JSI Tip 3983. How do I schedule a backup on a Windows 2000 computer?

In tip 2265 » How do I perform an NTBackup in Windows 2000, without having to manually manage the media?, I described the process of modifing a scheduled backup.

To create the initial backup, use Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q300960, which contains:

IN THIS TASK

• SUMMARY

How to Schedule a Backup Job

SUMMARY

This step-by-step article describes how to schedule a backup job on your Windows 2000-based computer.

When you schedule a backup job, you can have an unattended backup job occur at a later time when users are not working and files are closed. You can also schedule backup jobs to occur at regular intervals. Windows 2000 integrates the Backup Wizard with the Task Scheduler service to help you to schedule backup jobs.

back to the top

How to Schedule a Backup Job

NOTE : You must have the Task Scheduler service running before you can schedule a backup. If the Task Scheduler service is already running, skip to step 1. If the Task Scheduler service is not already running, type net start schedule at a command prompt, and then press ENTER. After you receive a message that indicates the Task Scheduler service was started successfully, continue to step 1.

1. Log on as an administrator.



2. Click Start , point to Programs , point to Accessories , point to System Tools , and then click Backup .



3. On the Welcome tab, click Backup Wizard .



4. Click Next to begin to create the backup job. You are then prompted to choose what you want to back up by selecting one of the following options:

• Backup Up Everything On My Computer Backs up all files on the computer on which you are running Backup Wizard, except those files that Backup Wizard excludes by default (such as certain power management files).



• Back Up Selected Files, Drives, Or Network Data Backs up selected files and folders. This includes files and folders on the computer where you run Backup Wizard and any shared files or folders on the network. When you click this option, the Backup Wizard provides a hierarchical view of the computer and the network (through the My Network Places tool).



• Only Back Up The System State Data Backs up important system components, such as the registry and the boot files for the computer on which you are running Backup Wizard.

Click Back Up Selected Files, Drives, Or Network Data , and then click Next to continue. When you are prompted to select the local and network drive, folder, or file you want to back up, expand the My Computer branch, and then select the drive, folder or file that you want to back up.

Click Next to continue. When you are prompted to select the destination for the data you will back up, type c:\backup.bkf in the Backup Media Or File Name box, and then click Next. Note that if you do not have a tape drive that is connected to your computer, File is the only backup media type that is available in the Backup Media Or File Name box.

Click Advanced to specify additional backup options. When you are prompted to select a backup type for this backup job, click Normal in the Select The Type Of Backup Operation To Perform box, and then click Next . When you are prompted to specify whether or not to verify the backed up data after the backup job finishes, click to select the Verify Data After Backup check box, and then click Next .

When you are prompted to specify whether to append this backup job to existing media or overwrite existing backup data on the destination media, click the Replace The Data On The Media With This Backup option.

Make sure that the Allow Only The Owner And The Administrator Access To The Backup Data And To Any Backups Appended To This Media check box is not selected, and then click Next . When you are prompted to provide a label for the backup job and a label for the backup media, type Backup file for computer name in the Media Label box, and then click Next .

When you are prompted to choose whether to run the backup job now or schedule this backup job, click Later . The Set Account Information dialog box appears, and prompts you to provide the password for the administrator account. Note that if the Task Scheduler service is not set to start automatically, you may first be asked whether you want to start Task Scheduler. If this occurs, click Yes , and then the Set Account Information dialog box appears.

Because the Task Scheduler service automatically runs programs within the security context of a valid user for the computer or domain, you are prompted for the name and password with which the scheduled backup job will run. For scheduled backup jobs, you should supply a user account that is a member of the Backup Operators group with permission to gain access to all of the folders and files to be backed up. The instructions in this article use the administrator account to run the scheduled backup job.

Make sure that computer name \Administrator appears in the Run As box, and then type the correct password in the Password box and the Confirm Password box. Click OK .

In the Job Name box, type computer name Backup , and then click Set Schedule . Windows Backup displays the Schedule Job dialog box, and prompts you to select the start time and schedule options for the backup job.

In the Schedule Job dialog box, you can set the date, time, and number of occurrences for the backup job to repeat, such as every Friday at 10:00 P.M. You can also display all of the scheduled tasks for the computer by clicking to select the Show Multiple Schedules check box. This helps to prevent you from scheduling multiple tasks on the same computer at the same time.

In the Schedule Task box, click Daily , type 9:00 P.M. (or a time that is more convenient for your environment) in the Start Time box, and then click OK .

Click Next to continue. The Backup Wizard displays the Completing The Backup Wizard page that displays the options and settings that you selected for the backup job. Click Finish to start the backup job. The Backup window remains displayed with the Welcome tab active. Close the Backup window.

After you schedule the backup job and complete the Backup Wizard, Windows Backup places the backup job on the calendar on the Schedule Job tab in Windows Backup. The backup job automatically starts at the time that you specified.

back to the top