Copyright: © Aquarius IS Consultancy Limited 1999-2000
Citation: © Aquarius IS Consultancy Limited 1999-2000


AIS BACKUP: Contents
 AIS BACKUP: Help Contents

If this page is being displayed the AISBACKUP.CNT file is not present in the program directory.

For an overview of AIS Backup, click here.


 AIS BACKUP: Program Description

AIS Backup is a backup program designed to provide backups of your PC data to the following media:

•	CD-R

•	CD-RW

•	Local Hard Drives

•	Networked Hard Drives

Tape drives are not supported.

Backups to CD are done via the Packet Writing interface to your CD-R / CD-RW drive, see your CD drive documentation

AIS Backup is script based, each script contains a list of files and folders to be backed up and the media to which the backup is to be made.

Once a script has been created and loaded AIS Backup examines your disk to determine which files need to be backed up. Once this process is complete, simply click Backup to start the Backup process.

Only files that have changed since the last backup are added, this considerably reduces the time needed to maintain a complete system backup (after the initial backup that is).

Each time a backup is run a new session is created. When files are added to the backup database any previous versions remain on the backup. Each version of a backed up file is held in it’s own session.

Individual sessions may be selected during a Restore process, this enables you to restore all files that existed on a particular date, and optionally to remove the files (from the restored folders) that did not exist on that date.

The contents of each backup remain online to ease the process of restoring files. Simply select the file, or files that you want to restore, select the destination of the files and then click restore. If the contents of the file(s) you wish to restore are offline will be prompted to load the appropriate media (CD or Network Drive) during the restore process.

The actual backup database is a series of standard zip format files, and can therefore be read by any other zip program you may own.

The program options are selected from the Main Form.


AIS BACKUP: Options
 AIS BACKUP: Setting the Options.

How to get to this option:

From the AIS Backup Screen, click Option.

Description:

The first time AIS Backup is run you will be required to specify the location of the AIS Backup database and temporary files.

The options may also be changed by selecting Options on the main AIS Backup screen.

Standard Save dialogue boxes are displayed for the following settings by clicking the [image] button.

Database Location

This specifies the default folder for each script’s backup contents file Restore Files Database. The default folder is \BackupDB under the AIS Backup program folder.

Temporary location for Restored Files

This specifies the temporary folder to hold files that cannot immediately be restored, because for example, the file(s) may be in use. The directory name should be a maximum of 8 characters to facilitate easy access from a DOS session, if required.

Temporary Workfiles

This specifies the default folder for any work files created by AIS Backup. The default folder is \AIS under your standard Windows Temporary folder.

CD Overspill Files

This specifies the folder for any backup files that may cause the CD to overflow. The default folder is \Data under the AIS Backup program folder.

Default Backup File Extension

This specifies the default extension of the zip files created by AIS Backup, this should normally be zip unless there is a conflict with another Zip program on you system.

For Hard Drive Backups, Default Root Location of Backup Files

Specifies the default root location for the backup database. When new scripts are then created, the location of the backup database will default to [Backup Root Folder]\Script Name.

CD RW Drive

Specifies the drive letter of your CD-R or CD-RW drive. If you do not possess a CD-R or CD-RW drive select None.

CD RW Drive

The ‘Supports CD-RW or CD-R Only’  Selection should also be made as appropriate.

Auto Eject CDs when reading them.

Select this option to enable AIS Backup to auto eject CDs when reading them. If a CD is being written to when it is ejected it may become unusable.

CD authoring software may write to a CD the first time a CD is used with it. If you are in the process of changing your CD authoring software disable the Eject CD option until all CDs have been used with you new software.

Load Cue Cards at start-up.

Select this option to display cue cards when AISBackup starts.

Cue cards give step by step instructions for most of the functions within AISBackup.

The Skin Button

This button is used to change the appearance of the AIS Backup forms.

The Register Trial Button

This button displays the initial trial registration form and may be selected if the original registration form was not e-mailed correctly.

