| Windows XP Backup provides five backup types | | | | folders that have changed during the day are |
| that define what data is backed up, such as | | | | backed up. It neither looks for nor clears |
| only files that have changed since the last | | | | markers. If you want to back up all files and |
| backup. | | | | folders that change during the day, use a |
| | | | daily backup. |
| Some backup types use backup markers, also | | | | |
| known as archive attributes, which mark a | | | | Combining Backup Types |
| file as having changed. When a file changes, | | | | |
| an attribute is set on the file that | | | | An effective backup strategy is likely to |
| indicates that the file has changed since the | | | | combine different backup types. Some backup |
| last backup. When you back up the file, this | | | | types require more time to back up data but |
| clears or resets the attribute. | | | | less time to restore data. Conversely, other |
| | | | backup types require less time to back up |
| Normal | | | | data but more time, to restore data. If you |
| | | | combine backup types, markers are critical. |
| During a normal backup, all selected files | | | | Incremental and differential back?up types |
| and folders are backed up. A normal backup | | | | check for and rely on the markers. The |
| does not rely on markers to determine which | | | | following are some examples of combining |
| files to back up. During a normal backup any | | | | different backup types: |
| existing marks are cleared and each file is | | | | |
| marked as having been backed up. Normal | | | | Normal and differential backups. On Monday a |
| backups speed up the restore process because | | | | normal backup is performed and on Tuesday |
| the backup files are the most current and you | | | | through Friday differential backups are |
| do not need to restore multiple backup jobs. | | | | performed, Differential backups do not clear |
| | | | markers, which means that each backup |
| Copy | | | | includes all changes since Monday. If data |
| | | | becomes corrupt on Friday, you only need to |
| During a copy back?up, all selected files and | | | | restore the normal backup from Monday and the |
| folders are backed up. It neither looks for | | | | differential backup from Thursday This |
| nor clears markers. If you do not want to | | | | strategy takes more time to back up but less |
| clear markers and affect other backup types, | | | | time to restore. |
| use copy. For example, use a copy backup | | | | |
| between a normal and an incremental backup to | | | | Normal and incremental backups. On Monday a |
| create an archival snapshot of network data. | | | | normal backup is performed and on Tuesday |
| | | | through Friday incremental backups are |
| Differential | | | | performed. Incremental backups clear markers, |
| | | | which means that each back?up includes only |
| During a differential backup, only selected | | | | the files that changed since the previous |
| files and folders that have a marker are | | | | backup. If data becomes corrupt on Friday, |
| backed up. It does not clear markers. Because | | | | you need to restore the normal back?up from |
| a differential backup does not clear markers, | | | | Monday and all incremental backups, from |
| if you did two differential backups in a row | | | | Tuesday through Friday. This strategy takes |
| on a file and nothing changed in the file, | | | | less time to back up but more time to |
| the entire file would be backed up each time. | | | | restore. |
| | | | |
| Incremental | | | | Normal, differential, and copy backups. This |
| | | | strategy is the same as the first example |
| During an incremental backup, only selected | | | | that used normal and incremental backups |
| files and folders that have a marker are | | | | except that on Wednesday you perform a copy |
| backed up. It clears markers. Because an | | | | backup. Copy backups include all selected |
| incremental backup clears markers, if you did | | | | files and do not clear markers or interrupt |
| two incremental backups in a row on a File | | | | the usual backup schedule. Therefore, each |
| and nothing changed in the file, the file | | | | differential backup includes all changes |
| would not be backed up the second time. | | | | since Monday. The copy backup type done on |
| | | | Wednesday is not part of the Friday restore. |
| Daily | | | | Copy backups are helpful when you need to |
| | | | create a snapshot of your data. |
| During a daily backup, all selected files and | | | | |