Backup and Restore Instructions

Remote Data Backups is easy use for performing online data backups and recoveries.

Backups

1. Click the Backup View tab. You will see the Files needing backup screen.
   • If you chose automatic backup or entire system backup in the installation, many files will have been automatically selected for backup.
   • You can sort these files by Status, Name, Type, Directory, Size or Modified time by clicking on the button at the top of any column.

2. Click Explore to pick files to select which files you want to back up.
   1. Files or folders that will be backed up are marked with a green check mark.
   2. Files or folders that will not be backed up are marked with a red X.
   3. Documents with blue bottoms need to be backed up.
   4. Folders with blue bottoms have contents that need to be backed up.
3. To change a file, click on the green check mark or red X to see the Backup Rule Wizard for files.
   • Click OK to switch the file to an X or check mark.
4. To change a folder, click on the green check mark or red X to see the Backup Rule Wizard for folders.
   • Select whether to backup no files or all files in the folder and click OK.
5. For fine-tuned backups, click the Advanced button in the Backup Rule Wizard or select Advanced Backup Rules from the Options menu.
   1. The File Types tab lets you include or exclude files based on their extension. Select a file type and click the Include or Exclude button to add a rule about that file type.
   2. The Folders tab allows you to add a rule for a folder. You can also see any rules that the folder is inheriting from higher directories.
   3. The Drives tab allows you to exclude drives from the backup.
   4. The Application and System tab shows cache files that do not normally need to be backed up. (This option is only available if you are performing a system backup.) To assure that one of these files is backed up, click on an X to remove it and click OK.
   5. The File Selection tab allows you to change between a manual backup and a full system backup. If you change to a full system backup, you will lose your manual backup rules. If you change to a manual backup, you will not be able to perform Windows Easy System Restore.
6. You can click the Backup Now button to start the backup, or let the backup run at the scheduled dates and times.
   1. It is a good idea to start your first backup manually to be sure it actually starts.
   2. Also, as the first backup can be very large, you may want to let it run overnight.

Restoring

1. Click the Retrieve View tab. You will see the Explore this account's files screen.
   1. If you are restoring files from another account, click Explore another account's files to see the Access another account's files screen.
      If you have been given access to other accounts, click the Update Account List button to get a list of the other accounts.
      Select the account to restore and click OK.
   2. If you are restoring files from a CD, click Explore Files on CD to see the Choose the location of the CD screen.
      Select the location of the drive with the CD containing your backup (e.g. the D:\ drive) and click OK.
2. Click in the box next to the files and folders you want to retrieve.
   A green check mark will appear in the box next to selected files.
   Folders with selected files will have blue bottoms.
3. If you want to retrieve an entire drive (e.g. C:), you should instead use Easy System Restore, which will restore the Windows registry and other system settings.
4. Retrieve View - Files selected for retrieval shows you which files will be retrieved.
   • You can sort them by Status, Name, Type, Directory, Size or Modified date by clicking on the appropriate button at the top of the column.
5. To change which files you see, click the Retrieve Options button.
   1. Choose to see only the most recent versions of all files, or all versions of all files.
   2. Choose to show only data files, or both data and executable (program) files.
   3. When you are ready to retrieve, click the Retrieve Now button.
6. You will see the Retrieve Preferences dialog box.
   1. Decide whether you need to restore files to their original locations or to another directory.
   2. If you restore files to another directory, it is a good idea to use the original directory structure. "Retrieve original directory structure" should be checked.
   3. Click OK.
7. When the retrieval is finished, you will see a Retrieve completed message which shows number of files retrieved and their sizes.

Windows Easy System Restore

Use Windows Easy System Restore to restore your system to a previous configuration. (This feature is only available with the 10 GB and 30 GB packages.)