Once the options have been set click OK to apply them or Cancel to discard them.


 AIS BACKUP: Main Screen

For an overview of AIS Backup, click here.

Options:

•	Creating a new Backup script.

•	Using an existing script to run a Backup.

•	Restoring a file or files.

•	Altering the list of files and folders to be backed up.

•	Changing and repairing a backup script.

•	Changing AIS backup options.

•	Ending AIS Backup.

Creating a Backup script

Before a backup of your PC data can be run a script must be created. The script contains the following details:

•	A list of files and folders that you want backed up.

•	Optionally, a list of files and folders that should not be backed up.

•	The location of the backup files.

•	A link to the database holding the contents of the backup.

To create a script click: New Script.

Once a script has been created you may run the backup, see below.

Run a Backup

The following actions should be taken to run a backup:

•	Select a script for which the backup is to be run.

•	Load the script by clicking Load Script.

•	Wait for AIS Backup to examine your system to determine which files should be backed up.

•	Click Backup, then confirm this action by clicking Yes.

If the backup is to be made to CD the following actions may be required:

•	If the last CD used is not in the drive you will be prompted to load the CD. If you do not want to re-use the last CD you may load another.

•	When a CD is full you will be prompted to load a uniquely labelled CD. You may prepare a new, blank, CD at this stage using your CD labelling program, e.g. Adaptec Direct CD or CeQuadrat Packet CD.

Once a CD has been prepared click OK.

Restoring Files

To restore a file or series of files:

•	Select an existing script form which you want to restore a file.

•	Click Load Script to load the script.

•	Wait for the script to load and then click Restore, you do not need to wait for AIS Backup to finish examining your system for the backup process.

•	Select the file or files that you want to restore.

•	Optionally, you may use Find to look for a file on your backup.

•	Optionally, you may choose only to view files from an individual backup session, the default is all sessions.

•	Once the files have been selected click Next.

•	The next screen displays the options for duplicate files. Select the appropriate option.

•	Next select the destination of the files, by default this is the location of the files when the files were initially backed up, see also Changing and repairing a Backup script.

•	Acknowledge the ‘About to Restore’ prompt.

During the restore process the following messages may be displayed:

Ending AIS Backup

To end AIS Backup either click Exit or the standard close window button. If AIS backup cannot be closed, for example you have clicked the standard close window button while a backup or restore is in progress you will be asked if you want to abort the current process.


 AIS BACKUP: About Screen

How to get to this option:

From the AIS Backup Screen, click the ? button then select About.

Description:

The About screen shows the version number, registration number, database location and system resource usage.

Options

•	Click Close to close the form.


 AIS BACKUP: Bug Reporting

How to get to this option:

From the AIS Backup Screen, click the ? button then select Bug Report.

Description:

The bug report screen is very similar to the About screen, but here the entries are added to a box where you may add information yourself.

Options

•	Enter the bug description

•	Click Send to place the bug report in your e-mail out tray

•	Click Cancel to abort.


 AIS BACKUP: Find File

How to get to this option:

From the Choose Files To Restore Screen, click Find.

Description:

The Find Files option is invoked from the Choose Files To Restore form. Here you may enter a string of characters that are included in the files you are looking for.

The found files are added to a Select Files window. From this window select the files that you actually want to restore. When you click OK these files will be transferred to the Choose Files To Restore Select Files Window.

The filename does not  support pattern matching, see examples below.

Options

•	Enter the string of characters included in the filenames you are looking for, if you want to specify the filename extension precede the characters with the full stop character.

•	Click Search

•	Using the Select Files Window select the files you really want to restore from the search results.

•	Click OK to transfer this list to the Choose Files To Restore form.

•	Click Cancel to abort.

Example

To find a file called MYPICTURE.BMP.

•	Type MYPICTURE.BMP in the Search Text box.

•	Click Search.

•	Using the Select Files Window find and select the version of MYPICTURE.BMP you want to restore.

