Personal Backup
	© 2001 − 2021, Dr. Jürgen Rathlev

Creating a shortcut on the desktop

To start backups in a quick way, you can create shortcuts on the computer desktop. Depending from where the dialog was opened, one or several tasks can be registered:

• From Configure backup tasks: The currently-loaded backup task will be registered.
• From Control panel: All tasks selected from My backup tasks will be registered. Double-clicking the desktop shortcut will start these tasks one after another or optionally in parallel.

Only one task selected: If only one task was selected (image at top right), the field Tasks to be executed shows the full path of the selected task. In addition, you have the option to replace it by an automatic task (see below).

Multiple tasks selected: If more than one task were selected (image at lower right,) the field Tasks to be executed shows only an according hint for clarity’s sake. Moving the mouse over this field, a list of all selected tasks will be displayed as hint. In addition, you have the option to run the tasks not one after another but in parallel.

Other options: In addition, the dialog will allow you to edit the name of the shortcut, specify the behavior of the status window and define an action to be performed after backup (see also). If this action should not be changed by the user during backup, you can inhibit this by deselecting the relevant option. In addition, you can specify that the Windows User Access Control will start the backup as an administrator (e.g. to use Volume Shadow Copies).

Possible subsequent actions

• Standby: The system is put into standby mode: data remains in RAM but is not saved. In this mode, system wake up is quick, but data will be lost on power failure.
• Hibernate: The system is put into hibernate mode: RAM data is saved to disk. In this mode, system wake up takes longer, but no data will be lost on power failure.
• Logoff: The current user will be logged off.
• Restart: The system will be shut down and restarted automatically.
• Power-off: The system will be shut down and the computer switched off. This will only function if the user is logged on interactively.
• Hybrid shutdown: The system will be shut down and the computer will be put into hybrid sleep mode (available since Windows 8). This will only function if the user is logged on interactively.
• Shutdown: The system will be shut down and the computer switched off. This will even function if the user executing the program is not logged on interactively (e.g. on locked screen).

Action handling on errors

If an action has been selected to be executed after a backup, this can be modified by clicking the Action handling on errors button, such that this action will not be carried out if a backup error occurred. The dialog makes it possible to choose on which errors this shall happen.

Status window

You can select whether the progress window during backup shall be suppressed and how the status window after backup is to be displayed (see more).

Other options

• Action changeable by user: If this option is selected, the choices for a subsequent action (e,g, Shutdown) will be displayed in the progress window during backup (see more).
• No splash screen: The splash screen showing the program version will not be displayed (see more).
• Run as administrator: On program start the Windows User Access Control will prompt for an elevation of user privileges. This is required for example to use Volume Shadow Copies.

Shortcut to start automatic backups

Click the small upper right button to display a list of all configured automatic tasks. Select a configured task or all automatic tasks scheduled as By request to be started by the Desktop shortcut. The setting for a subsequent action is made as described above. Notice that in this case this action cannot be changed later during the backup. If an alternating schedule was configured for this automatic backup, this will be performed respective to the current date.
Example: In this way it possible to realize a backup with alternating schedule with subsequent standby. The user just has to click the so created Desktop shortcut.

Using the shortcut

By double-clicking the desktop shortcut, created in this way, you can start a backup and optionally, for example, put the computer into hibernation afterwards.
To start several backups from a desktop shortcut, use the button on the Control panel or the actions menu to configure.