Ebug said:
Thank you for making this post. Lord knows I have had my share of hard drive failures over the years that have led to precious data loss.
I have not programmed DOS since the early 80's so I would need a serious refresher course to get this implemented.
Is the amount of work required beyond the scope of creating a tutorial?
I know I would be willing to compensate your time to a degree for the effort.
Sideline question on data backup. How safe is cloud based storage in general? After my most recent forced Windows re-install I started uploading some of my hobby files to Google Drive but do not trust any of my personal data up there.
Thank you
RobT
Cloud backup is pretty safe from destruction / loss, how safe it is from eyes who may have access to the encryption algorithms I cannot say.
From what I know about most if not all cloud storage, they adhere to strict data coherency, meaning if you delete at home or work, the cloud deletes it too. A script does not delete ANY files... EVER, it only overwrites files with the SAME name if changed and files with NEW names and content.
At any rate, the script modification is not beyond most peoples' ability to locate their data, read and use MS notepad and save a file. MANY people are using it, not only in jobs I left but in online forums I am on and most learned to use it proficiently with no previous scripting knowledge.
The script has a help file with suggestions on how to organize your hard drive and modify and use the script.
To answer some previous comments...
Drag and drop CAN be used, that is
IF it's used which in my experience it often is not. It WILL be S-L-O-W as it overwrites everything (which is as it SHOULD be) to keep files up to date. Also drag and drop does not tell you when your last backup took place.
I feel like there is going to be an incredibly small percentage of people that have familiarity with DOS scripting/batch files and also have inadequate backups, AND are concerned about it. It's kind of like asking how many master mechanics don't change, or have their oil changed in their own vehicles.
You are right, and there is copy backup software on the web, most if not all come written in compiled code, which as a former programmer I do not trust in my machines. My script is almost idiotically simple to understand but frighteningly complicated for someone not really familiar with scripting to gen up from scratch, as it has a number of error checking processes and being menu driven it's impossible to screw up.
Additionally if anyone cared to read the whole thing, they would get a VERY good understanding on how it works in its entirety. There's no secret code, no out links, no access to anything the user did not strong type themselves.
Only THREE things need to be known:
1. Where your stuff is
2. Where you want it to go.
Both easily found out using the file explorer (not Windows Internet explorer)
3. How to use a simple text editor like notepad.
I do not think that's too difficult. If it is, then so is the TV remote.
In the below help example taken from this operational script, it's fairly straightforward and definitely not rocket science.
It basically says (from the help file) ...
copy from-source:to destination and switches (shown empty here) you do not modify
xcopy c:\my_stuff h:\my_stuff\ / / / / /
Use it or not. I've NEVER, EVER lost a single byte of data, and so you know, I was on the original development teams at IBM on the PC so it goes back a VERY L-O-N-G way on too many industrial, commercial, school and personal machines to put a number on.
If anyone is interested, PM me for the text file.
