BACKING UP YOUR PC

Where do you save files?

	My Documents
	Files
	Photos
	Downloads
	Email Outlook Express

Consider moving them to C:\

	C:\Docs
	C:\Photos
	Move My Documents and Outlook Express

Use the Windows Backup Utility

XCOPY - Copies files and directory trees.

XCOPY source [destination] [/A | /M] [/D]] [/P] [/S [/E]] [/W] [/C] [/I] [/Q] [/F] [/L] [/H] [/R] [/T] [/U] [/K] [/N]

source	Specifies the file(s) to copy.
destination	Specifies the location and/or name of new files.
/A	Copies files with the archive attribute set, doesn't change the attribute.
/M	Copies files with the archive attribute set, turns off the archive attribute.
/D:date	Copies files changed on or after the specified date. If no date is given, copies only those files whose source time is newer than the destination time.
/P	Prompts you before creating each destination file.
/S	Copies directories and sub directories except empty ones.
/E	Copies directories and sub directories, including empty ones. Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T.
/W	Prompts you to press a key before copying.
/C	Continues copying even if errors occur.
/I	If destination does not exist and copying more than one file, assumes that destination must be a directory.
/Q	Does not display file names while copying.
/F	Displays full source and destination file names while copying.
/L	Displays files that would be copied.
/H	Copies hidden and system files also.
/R	Overwrites read-only files.
/T	Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not include empty directories or sub directories. /T /E includes empty directories and sub directories.
/U	Updates the files that already exist in destination.
/K	Copies attributes. Normal xcopy will reset read-only attributes.
/Y	Overwrites existing files without prompting.
/-Y	Prompts you before overwriting existing files.
/N	Copy using the generated short names.

EXAMPLES

Create c:\backup

xcopy c:\Docs\*.* c:\backup /S

xcopy c:\Docs\*.* d:\Docs /C/I/S/M/D:10-22-2005

========= MORE COMPLEX EXAMPLE =====================
net use z: \\Compaq\c password deleted
setlocal
call last_7588_bud.cmd
@echo last back up was %bud%
pause
xcopy c:\1\*.* z:\1 /c/i/s/d:%bud%
xcopy c:\Docs\*.* z:\Docs /c/i/s/d:%bud%
xcopy c:\Files\*.* z:\Files /c/i/s/d:%bud%
xcopy c:\Bin\*.* z:\Bin /c/i/s/d:%bud%
xcopy c:\web\*.* z:\web_updates /c/i/s/d:%bud%
xcopy c:\"Documents and Settings"\a\favorites\*.* z:\windows\favorites /c/i/s/d:%bud%
echo set bud=%date:~4,2%-%date:~7,2%-%date:~10,4%>last_7588_bud.cmd
endlocal
pause
close
exit

EXAMPLE OF A BATCH FILE

.
.
BACKUP OPTIONS
c = compaq 7588
d = dell4100
z = zip
a = archive
q = quit
s = re-start
Pick backup option:

:
@echo off
cls
:start
echo .
echo .
echo BACKUP OPTIONS
echo c = compaq 7588
echo d = dell4100
echo z = zip
echo a = archive
echo q = quit
echo s = re-start
set /p choice="Pick backup option: "
echo you choose %choice%
if "%choice%"=="c" goto compaq7588
if "%choice%"=="d" goto dell4100
if "%choice%"=="z" goto zipdrive
if "%choice%"=="a" goto archive
if "%choice%"=="q" goto end
@echo
@echo
!! NOT A VALID CHOICE - TRY AGAIN !!
@echo
goto start
pause
:
:compaq7588
@echo
echo you are at compaq7588
start /shared bak_to_compaq7588.bat
pause
goto start
:
:dell4100
@echo
echo you are at dell4100
start /shared bak_to_dell4100.bat
pause
goto start
:
:zipdrive
@echo
echo you are at zipdrive
start /shared bak_to_zipdrive.bat
echo you are back to ALL
pause
goto start
:
:archive
@echo
echo you are at archive
bak_to_archive.bat
start /shared
pause
goto start
:
:end
end

LINK TO FILE