How to automate backups using Robocopy

This is my first guide so please help me by providing feedback.

Background

I see a lot of threads about backups. The simple truth of the matter is that unless its automated it wont get done on a regular basis. (at least for me ) So i decided to investigate options for automated backup.

I immediately ruled out CD/DVD backups due to size limitations of the media. My requirements at the time consisted of 30GB of photos and 10GB video. (Which has expanded rapidly since that time)

My goal for this project was to protect against drive failure.

I began to research software programs specifically designed for backups but they all fell short on one key requirement, that it be free. I decided to try an app that I use at work frequently for large directory transfers. Robocopy was developed by Microsoft and is distributed free of charge withing the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit.

Install-Configuration

Don't worry, it will run on almost any version of windows. Go to this website. and download the resource kit it is around 11mb so if your on Dial Up grab some dinner while it downloads.. (If anyone has a link to robocopy without needing to download the entire resource kit let me know).

After installing the executables are located in ?:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools by default. The resource kit installs a lot of extra files that you wont be using. The files that we will be working with will be robocopy.doc and robocopy.exe. Robocopy is a command line utility that can either be run from a command prompt or from a batch file.

At this point you should open the robocopy.doc and get familiar with the concepts. The best way to start is by creating a .txt file. Copy and paste the following lines of test between Start and Stop. Do not include Start and Stop in the copy and pasted sections.

Start

@Echo off
robocopy "C:\Pictures Working Directory" "D:\PhotoBackup" /E /ETA /Z /PURGE
Goto Defrag
efrag
defrag c:
defrag d:

Goto Done
one
Echo Done
Pause

Stop

I keep my working photo directory on my C: drive and backup my data to my external usb 2.0 160gb drive which is labeled D: in my computer. You can modify the directory's as you wish. Just keep in mind that the first is the source directory and the second is the destination directory.

Now lets look at the switches used. (Switches are the /something that you see at the end of the command in the batch file) Switches are used to modify how robocopy is executed and what it does. For example if we did not use any switches at all the files would copy. But I used several switches to get the additional functionality. The /E switch copies all sub-folders including empty ones. The /ETA switch turns on the progress indicator for each file being copied. The /Z switch copies each file in restartable mode. (Very useful if transferring over a network) And finally /PURGE which removes files and folders if they are not present in the source. (Caution needs to be used with this option. If you delete a folder in the source it WILL DELETE the folder in the destination)

Notice I threw in the defrag command. I use this for all of my hard drive that I have in my system. By doing this I am able to ensure they are operation at 100% efficiency.

The last step would be to rename the .txt file to .bat This will cause the file to be executable by windows. Execute the file and see if it works.

The first time it is run it may take a while depending on hardware. Subsequent backups will be faster because robocopy on copies changed files. so unless you change most of you files your backups will run in minutes. If the file worked as expected continue on to automation.

Automation

Now to automate the task. I used Windows task scheduler. It is accessed in Windows XP by clicking start - all programs - accessories - system tools - scheduled tasks.

Double Click "add a scheduled task" At this point the Scheduled Task wizard pops up. Click next. Click Browse and find the .bat file you just created. Click Open. Click the radio button next to the frequency that you would like the backup run. (I run the program nightly at 2:00 am)
Select a time for the backups to run and click Next.
Type in the username and password that will be used when the backup runs. (Make sure it is a Username with permissions to the files)
Click Finish.

There you have it, my first guide. If I have missed anything or if you have any selections please let me know and I will update this guide. I can also post screenshots if anyone is interested or has a problem.

P.S. I appologize for any mistakes. I could not sleep so instead of doing some PP work I decided to write this. It is currently 5:00am and I am now very tired.

I totally forgot I even did this. Looks like everyone else did to. That bad?

Not at all - I only just spotted it - personally, I use SyncBack from www.2brightsparks.com - you can schedule it, and it's easy to configure. But, your script seems to do the job for you.

Very useful - I'm just installing it now!!!

Leo

Edit: Set everything up, except I'm backing up from my removable disk to my main disk (small main HD, so I have a 200gig USB HD as a data-storage disk (not for games/apps etc)

I just use the XP Power Toy SyncToy. You have to remember to start it but once you have it set up you just start the program and tell it to run all backups. A scheduler would be nice but what do you expect for free! Maybe Vista will have a backup scheduler.

Did you have any problems following the guide? Any areas that I could improve?

Today is your lucky day. Taken directly from the SyncToy 1.2 help file.

You may need to be running version 1.2 for this to work.

Schedule SyncToy


While you do not have to schedule SyncToy to use it, some users may find it helpful to schedule recurrent SyncToy runs. Perhaps you have a folder pair that takes a long time to sync and you want to run SyncToy in the middle of the night, for example. SyncToy does not provide a user interface to schedule folder pairs to run at designated times. However, there is a method to schedule tasks using the Microsoft© Windows© operating system.
To schedule a task using the operating system:

1. From the </B>Start</B> menu, select All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Scheduled Tasks.
   
2. Select Add scheduled task to start the Scheduled Task Wizard. You will see a list of possible programs to run.
   
3. SyncToy may appear as an option in the list. If SyncToy does not appear in the list, click Browse and go find it.
   
4. The wizard will next prompt you to enter how often you want to run the scheduled SyncToy (for example, daily, weekly, et cetera). Select a frequency.
   
5. The next page asks when to start the task. Select a start time.
   
6. The next page asks for the user name and password to run the program under. Enter your user name and password.
   
7. The final page contains an option to open the properties dialog when the wizard ends. Select this checkbox.
   
8. Modify the Run textbox to include the –R command line option. –R all by itself will run all folder pairs that are active for run all. If you want to run just a single folder pair, add –R“My Pair” to the end of the command line. Note: there is a space before the hyphen but not one after the R. If the folder pair name contains a space, surround it with quotation marks, as the example above shows. For another example, assume that SyncToy is in the folder named C:\My Folder and that you want to run a folder pair named "My folder pair." Enter the command line as follows, including the quotation marks: "C:\My Folder\SyncToy.exe" -R"My folder pair." Note that there are two sets of quotation marks in this case: one is around the path to the SyncToy program file and the other surrounds the folder pair name.

Drunk posting strikes again, in a far more useful way than usual

I sync and backup using Handy Backup but then I like an easy life. You guys seem to enjoy a lot of hard work

roboycopy c: d:

That simple *

* almost

Nah, Tim son you're already into fault finding and you only typed 4 digits

condyk wrote:
Nah, Tim son you're already into fault finding and you only typed 4 digits

Hey, you found my intentional error My friend Mr Beam isn't helping...

condyk wrote:
I sync and backup using Handy Backup but then I like an easy life. You guys seem to enjoy a lot of hard work

But can you automatically defrag your disks at the same time?

The fewer programs I have installed on my computer the better. And this tool has never failed, not one time in 2 years. It also can copy over my home network if need be. (handy for syncing photos with my laptop after a trip)

GUIs suck.

Use Long Path Tool for this.