Personal Backup Version 5.2
	© 2011, J. Rathlev, IEAP, Kiel University

Automatic backups using Windows Task Scheduler

In addition to the possibilities built into the program for starting automatic backups, you can also achieve this by using Windows Task Scheduler. This method can have certain advantages:

• There are more options for configuring daily, weekly or monthly schedules.
• The backup will be started as a service using the credentials of any user account.
• The backup will be started even if no user is logged on. This is very useful for backups on Windows servers.

Select the Windows Scheduler tab at the top right of the program desktop. The resultant list (see screenshot on right) will show all Windows scheduled tasks using Personal Backup together with their next run times.
Detailed information for a selected task will be displayed beneath the listing.

Creating a new backup schedule

Click this button to start the wizard.

Personal Backup will automatically be inserted as the program to perform the current backup task. You can add further backup tasks by clicking the folder button to the right of the Tasks (Backup) field. A separate log file for this backup can be specified if so desired. Any filename can be chosen and entered into the Log field. Leaving this field empty will cause the log to be written to the default log file (Persbackup.log).
The following additional options can be selected to determine the behaviour of the program:

No splash screen

The splash screen will be suppressed at program start.

No progress window

The backup will be executed in the background. No progress window will be displayed but instead, an animated icon will appear in the Windows notification area. To hide or display the progress window, click this icon.

Show status

On completion of the backup, the status window will be displayed for a preset time.

Priority

Here, you can specify the priority of the backup relative to other running applications.

Log file

The selected type of log (or none) will be generated for this scheduled task irrespective of the general program settings.

Subsequent action

Selecting one of these options will cause the associated action to occur on completion of the scheduled backup.

Daily schedule

The main options are similar to those in the Windows scheduled task wizard. To initiate a daily backup, first select the time of day this is to start and on which date (default being the current date). By default, the backup starts every day but optionally a preset number of days can be skipped. In addition, optionally you can specify the date from which no further backups will be performed.
To enter the user account data click on Next.
 

Weekly schedule

The start time and start date can be selected as described above for a daily schedule. The backup can be started every week (default) or can skip a preset number of weeks. In addition you can determine on which days of the week the backup is to be performed.
To enter the user account data click on Next.
 

Monthly schedule

The start time and start date can be selected as described above for a daily schedule. The backup can be started on a particular day of the month or on a particular day of the week. In addition you can determine in which months of the year the backup is to be performed.
To enter the user account data click on Next.
 

Other times

Other options for starting a backup are:

One time only

The backup is to be started once at a selectable time on a selectable date.

On starting the computer

The backup is to be started every time the computer is started.

On log on

The backup is to be started whenever the specified user logs on.

User account

Specify the name of the user whose credentials are to be used to start the backup. This may be the user who just logged on (usually with limited credentials), an administrator or any other user (e.g. a user belonging to the group Backup operators). In each case you must enter and confirm the password of this user.
Clicking the Done button inserts this new task into the list of Windows scheduled tasks and closes the wizard. You can inspect the task settings directly from Personal Backup (see below) or by using the Windows functions All Programs ⇒ Accessories ⇒ System Tools ⇒ Task Scheduler or via Control Panel ⇒ Administrative Tools ⇒ Task Scheduler.

Automatic Restore using Windows Task Scheduler

You can configure a Windows scheduled task to carry out an automatic Restore by clicking the button inside the Restore dialog. The configuration procedure is the same as described above for backups.

Automatic Cleanup using Windows Task Scheduler

You can configure a Windows scheduled task to carry out an automatic Cleanup by clicking the button inside the Cleanup dialog. The configuration procedure is the same as described above for backups.

Editing scheduled tasks

Click this button to reconfigure a scheduled task.

Only tasks listed in Windows Task Scheduler involving Personal Backup are displayed in the Select Scheduled Task dialog box (see screenshot above). The properties of the selected task are displayed in the lower part of the window. You can choose to delete this task or to change its schedule (see above).