1. Click the Easy System Restore tab or select Easy System Restore from the Operations menu.
2. You will see the Easy System Restore screen.
   • Click Start Easy System Restore Wizard.
3. You will see the Easy System Restore Wizard screen.
   1. If you have not backed up in the last 12 hours, click Backup Now.
   2. Click Next.
4. You will see the second Easy System Restore Wizard screen.
   1. By default, "I want to Easy System Restore my system using my dial-up, network or Internet connection" is selected.
   2. Click Next.
5. You will see the third Easy System Restore Wizard screen.
   1. Select the last backup date when your Windows system was working correctly.
   2. Click Next.
6. You will see the fourth Easy System Restore Wizard screen.
   1. Select whether to roll back only operating system and application files, or to include data files as well.
      The first option is useful when your data is fine but your operating system is having problems.
   2. Click Next.
7. You will see the last Easy System Restore Wizard screen.
   1. Verify that the choices you have made are correct.
   2. Close any open programs.
   3. Click Finish.
8. Your system will be restored to its previous state.

Log Files

The log files display information about which files were backed up at what times. (By contrast, Retrieve View shows dates when files were last modified.) The log files are useful for checking for open files, which cannot be backed up because they are in use by another program.

1. Click the Log tab or choose Log from the Options menu to see the Log screen.
2. Each line shows one backup, including start and end time and description. By default, the most recent backup is the last one.
3. Double-click any line to see the Log Details for that backup.
   1. Scroll down to see all the files that were backed up.
      At the bottom is a summary of files backed up and backup sizes (total, optimized and compressed).
      Open files are also listed near the bottom. If you have open files that are not backed up, you can close them (e.g. by rebooting your computer or closing the programs that opened them) and run another backup.
   2. To save this information to a text file to view it separately, click Export and specify a file location.
   3. To save only part of the information, select it with the mouse and press Ctrl-C to copy it. You can then paste it into a text editor or word processor.

Menus

1. When you start Remote Data Backups you will see the Home screen. This screen includes information such as the the customer's name, company and account number, the last and next backup date and time, and contact information for technical support.
2. The Operations Menu allows you to backup now, retrieve now, Easy System Restore now, find a file, or exit Remote Data Backups.
   1. The Find File menu item helps you find a file on your hard disk.
   2. Type the file name and click Find Prev to search upward or Find Next to search downward.
   3. When you are finished searching, click the Close button to close the window.
3. The Go Menu switches between options on the Home, Backup View, Restore View, Easy System Restore Wizard and Log screens. Clicking one of the tabs at the top of the screen and selecting an option in the left pane will do the same thing.
4. Use the Options Menu to access program preferences and settings. See Options and Preferences below.
5. The Help Menu provides Windows help.
   1. Help provides context-sensitive help for each screen. Pressing the F1 key is a shortcut.
   2. Contents and Index lists help topics. Double-click a topic to see information on that topic.
   3. About displays your account number and information on how to contact us for technical support.

Options and Preferences

1. Backup Schedule
   1. Use the Schedule Settings - Schedule screen to select the days and times for backup, choose whether to automatically back up when connecting to the network, and whether to prompt for automatic backup.
   2. Use the Schedule Settings - Set Backup Account screen to select a computer account which will be used to back up. By default, the system account is used because it has access to all files on the system.
2. Connections
   1. Use the Connection Settings - Connection screen to configure a dial-up connection or switch to a direct connection.
   2. Use the Connection Settings - Firewall screen to configure firewall parameters like IP and TCP port, if necessary.
3. User Settings - Name and Address - Use this screen to keep your contact information updated. Be sure to include the name of the person or business who referred you to our service in the Affiliate Partner field.
4. Security and Other Settings - Use this screen to set the number of minutes to wait before retrying backup and restore if an error occurs.
   1. Use the Set Account Password screen to add a password to your account for additional security, or to remove the password.
   2. Use the View Data Encryption Key screen to see your encryption key and why it is important.
5. File Sharing Permissions
   1. The Grant/Remove access to my files screen allows you to allow or disallow others to access your backups.
   2. Click the Add button to get to the Grant Access screen. Enter the account number to grant access to. Specify a directory or all files. You may also enter a description and comment.