Window Backup

[Rellwood]

I seem to not be able to get a proper backup because everytime I go to do it I end up with messages like the one attached.

For whatever reason my machine thinks it hasn't had a back-up ever because this message pops up and basically makes the backup.

I noticed that the library's mentioned are not all active library's on my computer, so why is Windows trying to back up the files?

Any enlightenment would be helpful, because as you can see by the pic, my computer thinks it has never been backed up and everytime I go to do it it takes about 8 hours to complete.

[Sirtel]

If you insist on doing a Windows Backup, then I'm afraid I don't know the answer. For myself, I use FreeFileSync to sync the master library and the backups (one-way sync). I keep my backups in Dropbox and on two external HDs, plus a copy on a flash drive.

[Rellwood]

I only use Windows Backup for my actual computer backup, not just for file syncing.

I don't know if this was what you were thinking. I back up all the program files and folders in case I need to do a restore.

[Rellwood]

Is there a better way of creating a proper computer backup that will be accepted by Windows?

I have a paid dropbox account as well as Amazon Drive, but I hate that Dropbox does syncing and I have lost things because I didn't do selective sync. Plus it takes forever to download to my computer. I would rather have the backups on my external HD

[Sirtel]

I have my important files/folders and the installers of important programs backed up the same way as my Calibre library. But of course it's not an exact image of my PC. I've never used Windows Backup, because I don't trust it not to mess up something.

[Rellwood]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I have my important files/folders and the installers of important programs backed up the same way as my Calibre library. But of course it's not an exact image of my PC. I've never used Windows Backup, because I don't trust it not to mess up something.

I hear you with that (windows not to be trusted) I restored another computer from a backup and my Calibre Library never recovered. I lost so many books because they couldn't be matched with what Calibre knew- I am guessing the temporary files Calibre or the Calibre Cache or something that isn't too obvious made me unable to open a lot of books -- apparently Calibre couldn't "locate" them.

I was able to move the library's and attach them to Calibre Portable (hence why I have so many library's)

I guess if I were trying to simply save the files/folders it wouldn't be too hard.

I should just do a clean library export each day of a single library I can attach to saved folders.

[theducks]

Why are you backing up the (OS) Temp folder?
Nothing of value should ever be (left) there. That is why it's called Temp.
Windows cleanup empties it of anything not active.

The messages are probably because your backup ran while other programs (like Calibre) were doing things, and cleaned up afterwards.

[Rellwood]

Originally Posted by theducks

Why are you backing up the (OS) Temp folder?
Nothing of value should ever be (left) there. That is why it's called Temp.
Windows cleanup empties it of anything not active.

The messages are probably because your backup ran while other programs (like Calibre) were doing things, and cleaned up afterwards.

Im not backing up the temp folder (specifically), I just know that the last time I tried to back up the "C:" drive and then tried to restore it, Calibre got really buggy. Books were unable to open, and then they were not "found" even though they were in the library. I know that temporary files are just that, temporary, but I have on more than one occasion cleaned my computer while using it and deleted out the temp file, only to learn that Calibre needed it.

Wasn't sure how long it was supposed to stay, or what it was used for in the first place. In the end, I want to back up my system so that restoring the program won't affect new or old library's.

So exactly what does this temporary folder do in the first place?

[Rellwood]

Originally Posted by theducks

Why are you backing up the (OS) Temp folder?

The messages are probably because your backup ran while other programs (like Calibre) were doing things, and cleaned up afterwards.

Nope. I had all the users signed off, and all the programs closed out, and checked through tasks that backing up was the only thing going on.

This was not the first time I got this message.

[deback]

Originally Posted by Rellwood

Is there a better way of creating a proper computer backup that will be accepted by Windows?

I have a paid dropbox account as well as Amazon Drive, but I hate that Dropbox does syncing and I have lost things because I didn't do selective sync. Plus it takes forever to download to my computer. I would rather have the backups on my external HD

You could buy a new hard drive and use the Seagate Disc Wizard Cloning software to clone your entire hard drive to the new hard drive, then disconnect the new hard drive, and save it as a backup in the event your current hard drive fails.

I use batch files to backup files (copy them to an external hard drive).

[theducks]

Originally Posted by deback

You could buy a new hard drive and use the Seagate Disc Wizard Cloning software to clone your entire hard drive to the new hard drive, then disconnect the new hard drive, and save it as a backup in the event your current hard drive fails.

I use batch files to backup files (copy them to an external hard drive).

Clonezilla works better and can handle dual boot systems as well. (Neither MaxBlast nor WD tools do)

[MartyTX]

Originally Posted by Rellwood

Is there a better way of creating a proper computer backup that will be accepted by Windows?

You might want to try the backup feature that is built right into calibre.
I'm running an older version of calibre, 2.85.1, but assume something similar is in 3.xx.

Right-click on your calibre library icon and select "Export/Import all calibre data". The following information appears:

"You can export all calibre data, including your books, settings and plugins into a single directory. Then, you can use the tool to re-import all that data into a different calibre install, for example, in another computer.

This is a simple way to move your calibre installation with all its data to a new computer, or to replicate your current setup on a second computer."



EDIT: I tried this and it did NOT work. I do NOT recommend that you try it.

[BetterRed]

Problem with calibre's Import/Export tool is that it is an all or nothing 'solution'.

It copies everything, i.e. no incremental backup, and you cannot restore individual books or formats. On some of my libraries that would mean a lot of time (many hours) and a lot of storage (100 of GB, even a few TB) every time -- which means it wouldn't get done.

I've enabled on Windows 10 Backup on my calibre library folders. When I'm editing a format - audio/video, document, epub etc - I save regularly, where I can, I do it automatically. Then if I want something as it was yesterday afternoon I can click on 'Restore Previous Versions' and up pops a timestamped list of the folder or file at 20min intervals since 'forever'. I've not noticed any performance or functional affect on calibre. The previous versions are not stored in the library itself, they're in a 'hidden' folder, e.g. 'D:\System Volume Information'. It seems to work much better than the similarly feature in Vista and Win7, which relied on the Volume Shadow Service which in my experience was a bit 'hit and miss'.

I do periodic (daily and weekly) incremental backups to external media using GoodSync.

I use the same regime on all data - ebooks, documents, email, code, audio, video etc etc; IMO data is data is data. I also maintain a strict segregation of data and software, intermingling the two encourages the walled garden syndrome.

BR