•	Click OK.


 AIS BACKUP: Load Disc

How to get to this option:

This screen is shown automatically when required..

Description:

The load disc form is displayed when a CD needs to be loaded or changed.

If you are running a Backup an additional button labelled Use Loaded CD is displayed.

AIS Backup will attempt to auto detect loaded CDs, if not click OK.

Options

•	Click OK to proceed.

•	Click Abort to abort the current operation

•	Click Use Loaded CD to use the CD currently loaded in your CD drive.

If you are running a Restore operation AIS Backup will automatically eject the current CD. You may disable this option from the Options screen.


AIS BACKUP: Manage Scripts
 AIS BACKUP: Manage Script

How to get to this option:

From the AIS Backup Screen, click Manage Script.

Description:

Manage Script is used to run maintenance on the currently loaded script.

Options

•	Delete the Script and associated files.

•	Validate the contents of the Script and Restore Files Database.

•	Import a Restore Files Database.

•	Move Folders from one drive to another.

•	Change the Backup Compression Level.

•	Change a session based backup to a Generation Number based backup, note you cannot change a generation number based backup to a session based backup.

•	Change the number of sessions or generations to retain, as appropriate.

Delete a Script.

Choose this option to delete a Backup Script and Restore Files Database.

Validate the Script and Restore Files Database

Use this option to validate the contents of a backup against the files actually held on the CD or other backup media. This option is useful to remove files from a backup set that are on a damaged CD.

For further details click here.

Import a Restore Files Database.

When a Backup is finishing the Restore Files Database is copied to the backup media. If the live copy of a backup script becomes corrupt or is accidentally deleted you may use this option to restore the backup copy.

Moving Folders from one drive to another.

This option moves files from one drive to another within the Restore Files Database. Amongst the reasons why you may want to do this are:

•	You have inserted another disc partition before the partition that has been backed up, and therefore the drive letter has changed.

•	During a Validation process one or more files have being orphaned (denoted by a drive letter of ?). You may want to re-locate these files to their correct folder.

•	You have moved a directory structure from one drive to another on your PC.

If files have been relocated on your discs remember to use the Add/Remove Files  option to reflect this change in your backup script.

Change Compression Level

Use this option to change the compression level. The higher the compression level the slower the backup will be. Selecting a compression level of none will also increase the backup time, because more data has to be transferred to the backup media.

It is probably best to leave the compression level set to high.

Changing the type of Backup.

The type of backup can be changed from a Session based backup to a Generation number based backup .

A backup cannot be changed back from a Generation number based backup to a Session based backup.

The number of Sessions or File Generations to be retained may also be selected.


 AIS BACKUP: Restoring Files

How to get to this option:

From the AIS Backup Screen, click Restore.

Description:

Use the Restore Files option to copy files back from the backup media to your PC.

Select file files to restore using the Select Files Window, for further details click here.

By default files from all Backup Sessions are shown, here you will see every generation of a file that has been backed up. If you select a whole folder for restore, by default the latest version of each file will be selected. You may select an older version if required.

Alternatively you may choose a backup session from the Backup Session selection box. The Select Files Window will only show files that existed when this Backup session was run.

To assist  you in finding files on the backup click the Find button.

Once you have selected the files for restore click Next.

Restore Options

The restore options enable you to select the action to be taken for duplicate files and the destination of the restored files.

The Duplicate File Action options are:

•	Do Not Replace Duplicates.

This option will not overwrite any existing file during the restore process.

•	Always Prompt.

This option displays a list of duplicate files in a Select Files Window. Select every file that you want to overwrite from here.

•	Replace Duplicates.

This option always overwrites duplicate files, even if they are the same.

•	Replace Duplicates with Different Files Only (Older or Newer).

This option overwrites duplicate files which are older or newer than the files being restored.

•	Replace Duplicates with Newer Files Only.

This option replaces files on the PC that are older than the files being restored.

