Backup Files

How to Backup Files with Optional Automatic Backups in Vista​

   Information

This will show you how to backup selected file types on your computer manually or with optional automatic backups.


To make sure you do not lose the file types that you create, modify, and store on your computer, you should back them up regularly. You can manually back up your file types any time or set up automatic backups. The ability to set up automatic backups is not included in the Vista Home Basic edition, but you can still do manual backups. For more information, see: Windows Help and How-to: Back up and Restore: FAQs

   Note

Backups are saved in this format: (backup location)\(computer name)\Backup Set (year-month-day) (time)

• If the backup was done on Local Disk D: at 9/7/2007 1:00:50 PM (It uses 24 hour time), then the full backup file path would be: D:\Computer\Backup Set 2007-09-07 130050
• You would right click the folder Backup Set 2007-09-07 130050 and click Delete to delete that backup.
• To see what your computer name is, see: How to Change the Computer Name in Vista

   Warning

This type of backup does not backup the Vista operating system files, EFS encrypted files, Programs, files in the Recycle Bin, Temporary Files (temporary internet files), and User profile settings.. You must create a Complete Computer Backup and Restore Image for this. See: How to Create a Complete Computer Backup and Restore Image in Vista

Here's How:

1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View)​

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2. Click on the Backup and Restore Center icon.​

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3. Click the Back up Files button. (See screenshot below)​

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4. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​

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5. Select a location to save the backup to and click on Next. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: You cannot save the backup on the same partition that Vista is on. You can save the backup to a different partition, but it would be best to not save the backup on the same hard drive in case it fails.​

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6. Select the files you want to backup and click on Next. (See screenshot below)​

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7. Setup how often, when, and at what time your computer will perform automatic incremental backups from now on.​

(See screenshot below)​

NOTE: You can turn off automatic backups later if you want, and just do them manually. See step 15 below. Automatic backups is not included in Vista Home Basic.​

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8. Click the Save settings and start backup button when done.​

NOTE: The left screenshot is if this is the first time. The right screenshot is if you are changing the settings from step 17 below. Check the box, boxed in red, if you want to also do a backup now to. If you changed the location in step 5, then this box will be grayed out and a backup will be required to run.​

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9. You will now see this. (See screenshot below)​

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10. If you selected a CD/DVD location to save the backup in step 5, then you will see this to. (See screenshots below)​

A) Just insert a blank DVD and click on OK.​

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11. When the backup is completed, you will see this. (See screenshot below step 12)​

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12. Click on Close.​

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13. Now that you have done a backup, you will see Change Settings under the Back up Files button from step 3. (See screeshot below)​

NOTE: You can also click the Advanced restore link under Restore Files from the screenshot below step 4 and click on Back Up Files in the left pane.​

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14. To Change Backup Settings ​

A) Click on Change Settings. (See screenshot below step 17)​

NOTE: Since you have created a backup, Change Setings will be added now in the screenshot below step 4.​

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15. To Turn Automatic Backups On or Off ​

NOTE: You will need to do step 14 first. Automatic backups is not included in the Vista Home Basic edition.​

A) Click on the Turn Off or Turn On button at the bottom. (See screenshot below)​

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B) Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​

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16. To Update a Backup​

NOTE: You will need to do step 14 first. This will start updating the backup files immediately.​

A) Click on Back up now. (See screenshot below step 17)​

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B) Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​

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17. To Change Settings for Backup​

NOTE: You will need to do step 14 first.​

A) Click on Change backup settings. (See screenshot below)​

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B) Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​

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C) Go to step 5.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Create a Complete Computer Backup and Restore Image in Vista
• How to Create a System Restore Point in Vista
• How to Restore Backup Files in Vista
• How to Restore Previous Versions of a File and Folder in Vista
• How to Backup and Restore Messages in Windows Mail
• How to Reset the Last Backup Listing for Vista Complete PC Backup
• How to Reset the Last Backup Listing for Vista Back Up Files
• How to Enable or Disable Backup Status and Configuration in Vista
• How to Backup Specific Files in Vista Like NT Backup in XP
• How to Extract Vista System Image Files Using Virtual PC 2007
• How to Manually Extract Files from a Backup in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Make a "Create Incremental Backup" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Make a "Create New Backup" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Vista

 

[Harry230]

Re: Backup Files does it back Registry

Hi,

I regularly use Vista File backup and as you would be aware it automatically includes the c: drive plus any other partition you care to select.

Is the windows registry backed up with the files?

I do my data/file backup on a weekly basis and a complete image approx every 3 - 4 months. The registry is obviously backed up in the image but I was wondering if it was also included in the file backup.

This would be useful if for instance new programs had been added to drives other than the c; drive since last complete image. I keep games on a separate drive.

Also having the registry backed up on a weekly basis could be quite handy, and if so what files would I need to restore for the registry. I suspect though that vista would not allow the registry to be overwritten while the os is running so may have to be a function of a complete image restore.

Any info appreciated.

regards,

Harry..

 

[Brink]

Hello Harry,

Sorry, but the registry, which is considered system files, is not included in Back Up Files option. However, System Restore does backup system files with restore points. Creating a restore point would be a good way to backup the registry instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Harry230]

Thanks for the prompt response Shawn, I sort of suspected that would be the case.

Thanks for the info.

regards,

Harry...

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Harry.

 

[Jaffa1978]

will the back up Include my programs such as Live Messenger,Firefox etc and torrents(games n music I've downloaded) ? Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Jaffa,

Sorry, but it will only include the file types selected in step 6, and not any programs. Since you do not have Vista Ultimate that includes a full computer backup feature, you will need to use a 3rd party drive backup program instead. Macrium Reflect is a pretty good free program to use for backups like you are wanting.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Grassy Knoll]

Code Error 80070005 - Access Denied message

This won't work for me
I guess I have a permission problem?

I don't get it tho... I'm running as an Admin

Please see screen shots attached:

Also, I have similar problems with doing manual windows updates (related?).

 

[Brink]

Hello Grassy Knoll, and welcome to Vista Forums.

I have heard of some security programs causing this type of error. As a test, temporarily disable any 3rd party firewall, antivirus, or malware program you have running to see if you can run the backup successfully afterwards.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Grassy Knoll]

Thanks Shawn, I tried that to no avail but I have found the fix to my issue!

I had to turn off the "User Account Control" (UAC) feature in:
Control Panel> User Accounts> Turn User Account Control On or Off





I hope posting this will help anyone else with the same issue.

 

[Brink]

Grassy Knoll,

I'm happy to hear that you got this sorted for now. You should not have to turn off UAC to do a backup though. As a test, you might create another adminstrator account and see how it works while logged on to it with UAC on.

 

[jud0024]

How is that.. the problem with me is that i can't find the backup file icon on my control panel??

 

[Brink]

Hello Jud, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Could you post a screenshot of what you see instead?

Did you click on the Classic View link on the left top side while in the Control Panel to see icons?

 

[jud0024]

This is my screenshot..

 

[Brink]

Jud,

What edition of Vista are you using? I noticed that you are using a custom theme, theme, or something since this is not how the Control Panel (Classic View) looks by default in Vista. It may be causing this.

For now, you can use this Backup shortcut to create backups with. It will open at step 5 for you in the tutorial on the first page.

You might check to see if the Backup and Restore Center icon may have been hidden. If not, then you can see if you may be able to specify to show the Backup and Restore Center icon in the Control Panel.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[jud0024]

i cannot do this..

i downloaded it but whenever i click the General tab in the Properties.. the following failure pops up..

 

[Brink]

Jud,

What edition of Vista do you have?