Backup and Restore

How do I backup SQL database files?

In the first instance, please contact support@backuphelpdesk.com to ensure you have installed the latest version of our Automated Data Backup Software before backing up Live SQL files on your machine and note that our backup software does not support Live SQL backups on Windows XP, Windows SBS2003 or earlier.

DISCLAIMER:

OUR CUSTOMER SUPPORT TEAM WILL ONLY DEAL WITH QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE BACKUP AND RESTORE PROCESS OF OUR OWN BACKUP SOFTWARE. WE ARE NOT THE AUTHORS OF ANY 3rd PARTY PROGRAMS AND CANNOT ANSWER QUESTIONS RELATED TO THEM.

FOR ADDITIONAL ADVICE ON BACKING UP THE SQL FILES IN YOUR APPLICATION PLEASE REFER TO THE HELP FILES or SUPPORT DEPT OF THE APPLICATION ITSELF.

1. Local Backups
1. If available you should use the built in Backup Facility within your application to create a "Local Backup" file each time you use the application.
2. Depending on your product, the Local Backup feature may overwrite the existing backup file each time or it may retain a cycle of the last 7-14 versions or it may continue adding additional backup files ad infinitum.
3. Also the Local Backup feature may be set to run automatically each time you use the program or may only allow for backups to be run manually by yourself. Please check all of this with your supplier.
4. When you have set up your Local Backup, create a New Backup definition in the normal way to safely store these files offsite.
5. TIP! We strongly recommend that you set up your 'Local Backup' files and live 'Database' files in a backup set of their own and reduce the 'Backup Cycle' to 7 when saving this definition.
2. If your application does not provide a local backup facility or if you wish to also backup the Live database files (.mdf, .ldf etc), create a New backup definition in the normal way and select the live files (normally located either within the application registry or within Microsoft SQL Server) and reduce the 'Backup Cycle' to 7 when saving this definition.
   1. IMPORTANT! if your live SQL files are not located on your C: drive (i.e. if they are on your D: drive or any other drive), follow these instructions:
   2. a. Prior to setting up the definition, Close the Backup software.
   3. b. Go to 'Program Files(X86)' and double click on the Backup software.
   4. c. Now double click on ‘Automated Backup’ and open the file named ‘ClientEnvironment.txt’.
   5. d. At the end of the file please add the following: VolumeShadowVolume=D: (ensure the 'colon' is included at the end and exchange 'D' for the correct drive letter if required).
   6. e. Save the file and then open the Backup software to create this definition.

   Final Note! 'Volume Shadow Copy' is used when backing up Live SQL files and it is currently only possible to back these up from one specific drive. If you have SQL files on multiple drives, you will only be able to use the Backup software to backup the databases from one of your drives.

How do I BACKUP my files?

See our quick Backup video Demo here or follow these instructions on How to create a new backup set:

1. Open the backup software (via the icon on your Desktop or via Start and Programs)
2. Click the 'NEW' button (located top left)
3. Type a name for your backup set and click OK
4. Locate the folders/files you wish to backup by clicking on the plus ('+') signs next to the drives on the right hand side
5. Select the files and folders you wish to backup by ticking the appropriate boxes
6. Amend the Start Time and Frequency (located bottom left) as required
7. Click SAVE (top left) and a 'File Selection Confirmation' window will appear
8. Confirm your selection and click OK
9. Your backup set will now appear in the left hand side of the software
10. Your backup will run automatically at the scheduled time and you will receive an email confirmation after it has completed

How do I backup from a new machine?

1. From the new computer, go to the Customer Area on our website where you can download the backup software.

2. If you need to restore your files, select the ‘Restore Files’ tab in the backup software and you can restore what you require.

3. When creating your new backup sets, you should give them exactly the same names as before. This way the backup will continue to run incrementally and will not have to upload all your files afresh. To view the names of your existing backup sets, Login via the Customer Area on our website (select 'see how much data I am storing').

4. Backing up Emails and Databases from a new machine can be found in the ‘Backup & Restore’ section of this website.

IMPORTANT! If you intend to keep the original computer, open the backup software on the original machine and set the backups to Non-Active before backing them up on the new machine (highlight the backup, untick set active on the bottom right and click SAVE – repeat for each backup). Backing up a set with the same name on multiple computers will cause conflicts so if you still intend to use the original machine and need to keep this backed up, you should call the new backup on the new machine a different name.

