Backup in Win11

The attached batch script can perform Incremental backup which will create full backup and copies the new files and changed files.

I tried to restore a backup today - damn thing does not do it claiming some sort of fault and any date.

To answer your question, Elbmek, the answer would be "NO".
You will need "Switches" to tell XCOPY just how you want it to run. *
* You might want to get a print out of all the switches available in XCOPY.

I do my own Data backups, weekly, or more often, using XCOPY, in a DOS Batch File, and sending the files to various Flash Drives, external HD's, etc.
Here is just one example of my Data Backup, using XCOPY. (my Date files are NEVER on my C: drive, but on a separate SSD, or partition.)

Rem: Backup My Documents Folder to external HD.

XCOPY /D /S /C /I /H /R /K /Y /J "D:\My Docs\*.*" "E:\Backup Folders\Documents\"
XCOPY /D /S /C /I /H /R /K /Y /J "D:\My Pictures\*.*" "E:\Backup Folders\My Pictures\"
XCOPY /D /S /C /I /H /R /K /Y /J "D:\Misc\*.*" "E:\Backup Folders\Misc\"
XCOPY /D /S /C /I /H /R /K /Y /J "D:\Graphics\*.*" "E:\Backup Folders\Graphics\"
XCOPY /D /S /C /I /H /R /K /Y /J "D:\Updates Etc\*.*" "E:\Backup Folders\Updates Etc\"
Echo: My Data files copy is complete.
Pause Press any key to continue

I have customized this batch file, to send my backups to different Flash Drives, external drives, etc.
In the above case, my data files are located on the D: drive, and never on C:.
Also, in this case, drive E: is my External, 1TB hard drive, permanently mounted in my Desktop Case.

XCOPY is old, but still runs in Windows just like any other program, and still does one heck of a GOOD Job.
I like to keep my data files separated, , , even the Backup batch files have their own Folder, called, "Updates Ect".

I hope you can put this information to good use.
Cheers Mate!
TM

I use Robocopy rather than Xcopy but my batch file look very similar to the one above:

I will be most grateful for confirmation as to whether the robocopy command to effect a differential backup from external drive E:\ to external drive. F:\ in a Win11, Office 21 Pro, environment?
robocopy e:\info f:\backupinfo /e /h /zb /xo /r:5 /w:5 /y /log f:\robolog\backup
All advice gratefully received Dennis B Toorak Vic Australia

ozdennisb said:

I will be most grateful for confirmation as to whether the robocopy command to effect a differential backup from external drive E:\ to external drive. F:\ in a Win11, Office 21 Pro, environment?
robocopy e:\info f:\backupinfo /e /h /zb /xo /r:5 /w:5 /y /log f:\robolog\backup
All advice gratefully received Dennis B Toorak Vic Australia

Click to expand...

I'm not an expert with Robocopy. A friend suggested I try it. I played around with it and found the above switches and batch file did what I wanted ie back up various folders from my laptop to an external drive. When I run it, just the new or modified files are transferred. Been using it for a couple of years now. This is probably not the most elegant way of using Robocopy, so would welcome any suggestions for improvement if you find any.
As an aside, I have thought about doing this in Powershell - but without success.

I've been using RichCopy64 v4.0.217.0 for many years (discontinued in 2010) as it has worked on 7, 10 and Win11.
Mostly use CLI for backups... here's my custom script - good old .BAT file (could also be .CMD) that backs up my VM's, then the rest of my 3 data drives to my large multi-TB "I" drive. Note that each drive has it's own top level folder for easy recovery and manual browsing.
NOTE: This only copies newer files, it does not MIRROR a drive.
Source drives are SSD, target is HDD.

S0C9 said:

I've been using RichCopy64 v4.0.217.0 for many years (discontinued in 2010) as it has worked on 7, 10 and Win11.
Mostly use CLI for backups... here's my custom script - good old .BAT file (could also be .CMD) that backs up my VM's, then the rest of my 3 data drives to my large multi-TB "I" drive. Note that each drive has it's own top level folder for easy recovery and manual browsing.
NOTE: This only copies newer files, it does not MIRROR a drive.
Source drives are SSD, target is HDD.

