Microsoft Backup

Windows 2000 has a built in backup programme which works very well. It can be used to backup a full hard drive or selected files and folders, and system files. The programme can be started from the Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools menu. Select the Backup tab to view the backup options. In this windows you can select the files and folders that you wish to backup. You will see an option here called System State, which will automatically backup the registry, boot files and system files. Once you have made your selection, you must then choose to save it as a job, using the Save Selections As... option from the Job menu. You must then specify where you want the file containing the backup information to be saved, using the "Backup Media Or File Name" option at the bottom of the screen. In my case I backup to a second hard drive, so here I enter "D:\backup.bkf". Then from the Tools menu, choose options and set your preferences. You can then run your backup by pressing the Start backup button. The next time you wish to backup, you can simply select your saved options from the Job menu, and run the backup.

Automated Backup

You can automate the process of making a backup by creating a batch file which you can then run from your desktop, or by using the Task Scheduler. You can create a batch file using notepad, and saving the file with a .bat extension. The programme is run using the "ntbackup backup" command line followed by a series of commands, or switches, which control the backup process. If you have selected a backup option, and saved it as a backup job as described above, you can run this job automatically using the batch file as follows: (this file can be downloaded here)

ntbackup backup "@C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\backup.bks"

/f "D:\backup.bkf" /v:yes /L:n /m normal

This command would run the backup job "backup.bks" stored in the "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data" folder. /f "D:\backup.bkf" saves the backup file as backup.bkf on the D: drive (you can specify a different path/filename here), /v:yes specifies that the files are verified after backup, /L:n means no log file is to be recorded for the operation, and /m normal specifies a normal backup type, as opposed to differential or incremental.

More information on the use of the various switches and commands can be found in the help menu of the backup programme.