•	Delete all existing files from path prior to restore.

This option attempts to delete all files on the PC that reside in the folders being restored. This option is useful when rolling back an application that may have created new files since the last Backup, where these files may cause a subsequent failure of the application.

This option empties folders, it does not remove them.

Restore Files to:

This option selects the destination of the files being Restored.

Options:

•	Original Path

This option restores the files to the original path that they were backed up from, unless this path has been altered by Manage Files.

•	To Path

This option restores the files to the specified path name. The restored files will maintain their folder structure.

•	To Root

This option is used in conjunction with To Path and is used to restore the files to the root of the specified path.

If this option will cause duplicate filenames to be restored an appropriate message will be given during the restore process.


 AIS BACKUP: Create Script

How to get to this option:

From the AIS Backup Screen, click New Script.

Description:

This option is used to create a new script for AIS Backup. The script contains a list of files and folders to be backed up and the media to which the backup is to be made.

On clicking New Script you will be asked whether the backup should be made to Hard Drive or Network Drive (HD) or a CD-R or CD-RW(CD), please select CD or HD as appropriate.

Options

•	Enter a unique the name for the script. The other fields will take default values.

•	The Backup file field is used to name the destination backup database files, this will default to the location specified in the Options dialogue.

•	Choose whether to maintain a backup activity log.

•	Choose between whether the backup is going to be Session Based or Generation Number based.

Session based backup’s enable you to restore your system back to the same state it was in on a particular date, Generation based backup’s enable you to specify how many versions of each file you want to keep.

With Generation type backups you cannot restore the system back to a specified date because the file may have been removed from the Restore Files Database. The ‘Select Session’ option is not available on the restore files screen when you are using a Generation based backup.

Generation based backup’s are useful when you are automatically backing up files from certain directories throughout the day, you may elect to keep the last 3 versions of a file, whereas if you select ‘Keep the last three sessions’ you may end up with only one version of a particular file.

If the backup is to CD the deleted files are not actually removed from the CD but only from the Restore Files Database. Using the Validate option would recover the ‘deleted’ files from the backup to the orphaned folder.

If the backup is to a local Hard Drive or remote Network Drive old generations are deleted from the Restore Files Database and the actual backup database. Using the Validate option will not recover these deleted files.

•	Compression specifies the compression level for the Backup files, this should normally be left as High to give the best time verses compression ratio.

•	Create Emergency System Backup is used to specify that this is a special ‘Emergency Backup’ script, for further details click here.

•	Open Script is used to open an existing script that is no longer displayed in the list of scripts. This file may be copied from another computer.

•	Import Backup creates a backup script from an existing Restore Files Database. This database may have been created on another computer and is the option used to share backups between PCs.

If you create a script using the Import Backup option it may be worth running a Script Validation to check the validity of the backup.

Once you have completed this form click Next to continue or Cancel to abort.

Selecting Next will display the Select Files form. Note, if you cancel from within the Select Files form the New Script will creation be aborted.


 AIS BACKUP: Select Files For Backup

How to get to this option:

From the AIS Backup Screen, click Add/Remove Files.

Description:

Select File Options

Using the Select Files Window, which is similar to Windows Explorer, choose which folders and / or files you want to include in the backup.

To fine tune your selection, you can also choose to ignore files matching the pattern and file size you choose.

Options.

•	Select the files you want to Backup.

•	De-Select files and foldersthat you do not want to Backup.

•	Optionally enter the names of files that you do not want to Backup.

•	Optionally enter the maximum file size of the above files.

•	Click Cancel to Abort.

•	Click OK to proceed.

Selecting Files.

Choosing files and folders is achieved by clicking the [image] box.

For a detailed explanation of using the Select Files Window click here.

Example 1

AIS Backup performs more efficiently if you choose to back up large a sub folder structure and then choose to ignore individual sub-folders beneath this folder.