Batch:

--@ECHO OFF
:: Batch script example for Microsoft RichCopy 4.x
:: Ref: http://blogs.technet.com/b/ken/archive/2009/04/29/multi-threaded-file-copy-richcopy.aspx#3372805
:: Save as richcopyfolder.bat and go to sleep.
SET LOGPATH=C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Documents\Richcopy\CopyLog.log
SET STATS=C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Documents\Richcopy\CopyStats.log
ECHO "C:\Program Files (x86)\RichCopy 4.0\RichCopy64.exe" - LOGS to %logpath% , STATS to %STATS% >>%LOGPATH%

ECHO E:\VM to I:\E_DRIVE_BKUP\VM run initiated on %DATE% at %TIME% >> %LOGPATH%
CALL:RICHCOPYFOLDERS_2 E:\VM    "I:\E_DRIVE_BKUP\VM"
ECHO D: to I:\D_DRIVE_BKUP Backup run initiated on %DATE% at %TIME% >> %LOGPATH%
CALL:RICHCOPYFOLDERS D:\    "I:\D_DRIVE_BKUP"
ECHO E: to I:\E_DRIVE_BKUP run initiated on %DATE% at %TIME% >> %LOGPATH%
CALL:RICHCOPYFOLDERS E:\    "I:\E_DRIVE_BKUP"
ECHO G: to I:\G_DRIVE_BKUP run initiated on %DATE% at %TIME% >> %LOGPATH%
CALL:RICHCOPYFOLDERS G:\    "I:\G_DRIVE_BKUP"
GOTO :END

:RICHCOPYFOLDERS
:: NORMAL FILE copy
SET src=%1
SET dst=%2
:: Set directories to EXCLUDE. Exclude String + dir's w/ spaces must be inside quotes.. note double-quotes on end !!
SET EXCL=/FED "*.bin,System Volume Information" /FEF "*.db,*.tmp,*.info,*.vdi"
SET opt=%EXCL% /NE /CNF /NC /SZ /TS 5 /TD 35 /FC 1024 /QP %STATS% /QA /USC /USS /USD /UET /UC

SET parms=%opt% %src% %dst%
ECHO "C:\Program Files (x86)\RichCopy 4.0\RichCopy64.exe" %parms% >>%LOGPATH%
"C:\Program Files (x86)\RichCopy 4.0\RichCopy64.exe" %parms%
EXIT /B
GOTO :END

:RICHCOPYFOLDERS_2
:: Large FILE copy
SET src=%1
SET dst=%2
SET EXCL=/FEF "*.db,*.tmp,*.info" /FED "$RECYCLE.BIN, System Volume Information"
SET opt=%EXCL% /FSD /NC /SZ /TD 5 /TP 30 /QN /QP %STATS% /UE /UPC /UPS /UFC /UCS /USC /USS /USD /UPR /UET
SET parms=%opt% %src% %dst%
ECHO "C:\Program Files (x86)\RichCopy 4.0\RichCopy64.exe" %parms% >>%LOGPATH%
"C:\Program Files (x86)\RichCopy 4.0\RichCopy64.exe" %parms%
EXIT /B
GOTO :END

:END
ECHO SSD Drives (D:,E:,G:) to I: Backup run TERMINATED on %DATE% at %TIME% >> %LOGPATH%
ECHO ============================================== >> %LOGPATH%
:EOF

Click to expand...

I used Richcopy but straight from the GUI. A friend told me about Robocopy which is built into Windows (so presumably kept up to date). I started to experiment with that, evolved my batch file, and stayed with it.

Thankyou both SOC9 and DennisG for your kindness and preparedness to assist. l am looking at regularly using either robocopy (preferred) or xcopy for differential copy and merely want to be sure of not losing data. It seems to my ill informed newbie position that richcopy is not likely to help. Thanks anyway and next time you are in Melbourne Aus, please call in for coffee. My wife is a great biscuit maker
Dennis Bails

ozdennisb said:

Thankyou both SOC9 and DennisG for your kindness and preparedness to assist. l am looking at regularly using either robocopy (preferred) or xcopy for differential copy and merely want to be sure of not losing data. It seems to my ill informed newbie position that richcopy is not likely to help. Thanks anyway and next time you are in Melbourne Aus, please call in for coffee. My wife is a great biscuit maker
Dennis Bails

Click to expand...

We were last in Melbourne about 5 years ago for the tennis and saw Federer beat Nadal in the Rod Laver Arena to take the Open. What an experience. We really enjoyed our time there, so may well take you up on your offer some day. My wife is a great biscuit eater !!