How do I backup emails and contacts?

For instructions on backing up your emails, including contacts and calendar, click here

DISCLAIMER:
Please note that the advice provided is based on our knowledge and experience of backing up email and database files. We are not the authors of these programs and cannot answer questions related to these products. Our customer support team will only deal with questions concerning the backup and restore process relating to our software.

For additional advice on backing up these files please refer to the support within the applications themselves.

How do I backup IFA related software and databases?

For instructions on backing up your databases, including accountancy programs (Sage/ACT/IRIS), backup office systems and IFA related software, click here

DISCLAIMER:
Please note that the advice provided is based on our knowledge and experience of backing up email and database files. We are not the authors of these programs and cannot answer questions related to these products. Our customer support team will only deal with questions concerning the backup and restore process relating to our software.

For additional advice on backing up these files please refer to the support within the applications themselves.

How do I change my backup settings?

1. How do I change the scheduled/automated Start Time of my backup set?
2. How do I change the Frequency of my backup set?
3. How do I add additional files to an existing backup set?
4. How do I remove files from an existing backup set?
5. How do I Pause or Cancel a backup that is currently in progress?
6. How do I reduce or increase the Backup Cycle?
7. How do I prevent a backup from running automatically?

How do I setup network access/permission (Administrator Rights)?

If the data you wish to backup is located on a NAS drive or a Shared folder on your Network and you are receiving the error message "access is denied" then you must confirm that the machine you are backing up from is password protected (see the notes below) and provide the Backup Service with Administrator Rights:

1. Click Start (bottom left of your computer) > type 'services.msc' > click Enter on your keyboard.
2. In the Services window Double Click on 'Automated Backup Daemon'.
3. Select the 'Log On' tab.
4. Select 'This Account'
5. Your Windows Admin username should appear. If it does not appear:
1. Type this or click: 'Browse' > 'Advanced' > 'Find now' and select the correct user.
2. Overwrite the existing password (asterisks) with your Admin Password and confirm this.
3. Click > Apply (bottom right)
6. A message should appear stating that the Logon name will not take effect until you Start Restart the Service
7. Click on the General tab and either Start or Restart the Service

NOTES:
Data you wish to backup that is Networked MUST be selected via the 'Network Neighbourhood' in the backup software.

Please note that although you will always be able to back up your information manually using the "Backup Now" button (i.e. run as a Process), Automatic backups (run as a Service) will only work if you have followed the above instructions.

If you type a password each time you restart your computer then this will be the password that is required in the Services area as per the above instructions. If your computer is not currently password protected then you will need to create a password. To do this via the Control Panel on your machine, select 'User Accounts' and set up a password for the user named 'Administrator'.

How do I delete a backup set?

Deleting a backup set from your existing computer

1. Open the backup software by double clicking the Padlock icon on your desktop (or via Start > Programs).
2. Click on the backup set that you wish to delete so it is highlighted.
3. Go up to the taskbar and click on the 'Delete' icon.
4. A box will appear asking if you wish to delete from JUST the software or also from our servers as well.
5. Select as applicable and the backup set will be deleted for you

NOTE:
Deleting the set only from our software will leave your files archived on our servers, safe for restore at any time.

Deleting from BOTH the software AND the server means everything to do with this backup set will be removed.

Deleting a backup set from the software is instant, HOWEVER when deleting a large amount of data from our servers may take up to 20 minutes. Please be patient and let the system run until it has completed the task.

For security, when you request a backup set is deleted from our servers you will be prompted for your password (If you have forgotten your password you can reset it via the Customer Login Area on our website).

You can only delete one backup set at a time.

IMPORTANT: Deleting information from our servers will reduce the storage on your account, however please be aware that once you have deleted information from our servers it will be completely removed and no longer available for restore. Please consider carefully before deleting any information. This action cannot be undone!

If you have installed the backup software onto a new computer and wish to delete an old backup set from your account

1. Open the backup software.
2. Click on the 'Restore Files' tab.
3. Enter your password.
4. Left click on the name of the backup set you wish to delete so it is highlighted.
5. Once highlighted, click on the Delete button in the taskbar and select to 'Delete off server'.
6. Please wait whilst your data is deleted from our servers.

NOTE:
If the old computer is still live and in use and still has the backup software installed on it, you must delete the backup set/s from the 'software' on that computer otherwise it will backup all over again when it is next scheduled to run (to do this see the first instructions above).

