First steps

When starting the program for the first time after installation, it will check whether Personal Backup has already been used on the computer. If so, all settings and tasks from there will be transferred. Then the Control panel of the program will open and present the user's backup tasks and associated time schedules ⇒ more information.
On updating from version 5, some specifics are to be considered.

If Personal Backup has just been installed for the first time, the user will be asked if he wants to customize the program preferences, for example whether the files should be backed up as 1:1 copy or in compressed form by default. After that he will be prompted to create a first new backup task (see below).

A backup task contains information about what to be backed up and how and where the backed-up data shall be stored. The settings made are saved in a file with the extension buj. A backup configured in this way can then be started started manually at any time to perform a data backup. The task files are located in the subdirectory PersBackup in the Documents folder of the current user (see also).
In addition, you can specify time schedules for automatic data backups. These settings are made separately from the backup tasks so that it is possible to use more than one time schedule for the same backup, for example at a specified time of day and on logoff.
Another option for starting backups automatically is to use Windows Task Schedules. The advantage of this method is that backups can be started even without user login (e.g. on a server).

Creating a new backup task

After clicking on the New button in the control center (see figure above), a window opens in which you can select whether the task should be configured using the wizard (recommended for less experienced users) or individually by hand.

The wizard will lead you through the basic settings. The default value for the backup mode is Update which will ensure that only changed or previously non-existent files will be backed up.

Backup destination

You have the following choices for the backup destination: on a local drive or Windows network or on an FTP server:

• If the destination is on a local hard disk, e.g. an external drive connected via USB, or if a network share is to be used, the destination directory can be directly selected by clicking the large button. Later, the files to be backed up will be copied to this location. Using a subdirectory (e.g. Backup) is recommended for security reasons. Clicking the button with the drive icon will replace the drive letter of the destination directory by the volume name. This is recommended above all with external drives (e.g. USB), because the Windows system does not always assign the same the same drive letter when connecting. In addition, you can insert placeholders for the date and/or time of backup into the directory name by clicking the leftmost button.
  
  
• If a destination on an FTP server is to be used, click the button FTP settings to open a dialog to which you can enter the required details for the FTP connection.
  
  

The selection is made directory by directory which means that all files of each selected directories including their subdirectories will be backed up. The selection can be refined later at any time by specifying filters for subdirectories, file names and file types. For quick selection the following buttons are provided:
All basic user directories (Documents, Application Data, Downloads, etc.) are already preselected and can be added to the list simply by clicking the button. If desired, the user can adjust this selection beforehand to suit his needs.
Some applications (for example Starmoney) save their data in the directory Program Data. By clicking the button, the desired subdirectory can be selected and added to the list.
By clicking this button, any other directory can be selected for backup.

Backup method

Then select how the files are to be stored in the destination directory: as single files using a directory structure true to original or as zip archives. On backing up to single files the user can select if files should be copied with or without compression.
In addition you can specify if the files should be verified and/or encrypted during backup. The password to be used for the optional encryption is then requested and saved with the task.

Backup time

Finally, you can specify whether you want to start the new backup automatically under a selection of conditions (more ..).

Click the Done button to store and complete the new task. The wizard will be closed and the task edit window be displayed for a final check. If there are no special requirements for the backup, all other settings, such as security copies or e-mail dispatch, can be left at their default values. After closing the window, the new backup task will be added at the beginning of the task list in the Control Panel. To start the new backup, just click the Start backup button.