Make the Backup software behave

[DrLaban]

I've got myself a nice Windows 7 installation along witha D-Link DNS-323. Now, I'd like to put this D-Link to good use, so I thought I'd get right at backing up my files so I pretty much don't have to worry about them again.
So I set it up to back up select folders and let it run. Everything is fine, it does its job, but... I don't want weird compressed files and backup storage information in the shape of Catalogs on that D-Link.
I just want the backup software to copy the files and folders, as they are. Not in some arbitrary format that I _have_ to use the same software to recover!
This should be possible, right?
I don't mind it saving the Catalog file for reference and knowing what it has backed up and what to restore, but I want the files and folder structure to stay intact.

 

[not so gray matter]

If you simply want to copy and paste the files on a regular basis then you're much better of setting up a scheduled event that does just that. Although, that's really only possible if you know how to use task scheduler and batch files.

For more information on both:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/Schedule-a-task

http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Batch-File

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_DOS_commands

Commands you will find useful: XCOPY, ECHO

 

[DrLaban]

Ah, I totally forgot about the command line!

Now, before I go onto this, I'd just want to ask one thing about Windows 7:s backup tool. How do I know what is backed up? Is there a file list anywhere that I can read or any other tools that lets me review what it's done?