Hi,

This is a job file I brewed up over several months to backup my win 8.1 PC nightly.  Being retired, I'm sadly disconnected from my colleagues in IT, and at this point, in need of another set of eyes.

THE QUESTION:  Does the following job do everything I need to enable restoration of my precious data in the event of total loss ?  I've tried to exclude unnecessary (useless) data.   There is also a logical use of /R:2 /W:2 which I have not researched.

This is an excerpt of the Run Log, and thank you for your kind attention.    -ss

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   ROBOCOPY     ::     Robust File Copy for Windows                              
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Started : Saturday, July 18, 2015 11:56:16 AM
   Source : C:\
     Dest : J:\RoboColumbia\

    Files : *.*
        
Exc Files : pagefile.sys
                swapfile.sys
                hiberfil.sys
                *.tmp
                *.temp
                ntuser.*
        
 Exc Dirs : C:\$Recycle.Bin
                C:\windows
                C:\ProgramData
                C:\Users\Steve\AppData
                C:\Program Files (x86)
                C:\Program Files
                C:\System Volume Information
        
  Options : /JOB *.* /TEE /S /E /DCOPY:DA /COPY:DAT /PURGE /MIR /ZB /XJ /MT:8 /R:2 /W:2

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
eof

Hi,

The command line seems fine.

Some applications will store configuration files in c:\users\<user>\appdata. You can check if there is anything valuable before excluding it.

Or you can simply create a syse image with such an command line:

recimg /createimage C:\CustomRefreshImages\Image1

Or you can simply create a syse image with such an command line:

recimg /createimage C:\CustomRefreshImages\Image1

Thanks Shaon,

I printed out RoboCopy /? and recimg / createimage  are not found, so new to me.  Is this for a newer version?

I've found RoboCopy spends a lot of time on c:\users\<user>\appdata.   I can see where program configuration files would be valuable in the event of total loss.  Do you have suggestions on how to find and back them up using the job file, without collecting a lot of useless stuff as well?  :)

Lastly,  on /R going from default 1 million to 2;  and for /W going from default is 30 seconds to 2,  am I picking up efficiency or just going wrong?   Thanks    -ss

Hi,

That's why I say simply create a system image instead of using robocopy. It will be difficult to only copy files we need with excluding parameter.

Recimg is not related to Robocopy. It is specifically for creating a system image on Windows 8 PC. See:

How to create a system image to refresh your Windows 8 PC
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2748351

Recimg is not related to Robocopy. It is specifically for creating a system image on Windows 8 PC. See:

How to create a system image to refresh your Windows 8 PC
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2748351

Indeed!  Creating snapshot 100% Writing image (this may take a while) 100% Registering image 100%
Recovery image creation and registration completed successfully.

Now that I have that image,  what can I do with it?  CustomRefresh.wim doesn't respond to the Open, Edit, Open with, or any other commands I tried.  Does it include any of my precious data   ???  Or only system files?

The thing about RoboCopy is that it makes copies of my precious data  and allows me to get them back en-masse or one at a time, as I please.  Recimg created CustomRefresh.wim which I have no idea what to do with.  It's 28 Gig and how would I use it in the event of total loss?   And what would it do if I could run it??

Please forgive any off-tone that might be construed.  Your answers are exciting, out-of-my-box, and I appreciate them very much.         Steve

Hi,

Please search for "Recovery" in Charm - you will find Refrash and reinstall options under Recovery Options.

With the WIM file, it could help restore to the status when the file was created.  

NOT THE ANSWER.This has nothing to do with my precious data.  >>simply create a system image instead of using robocopy<<  is a misread of my question.   None of my questions have been answered.  not one.