PC Data Backups

How can I assure that critical open files are backed up?

• Remove programs in the Startup folder of your Programs menu so that they do not start when Windows starts.
  • Right-click each program and click Delete.
• Look for other programs that start when Windows starts.
  1. Click Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information. Click the + next to Software Environment and click Startup Programs. The Program column lists the applications, and the Command column lists the paths and filenames of the programs.
  2. If you are not sure what any of these programs are, go to www.sysinfo.org and search for the program's filename. The results may give you an idea of how to uninstall the program.
• Look in the system tray (at the bottom of your screen, next to the clock on the Windows Taskbar) for programs to close.
  • Right-click each program and click Close or Exit.
• The Windows Task Manager shows any running applications and processes.
  1. Press Ctrl-Alt-Del.
  2. Select any programs you want to stop and click End Task. Caution: Do not close processes if you do not know their purpose, as they may be important system tasks.
• Sometimes restarting the computer is necessary to close an open file that an application did not release before closing.

Some critical open files must be backed up but cannot be closed easily or without disruption or must remain open all the time. Examples include server files like Microsoft Exchange and SQL Server. We recommend using third-party software like Veritas BackupExec or Microsoft NT Backup to take snapshots of these open files. You can then backup the snapshot files. You will find that purchasing this software and using it with our service is far less expensive than finding a backup solution that supports open files.

Also, you can write a batch file to shut down open files and schedule it in Windows Scheduled Task Wizard to run just prior to the scheduled backup time. Then have a subsequent batch file reopen the file after an elapsed time. A batch file is simply a text file with a .bat extension that acts like a program. It contains the full path of the program(s) you want to run, one per line.