Easy automatic backup Outlook and other files.

We're all concert about losing data from the computer, so from time to time we do backups of the files we consider more important for us, but what always happen is that whenever the computer give you problem you go to check the backups you make what it seems 3 days ago, but there are from 3 months ago, so you end up losing pictures, music or even the Outlook data.

So it did happened to me not long ago, so I made a very simple ".bat" file that will do the backup of only the modified files (or new files) from a few directories every time I turn off my computer.

...and the good thing are...

-You are going to back up only the data that has been modified. (not need to copy files that you already have in the backup USB pen drive )

-You'll do it when turning off the computer.(you don't mind if it take a bit longer because after it's done, it'll turf off the computer for you)

Step 1 What to backup

You need to think what you really need to backup. In this Instructable I'm going to show how to back up anything really, from any directory.

Lets say you're interested in backup the information you have in the Outlook, first thing to do is find in your computer were the Outlook stores that data.

In my computer (i'm using XP) is located in

C:\Documents and Settings\("your account name")\Local Settings\Application data\Microsoft\Outlook\

You can make sure that this is the files location if you open the Outlook then Right click on the root folder (probably Outlook Today), Properties, advanced, then look at the Filename box; this is the location of your files.


Although you don't need to back up all the files form that directory, I rather be on the safe side and do the whole directory.

Any other directory you want to backup? all you need to do is find the location on your computer.

Comments

[Robert1894]

Hi,

cool article @newtonn2! I prefer Outlook backup tools which are able to make an Outlook backup automatically! One of these tools is Lookeen Backup Manager (http://www.outlook-backup.com/en). I use it for several days and my conclusion is - fantastic tool!

[Scammah]

Backing up %appdata% is a very important thing. I usually just backup my entire %appdata% folder to help with any new install if it every needs it.

[Scammah]

This is the one I use with some heavy modifications on my part. I have it run at the begin of starting my computer. Has saved me alot of headache down the road.
http://www.speedguide.net/read_articles.php?id=1547

@echo off
:: variables
set drive=G:\Backup
set backupcmd=xcopy /s /c /d /e /h /i /r /y

echo ### Backing up My Documents...
%backupcmd% "%USERPROFILE%\My Documents" "%drive%\My Documents"

echo ### Backing up Favorites...
%backupcmd% "%USERPROFILE%\Favorites" "%drive%\Favorites"

echo ### Backing up email and address book (Outlook Express)...
%backupcmd% "%USERPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book" "%drive%\Address Book"
%backupcmd% "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities" "%drive%\Outlook Express"

echo ### Backing up email and contacts (MS Outlook)...
%backupcmd% "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook" "%drive%\Outlook"

echo ### Backing up the Registry...
if not exist "%drive%\Registry" mkdir "%drive%\Registry"
if exist "%drive%\Registry\regbackup.reg" del "%drive%\Registry\regbackup.reg"
regedit /e "%drive%\Registry\regbackup.reg"

:: use below syntax to backup other directories...
:: %backupcmd% "...source directory..." "%drive%\...destination dir..."

echo Backup Complete!
@pause

[newtonn2]

Thank you, that's very good.