is detected by Removable Storage. If you primarily back up data to a file, and you save the file to a floppy disk, a hard disk, or any type of removable disk, do not select this option. If you primarily back up data to a tape or other media that is managed by Removable Storage, select this option.

    Always allow use of recognizable media without prompting.

    Automatically moves new media that is detected by Removable Storage to the Backup media pool. If you typically back up data to a file, and you save the file to a floppy disk, a hard disk, or any type of removable disk, do not select this option. If you want all new media to be available to the Backup program only, and no one is using Removable Storage to manage new media, select this option.

    1. Click the Restore tab to display the options for restoring a file that already exists on your computer. Then click one of the following options:

      • Do not replace the file on my computer (recommended).

      • Replace the file on disk only if the file on disk is older.

      • Always replace the file on my computer.

      The Restore tab in the Options dialog box

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      Important

      The settings that you select on the Restore tab do not affect the Exchange database restore process. When you restore an Exchange database, always replace the existing database files. Exchange log files that existed before the restore are not affected because Exchange log files are restored to a temporary directory, not to their original location.

      Note

      In contrast, when you restore your operating system, System State data always overwrites the existing operating system files, and will alert you to that fact before the restore process begins. Select Always replace the file on my computer if you want to restore your operating system or the Exchange installation folder (or both) from a backup. Selecting this option prevents file version conflicts when you restore a backup over a fresh installation of your Windows Server 2003 operating system, and ensures that the most current file versions that were preserved in your backup overwrite older versions that the Windows Server 2003 Setup program created. These files include the Exchange .dll files, such as MAPI32.DLL, which exists in the %systemroot%/System32 folder. In this way, you make sure that all the restored operating system or Exchange files will match the file versions that were preserved in your Windows or full computer backup as closely as possible.

      Note

      You might receive an error message after you select the default setting, Do not replace the file on my computer (recommended) when you restore your operating system. If this behavior occurs, select the setting, Always replace the file on my computer to force all the files in your backup to overwrite the existing files.

      Note

      The files in your backup should be the most current versions if you keep the computer up-to-date with service packs and other critical updates before you back up your Windows Server 2003 operating system or the Exchange folder.

    2. Click the Backup Type tab to select the default backup type.

      The Backup Type tab in the Options dialog box

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    3. In the Default Backup Type list, select one of the following backup types.

      • **Normal   **A normal backup entails copying all the files that you selected, and then marking each file as having been backed up. (The archive attribute is cleared.) To perform a normal backup, you need only the most recent copy of the backup file or tape to restore all the files. You usually perform a normal backup the first time that you create a backup set. Normal backups are frequently referred to as full backups, although a backup is only a full backup when you choose to back up all files.

        Important

        To restore from backup, you must have the most recent normal, differential, and incremental backup files.

      • Copy   A copy backup entails copying all the files that you select, but not marking each file as having been backed up. (The archive attribute is not cleared.) To back up files between normal and incremental backups, perform a copy backup because it does not affect other backup operations.

      • Differential   A differential backup entails copying files created or changed since the last normal or incremental backup, but not marking files as having been backed up. (The archive attribute is not cleared.) To perform a combination of normal and differential backups, you must have the last normal backup set and also the last differential backup set.

      • Incremental   An incremental backup entails backing up only those files created or changed since the last normal or incremental backup, and then marking files as having been backed up. (The archive attribute is cleared.) If you use a combination of normal and incremental backups, you must have the last normal backup set and also all incremental backup sets to restore your data.

      • Daily   A daily backup entails copying all the files that you selected and that are also modified on the same day that you perform the daily backup. The backed up files are not marked as having been backed up. (The archive attribute is not cleared.)

    4. Click the Backup Log tab to display the options for setting the level of detail that you want to use when backup logs are created for backups and restores.

    5. This is a valuable troubleshooting tool if the backup or restore process completes with errors. When you select the Detailed option, all attempts to back up or restore a single file are logged. Therefore, you can search the backup log at the end of the backup or restore process for all failures that occurred when files were copied or restored.

      The Backup Log tab in the Options dialog box

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    6. Click the Exclude Files tab to exclude certain types of files from your backup job.

      The Exclude Files tab in the Options dialog box

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      Note

      In the Files excluded for all users list box, it is best to exclude only the default files. You do not have to exclude additional files during an Exchange 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.