Backup

[Brink]

What does it show now in the same screenshot from above after you had unchecked those 3 boxes under "Data Files"?

Strange, usually you should get a prompt (something like below) asking if you wanted to replace the file/folder or not when they have the same name.

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[ukthesis]

You're right. Normally I do get that prompt. But not with this external hard drive specifically, which unless you know about it, means that you are unaware that you're not updating the copy. No idea why it happens.

Okay, this update was supposed, today, to take effect at 7pm. Now, the computer was switched off at 7pm. Does the PC have to be on in order for the updated two files from the desktop to transfer across to this external drive?

If it doesn't have to be switched on (the computer) all I can say is that nothing's happened. The two old folders on the external drive are still there ... and not the two updates on the desktop that we've been discussing all this time. So things are now as they were yesterday, despite all this stuff we've done.

I don't know if it makes a difference. But normally (without this backup thing) as I said before you need to first DELETE the old file before replacing it with the updated on on the external drive. Perhaps that applies here (backup and restore function). But if you have to go to all this trouble, the backup and restore facility is pretty pointless and very disappointing since it's supposed to save all this messing about.

 

[Brink]

Yeah, the computer will need to be turned on for it to work.

 

[ukthesis]

But what happens if you set it to work at 3am? In other words, unless you happen to be on your PC at 3am in the morning ... and you also have to remember to be on your computer at the precise time. If you are on vacation, then, it doesn't work either. And when you say it has to be "on" you mean that it actually has to have windows on, rather than it just being on standby (power on but the PC not actually switched on)? Essentially it means that you either have to remember to be working on your PC at the right time, or to at least have it fully switched on even if you may be watching the TV and so aren't actually using it?

 

[Brink]

By default, the computer must be turned on and running for the scheduled backup to run. If not, then it will notify you the next time the computer is on that you missed the scheduled backup and for you to run it then.

If you use sleep mode (not hibernate) instead of turning off (shutting down) the computer, then you could go into Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc), and follow the numbered steps in the screenshot below to set the AutomaticBackup task to wake the computer to run.

 

[ukthesis]

Okay, but it still isn't working. I'm on the PC now and I was on it at noon when it was supposed to back up to my Intenso external hard drive. Those two folders I selected from the desktop (see above) were recently updated and I needed to save the updates. Checked at 12.30pm, still working on the computer, and the old files are still on the Intenso, and not the updated files from the desktop that should have replaced them. In other words, it hasn't worked. What next?

 

[ukthesis]

I've adjusted the settings and the update of files on the external drive still hasn't worked using the Backup and Restore function .. .

 

[Brink]

Is the external HDD drive turned on as well?

Double check to make sure that the scheduled backup is turned on, and that the AM/PM is set correct for the time. I know, but it is a common mistake that's easily made by anyone.

 

[ukthesis]

I'll only be able to check tomorrow, since I was out when the scheduled saving was due today. I had to go out, which is part of the problem I was mentioning. It WAS on standby, though, but I don't think the posters who said that simply having it on standby is enough. The machine seems to have to be fully turned on for Backup to work and if it's not fully turned on, nothing happens. And now I've switched it on again, as you can see, there has NOT been a message popping up to remind me that the backup did not take place. So I still don't know what will happen until tomorrow.

 

[ukthesis]

I've used the "Backup Now" button and the updated desktop files (2) have NOT been saved on the external drive as they should have. The external drive only contains the old version of the same files and no error message appear, as though it was going through fine. What next?

 

[Brink]

It appears that you will need to have the computer turned fully on at the time you want to create your backups then.

 

[ukthesis]

But that doesn't address why, when I use (computer fully on) the "Back Up Now" button and it later tells me it backup up successfully. But it hasn't. I know because the old folders and files are still on the external hard drive, and not the updates.

 

[Brink]

It's an incremental backup, so it will add to the existing backup folders. If you go through the process of restoring the backup only to the point of selecting what you want to restore, you should see the new ones as well.

 

[ukthesis]

Can you explain?? What physically do I do?

 

[Brink]

You could follow the steps in the tutorial below to go through the restore backup process to view the files in the selected backup. Just be sure to stop and cancel to back out of restoring them since you only wanted to view the files in the backup and not actually restore the files.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/648-restore-backup-user-system-files.html

 

[ukthesis]

But this seems to relate to restoration. I don't want to restore folders and files, I want to update them. I fact, restoring them is exactly not what I need to do.

 

[mjf]

Tutorials and tips give you a great starting point but everyone needs to actually experiment/play with what they want to do.
Just make sure you backup your "most valuable" data the old fashioned way of drag and drop then play with file/folder backup program.
Add one little text file to your documents, select make a backup. Then browse into the backup with the backup program. Go searching for files until you find the new file and convince yourself that it did add to your backup.

 

[ukthesis]

If we can go back a little, here are the settings I'm presently using. Although I can't see where I'm going wrong, perhaps you can spot the problem? The two ticked folders are the ones I need to update on the external hard drive they are supposed to be going to. What I don't understand is how I've ended up with all these difficulties over something that Windows has designed to be very simple to use by someone like me, and presumably that other users don't have to spend all this time over ...

 

[Brink]

But this seems to relate to restoration. I don't want to restore folders and files, I want to update them. I fact, restoring them is exactly not what I need to do.

The point was for you to go through part of the process to only view the files in your actual backup to see if the files you selected earlier are actually there or not. I know you didn't want to actually restore them.

 

[ukthesis]

Step 3 of the tutorial says:

3. If Backup is Not Configured Click on the Set up backup button. (See screenshot below)

But if you look at this screen shot, that option isn't available here.

And can you see anything wrong with these settings? I ask, since all appears in order. Wouldn't the default settings arrange things so that there are no problems? And what are the default setting on this function?

I just find it hard to believe that for the beginner, and doing an apparently straightforward task like this one, there is all these issues. After all, the "back up now" button's there for users to just press for a backup to be performed, job done, period. And not to not do an updated backup ... which wouldn't make any sense, since that's what the button's for.

Not criticising you. I have a friend with a MAC computer, and he doesn't report any problems whatsoever in using a similar function to this one on his PC.