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Why is backing up to a Zip file important?
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Many backup programs store backups in a proprietary format. If you want
to access back up files, you need the original program to read the files.
With ZipBackup, all files are stored in the Zip compression format - the
most popular compression format available. You can use many popular Zip
programs, including WinZip® and PkZip® to extract or view backup files created
with ZipBackup. In fact, Windows® ME, XP and Vista ship with the ability
to extract files from Zip compressed files. Unlike WinZip® and PkZip®, ZipBackup
gives you complete control over which files to backup and allows you to
schedule backups.
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Most Windows programs store files in the My Documents folder. If you have files in
the My Documents folder or one of its sub folders, you should make sure you include the My Documents
folder in your backup. You can do so by selecting "Backup My Documents," "Backup My Files and Settings"
or "Backup all user's Files and Settings" on the Backup Job page of the ZipBackup Wizard.
For specific information about backing up the data in popular programs click on
Backing Up Data from Popular Programs.
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You need to enter both the registration name and number into the appropriate fields. Keep in mind that
these need to be entered EXACTLY as they appear on your confirmation email - including spaces,
capitalization and punctuation.
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Unfortunately backing up to CDs and DVDs is not always as straight forward as backing up to a hard
drive or other media. Windows does not write directly to CDs or DVDs so ZipBackup contains internal CD
and DVD burning software. On some CD or DVD burners, writing to the disk can be a bit tricky.
For information and suggestions if you are having a problem backing up to a CD or DVD, click on
Troubleshooting backups to CD or DVD.
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You can restore individual files from within ZipBackup by selecting "Restore an Existing Backup zip file" from the ZipBackup Wizard Start page and clicking on the Next button.
On the Restore Zip File page, select the Zip file you would like to restore from and click the Next button.
On the Restore Files page, check the box to the left of the file(s) you want to restore and click the Next button.
Select the Restore Type and Restore Folder and click the Next button.
Select how to handle existing files and click the Next button.
Click on the Restore button.
Because ZipBackup stores backups in standard Zip files, you can use any Zip program to manage your ZipBackup Zip files.
ZipBackup recommends using Alpha ZIP, which integrates seamlessly with Windows Explorer and makes managing Zip files incredibly easy.
Click here for more information and a free trial of Alpha ZIP
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It depends on the type of files you are compressing. Text files can often
be compressed by up to 70%, but image files, which are already compressed,
may be compressed less than 5%.
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Both Differential and Incremental Backup Types will only backup files that have changed since the last backup (files
whose Archive bit is set to True - see the next question). Incremental backups will clear the archive bit of all the files they backup. Differential backups will not clear the archive bit of the files they backup.
Lets assume we start with a normal backup that clears the archive bit of all our data files.
If we perform a series of Incremental backups, only those files that have changed since the last incremental backup will be included
in each backup. To restore from a series of Incremental backups, we need to restore from
the Normal backup and each Incremental backup in the order they were created, but no unchanged files will ever be included in a backup.
If we perform a series of Differential backups, all the files that have changed since the original Normal backup will be included. Once a file has changed, it will be included in each Differential backup. To restore, we only need to restore the Normal backup and the last Differential backup.
Differential backups take up more space, but they are much easier to restore from than Incremental Backups.
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Along with a file's name and location on the hard drive, Windows stores a file's attributes, such as whether it is read only. One of the attributes for each file is the Archive attribute or bit. The Archive bit is set to True any time a file is changed. ZipBackup, along with other backup programs, set a file's Archive bit to False when it has been backed up. This is how ZipBackup knows which files have changed since the last backup.
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| ZipBackup uses the Windows Task
Scheduler to schedule backup jobs. You can schedule backup jobs from within
ZipBackup by pressing the ZipBackup Explorer button and selecting Tools
> Schedule Backup Jobs... from the pull down menu.
If you would like to use the Windows Task Scheduler directly to schedule
backup jobs, please refer to the Command Line
page for the necessary command line options.
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Since the release of Windows 95, Windows has shipped with a backup utility.
Backups created in Windows 95/98/ME are not compatible with Windows XP or Vista!
If you use Windows Backup utility to backup your data before upgrading to
Windows XP or Vista or to transfer data to a Windows XP or Vista computer, you will not be
able to read the backup files after you upgrade. ZipBackup creates standard
Zip files that can be read on any Windows XP or Vista computer, even if you have
not installed ZipBackup.
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You can update to the latest minor version of ZipBackup at no charge. For example, if you have version 4.0, version 4.1 is a free update. Just
click here to go to our download page,
download the latest version of ZipBackup and install it to the same location as your
current version. ZipBackup will preserve your registration information
and all your ZipBackup settings.
If you would like to upgrade from version 3.0 to version 4.1, just send us a message with your registration number from our help page and we will send you a link to our discounted upgrade purchase page.
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