For security, when you request a backup set is deleted from our servers you will be prompted for your password (If you have forgotten your password you can reset it via the Customer Login Area on our website).

IMPORTANT: Deleting information from our servers will reduce the storage on your account, however please be aware that once you have deleted information from our servers it will be completely removed and no longer available for restore. Please consider carefully before deleting any information. This action cannot be undone.

How do I monitor my backups?

1. You can check if a backup is in progress by opening the backup software and clicking the Backup Status button located at the top right of your screen. If a backup is in progress the Backup Status button will be highlighted and if you click on it a 'Progress Meter' will appear. If the Backup Status button is greyed out, this means no backups are currently in progress.

Each time your backup completes you will be sent a Confirmation E-mail. The email confirms if your backup was successful or failed and also provides extra information including how many files you are saving, how many new files uploaded in the recent backup and the total amount of storage you have on the servers.

IMPORTANT: If you are not receiving your confirmation email/s, this could be due to:

the backup has not run.

the backup started and failed before it completed.

the backups are running and the emails are being filtered into your junk mailbox.

you may have changed your email address but have not updated your new address in the software (so emails are still being sent to your old address).

2. The Client Log tab in your backup software will provide a report for every backup and restore that has run on your computer since you setup the service. If one or more folders or files fail to backup you can see these files in the log. The log also reports error messages that could assist to remedy any issue with your backups.
3. The Customer Login Area on our website will provides access to your Administration Area where you will be able to see a list of all your backups and the amount of data you have saved on our servers (after compression).
4. Click your right mouse button over your backup set in the left hand side of the software to run a Properties Check providing information regarding your backup. This also includes: the last time the backup ran, the next scheduled run, the amount of Backup Cycles, the amount of data (uncompressed) and the amount of files and folders in the backup.

IMPORTANT: We recommend you carry out regular Test Restores to confirm your selected files are available. Restoring a few files will only take just minutes to carry out. See how to restore files in the 'Backup and Restore' page on our Support website.

How do I RESTORE files?

See our quick Restore video Demo here or follow these instruction on How to restore your files:

1. If you are restoring to a new computer and have not yet set up the backup software on the new machine, you must first download the software from the customer Login area on our website.
2. Open the backup software (via the icon on your Desktop or via Start > Programs).
3. Click on the 'Restore Files' tab and enter your password when prompted (If you cannot remember your password, you can reset this by going to the customer Login area on our website).
4. The left hand pane shows your backup set/s.
5. Click on the plus sign ('+') next to the backup set you need to restore from and a list of orange padlocks will reveal the dates of your backups.
6. Left click on the date of the backup you wish to restore from and it will turn blue and you will notice a drive letter appear on the right hand pane.
7. Click on the plus sign ('+') next to the drive to start revealing your folders and files and keep clicking on the '+' signs until the folders or files that you wish to restore are found.
8. Place a tick in the box next to the folder/s or file/s that you wish to restore and then select either 'original location' or 'new location' to restore to.

IMPORTANT: Selecting "Original Location" will restore your data to the same area as where you backed it up from and will overwrite anything that's there. Seelcting "New Location" will restore to a different area of your choice on your computer (i.e Desktop).

You should select "New Location" when restoring to a new computer, as the original location may no longer exist on the replacement computer.

Restore Tips!

1. Once backed up, your files can be restored to any computer that has our backup software installed on it.
2. If you are restoring files onto a new computer, make sure you have all relevant programs installed (i.e you won't be able to read your Word document if you don't have MS Office installed, same applies for Sage, Outlook and other file types or databases you use).
3. When restoring email files and/or some database files you may need to import them back into your program (refer to instructions from the specific program for assistance with this).
4. If you are setting up the backup software on a new computer, any information you had backed up from the old computer will still remain stored on our servers. To delete old backup sets, see 'How do I delete a backup set?' in the Backup and Restore page on our support site.
5. If you have installed the backup software onto a new computer and restored your information, you may need to create a new backup set so your files continue to be saved for you. For more information, see 'How do I backup my files' in the Backup and Restore page on our support site.
6. You can only restore one backup set at a time, do not try to restore multiple sets at the same time!
7. We recommend you carry out regular test restores. Restoring a few files will only take a few minutes.
8. When restoring data you are downloading a copy of your files, the original will still remain safe on our servers.