Using C:\WINDOWS as an example:

Selecting the C:\Windows folder to back up your operating system is probably a good idea, especially if you also back up the boot files, which are normally found on the root of the C: drive.

Backing up the Temporary files and Temporary Internet files stored further down the C:\WINDOWS tree is probably not a good idea. The Temporary Internet Files take a long time to back up, change every time you log onto the internet and therefore new files are continually being added to each new Backup Session of C:\ WINDOWS. Also these files would more than likely be out of date if they were ever restored.

It is worth Backing up your Internet Cookies.

There are two options:

1.	Expand the C:\WINDOWS tree and individually select all the folders except C:\WINDOWS\TEMP and C:\WINDOWS\TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES and possibly C:\WINDOWS\PROFILES\USERNAME\LOCAL SETTINGS\TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES.

2.	Select the Whole of C:\WINDOWS then search out all the folders you don’t want to Backup, then select Ignore Files and Sub-Folders for these folders.

There is another advantage when using option 2:

•	Any folder added to C:\WINDOWS will automatically be selected for Backup without you having to alter the Script. (Unless you explicitly don’t want to Backup this new  folder).

Ignore Files and Sub-Folders option is displayed by right clicking the folder.

Example 2 – Try this yourself:

•	You want to back up the files in the root of the boot drive (c:).

•	The whole of the folder tree starting at C:\WINDOWS

•	You do not want to include TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES

•	You do not want to include C:\WINDOWS\TEMP

To achieve the above scenario:

•	Expand the folders under C:

•	Click [image] next to C:, the folder selection dialog should look like the following picture.

•	Using the scroll bar move the Folder view window until the Windows folder is visible, do not expand the tree view and click [image] next to the Windows folder, this should change to [image].

•	Expand the Windows folder by clicking the + or by double clicking the Title (not [image]).

•	Using the scroll bar move the Folder view window until you can see the folders TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES and TEMP.

•	Right click each of the above folders and select Ignore Files and Sub Folders

•	The [image] should now be displayed next to these folders, see the following picture.

Ignoring Files

You may select files that you do not want to back up within selected folders by entering the pattern of these files in the Pattern entry box. Optionally you may enter the maximum file size that should be included on the backup.

Examples:

•	To not backup all temporary files enter

*.tmp then click Add.

•	To not backup all filenames beginning with the character ~ enter

~*.* then click Add.

•	To not backup all AVI files larger than 50mb

*.avi

Enter 50mb in the size restriction box then click Add.

Entries may be removed and changed by selecting the file in the list and then clicking the button as appropriate.

Auto Select OS

This button is used to automatically select the Operating System files. This option will automatically de-select Windows Temporary files and the Windows Temporary Internet files. These transient files will not normally be needed on a restore.


 AIS BACKUP: Select Skin

How to get to this option:

From the Options Screen, click Skin.

Description:

Choosing a new ‘Skin’ from this dialogue box will change the appearance of AIS Backup.


 AIS BACKUP: Validate Backup

How to get to this option:

From the Manage Script Screen, click Validate.

Description:

The validate script option is used to check the Restore Files Database against the files actually held on the backup media.

Use this option if a CD becomes un-useable so that the remaining files can be catalogued correctly. Also this will enable any files that are still resident on the PC to be backed up during the next Backup Session.

Options

•	The Backup File Prefix displays the name of the Backup database files.

•	The Expected Volumes list box displays the names of the CDs expected for this script. Locate all of the CDs before proceeding. For hard disc or network drive backups this list box will hold a single drive name.

•	Click Load Backup Files to display the open files dialogue.

•	Select the drive containing the backup files, then one of the backup zip files (any one will do).

•	If this backup is on CD, wait for the CD to be processed then load the next and repeat the process until all the CDs have been loaded.

•	Once all the backup files have been identified click OK, click Cancel at any time to abort the process.

Once the validation is complete a summary is written to the log file and is displayed on the Main Form current log screen.


AIS BACKUP: Acknowledgements
 AIS BACKUP: Acknowledgments

NOTE:  AIS Backup uses Info-ZIP's compression utility.

Info-ZIP's software (Zip, UnZip and related utilities) is free and can be obtained as source code or executables from various anonymous-ftp sites, including ftp.uu.net:/pub/archiving/zip/*.


 AIS BACKUP: Using The Select Files Window

How to get to this option:

This window features on various screens.

Description:

The Select Files Window contains a list of folders on the left and the first level content of the selected folder on the right.

The selection of items is done by clicking the selected state icon.

Selected States For Creating Backup Scripts:

No files or folders have been selected.

All files and folders have been selected. All new files and folders created below the selected path will also be included on the backup.

Not all the files and folders have been selected below this path.

If all the files have been selected at this path then any new files created will also be included on the backup. If one or more files have been excluded from the backup then any newly created file will not be included on the backup. If you want to include newly created files you will have to select all files from the path and then add the files you want to exclude to the Exclude Files Of Type option.

If a new folder is created under a folder that is partially selected it will not be included in a backup. If you want to include any newly created folders you will have to select the manually with the Add/Remove files option.

This option is found by right clicking a folder and choosing Ignore Files and Sub-Folders.

This option is used when you want to ignore files from a folder and the sub-folders of this folder where you have chosen to backup all files and folders in a higher path selection. In other words, Backup everything except the contents of this folder. This will ensure that the contents of other newly created folders will be included in a backup without having to use the Add/Remove files option.

This option is found by right clicking a folder and choosing Ignore Files from this Folder.

This option is used when you want to ignore files from a folder but backup the sub-folders where you have chosen to backup all files and folders in a higher path selection. In other words, Backup everything except the files in this folder. This will ensure that the contents of other newly created folders will be included in a backup without having to use the Add/Remove files option.

Selected States For Restoring Files and Folders:

No files or folders have been selected.

All files and sub-folders have been selected for restore.

Not all the files and folders have been selected below this path, you have de-selected one or more files and/or folders below this node.

Changing the selection state clicking the left hand tree pane.

When you click the select state icon the folders toggle between selected and not-selected state except in the following circumstances:

If a tree node has been expanded as shown by the skittles folder below, clicking the skittles select icon will toggle the files between selected and not selected, and will not effect the current select state of the folders.

If the tree node has not been expanded as shown by the Program Files folder below, clicking the Program Files select icon will toggle between selected and not-selected and will effect all sub-folders and files of Program Files.


 AIS BACKUP: Emergency Script

How to get to this option:

From the AIS Backup Screen, click New Script.

Description:

An emergency backup script is used to create a backup that is suitable to restore the Windows Operating system to a PC that has had the Boot disc reformatted or replaced.

The emergency backup must be written to the hard drive initially, this is because the CD must be created as a Joliet encoded CD so that it can be read from the DOS operating system. Please refer to your CD authoring software.

The Backup need not be written to CD but in order of preference should be written to:

•	A Network Drive

•	A Physically different Hard Drive

•	A Different Local Drive on the Same Hard Drive

AISBackup does not restrict where any backup is located.

Regardless of where you create the backup you will require your Windows Emergency Recovery diskette, this is especially important if you are running Windows ME, because you cannot boot Windows ME into DOS.

If you have backed up your system to a network drive you will also need DOS mode network drivers to map to this drive in order to restore your operating system. See your Network Administrator.

After clicking next the Select Files Dialogue is displayed, from here you should review the following selections:

•	The Windows Operating System files can be selected by clicking Select OS. See ‘Manual Selection Of Operating System’ for what should be selected.

•	Select the CD Writer program folders, which should be found under c:\program files, e.g. c:\program files\Adaptec or c:\program files\CeQuadrat, note please check your CD Writer software documentation.

Manual Selection of the Operating System

•	The Boot files, to be safe select all the files from the root of the boot drive (this is normally C:).

•	Select the Windows Folder with all sub folders.

•	Choose Ignore Files and Subfolders for all folders containing Temporary Internet Files and optionally the Windows Temporary files directory.

If the PC has been configured for multiple local Users the  Temporary Internet Files may be stored under C:\WINDOWS\PROFILES\USERNAME\....

Where USERNAME is the actual User Name.

•	You should also backup the AISBackup program folder to enable you to run further restores after recovering your Operating System.

Once these files have been selected run the Backup by clicking Backup.

This backup process will copy the following files to the backup media:

•	The DOS based UnZip.Exe files with associated help file.

•	A Batch File program which is used to run the DOS portion of the Restore procedure.

•	A program to run the Long Filename portion of the Restore.

•	All the 8.3 Filenames.

•	All the Long Filenames.

•	A updated version of the Registry that will automatically complete the restore process.

Once the backup has been completed you may copy the files to a Joliet encoded CD.

The creation of an Emergency Backup may save hours recovering your PC from a major system crash. Without an AISBackup Emergency Backup you would normally have to:

•	Install Windows.

•	Install All your Hardware Drivers

•	Install any patches that may have been installed (If you can remember them all)

Whereas if you maintain an Emergency Backup that was created after the installation of Windows, associated drivers and patches you could save hours on the time taken to recover your system.

Subsequent backups using the Emergency Backup script just updates the changed files and removes the deleted files from the backup database.

To support the Emergency Backup you should also maintain a regular backup of your data files, a few examples:

•	The folder ‘My Documents’.

•	The Folder containing your e-mail messages and Address book.

•	Office documents.

•	Any Pictures you want to keep.

•	Game Saves.

It may be worth considering maintaining a backup of the whole of your C drive, the first time this is run may take a few hours, but subsequent backups sessions should be quite quick. This full backup could then be restored after you have restored your Emergency Recovery Backup to bring your system right up to date.


AIS BACKUP: Emergency Script
 AIS BACKUP: Recovering the Operating System

You may want to print this page and keep a copy with your emergency restore diskette.

Here is the procedure for performing a complete system restore using the Emergency Backup database created using an Emergency Script. The procedure requires you to boot the PC to the DOS Operating system.

Creating the Emergency Recovery Diskette.

The Emergency Recovery Diskette may be created from Control Panel / Add Remove Programs / Startup Disk.

After the Emergency diskette has been created you may optionally copy smartdrv.exe from your Windows CD to the diskette, smartdrv.exe is located in the folder [CD]:\win9x on the Windows Millennium CD and [CD]:\win98 on the Windows 98 CD.

Including Smartdrv.exe will considerably reduce the time it takes to run the DOS portion of the restore procedure.

The Restore Procedure.

The following procedure assumes that the Emergency Backup database is held in the folder D\WINMEBU

•	Boot the PC using your Emergency restore diskette.

•	Choose an appropriate boot option from the menu. (i.e. with or without CD ROM support)

•	Optionally Format the C Drive, but only if the Emergency Backup is not on the C Drive.

•	Optionally load SmartDrv by typing a:\smartdrv

•	Start the restore by typing d:\winmebu\restore d:\winmebu c

•	Once the backup has completed, remove the diskette from the diskette drive and re-boot the PC by pressing Ctrl, Alt & Delete.

•	After typing your Username and Password AIS Restore will finish the restore process.


 AIS BACKUP: Command Line Parameters

AISBackup can be set-up to run a script, or a number of scripts automatically via command line parameters. You can therefore create jobs in Task Manager’s StartUp folder to run each time the PC is loaded, alternatively you may run AISBackup via a task scheduler e.g. Microsoft Task Scheduler. There is an optional parameter to determine whether the backup is only run once per day, i.e. the first time the PC is loaded in the day.

Only one version of AISBackup can run at a time, so multiple entries should not be added to the Startup folder.

Each parameter is separated by a space, if script names contain spaces the BackupName parameter must be enclosed in double quotes.

Parameter List

The parameters must be included in the parameter list in the order shown.

L	If present, causes all of the backup and restore messages to be logged to the log file.

-1	If present, each backup on the command line is run once per day.

BackupName	The name of each backup script to be backed up, Optionally the day’s on which the backup is run may also be given.

To select backups on certain days insert the pipe character (|) after the script name followed by a combination of Y or N characters which denote whether the backup is to be run on that day, where the first Y or N is Sunday, the next Monday etc.

Parameter List Examples

To run the script MyDocs every day, and  Win98 Emergency every Friday and run each script the first time the PC is loaded on each day:

"C:\Program Files\Aquarius IS Consultancy\AISBackup\AISBackup.exe" -1 MyDocs “Win98 Emergency|NNNNNYN”

Note the quotes surrounding the program name and second script name.


The Restore Files Database contains details of the files that exist on the backup. The Restore Files Database is normally named: <Script Name>.bdb and is stored in the <Database Location> folder, see options.

A copy of the Restore Files Database is also copied to the backup media at the end of a Backup Session.


A Session Based backup maintains a database of which files existed and which files did not exist each time a backup session is run. From the Restore Files screen you may elect to restore files from a specified session. On the Duplicate files screen you may optionally select whether to delete files from your PC that did not exist when the selected session was backed up.

Sessions greater than the specified number are removed from the Restore Files Database. If the backup is to a local or networked hard drive the files are also removed from the backup database (zip file).


Generation Number based backups maintain a selectable number of versions of each file on the backup.

Versions of files greater than the specified number are removed from the Restore Files Database. If the backup is to a local or networked hard drive the files are also removed from the backup database (zip file).


AISBACKUP: Registration
 AIS BACKUP: Restoring The Registry and In-Use Files

How to get to this option:

This prompt is displayed when you are about to restore the Windows Registry or Files were in-use when you were restoring them.

Description:

The Windows Registry cannot be restored on a running Windows system, this will render the Registry corrupt. Also some files cannot be restored because Windows may be using them.

To allow the Registry to be restored you will require your Windows Recovery Diskette, for instructions how to create this diskette click here

The full restore instructions will be displayed by AISBackup when the restore has finished the first restore phase.

From the command prompt type:

<Temporary Location for restores files>\Restore

This by default is:

c:\AISRSTR\RESTORE

The Temporary Location for Restore Files is set in Options

In-Use files.

For files that could not be restored because they were in use just re-boot the system to finish the restore process.


 AIS BACKUP: Registration

How to get to this option:

From the AIS Backup Screen click Registration, or from Options screen click Register Trial.

Description:

This option is used to register AISBackup trial via e-mail, or enter details for permanent registration when you purchase AISBackup.

How To Register

For the trial the only mandatory field is your e-mail address, although we would prefer you fill in the optional information.

For full registration your Postal Address, Registered Owner and PC name are mandatory. The PC Name and Registered Owner are added automatically, the Registered Owner may be different to your name but should not be changed because this information is used when generating your password key.

Full details of how to enter your password key will be sent to you when you register AISBackup.

Your password key will be sent to you by e-mail and postal mail as soon as payment has been received.

Sending the e-mail

Once you have entered your details click Send, this will create an e-mail in your e-mail system’s outbox. If this process fails, for example you use an on-line ‘hot-mail’ system, please manually create an e-mail addressed to aisbackup@aiscl.co.uk . From the Registration form Click Copy to Clipboard and then paste the message into the body of your e-mail. The subject of the e-mail may optionally be set to ‘Registration’.

Re-Registration

If the PC name or Registered Owner is changed you will have to re-register AISBackup. From the main form choose Options / Re-Register. Re-enter your e-mail address then press Send, or follow the instructions for manual registration.

For security some additional questions may be asked when you re-register.

Manually changing registration details by editing the Registry may render AISBackup un-useable, even after correct registration.