I use the Windows Backup program in Win 7 to take system-image and file backups to an external hard drive that stays on my desk, and also to two WD Passports that alternate as offsite backups. I want to use Task Scheduler to run the backup to the desktop drive, and start backups manually to the Passports now and then. But looking at the Task Scheduler Library, that entry contains no information on which disk is the destination of the scheduled task. It just says blahblah\rundll32.exe /d sdengin2.dll,ExecuteScheduledBackup How can I direct it to use a particular destination? How can I tell where the scheduled backup will direct the output? More generally, is there a standard way to set up backups to multiple destinations, with one scheduled and the others ad hoc?

What you're proposing to do can't be done (not yet). Only one location can be scheduled and no other locations can be specified unless the backup scheduler is deleted in order to specify a location manually. Someday maybe Microsoft will update its backup program to be more robust to do what you want.Here's a link for more discussion and what you could do (not that it helps immediately) http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/windowsbackup/thread/a1e34b0e-f656-4ebc-98da-697d46dd023a MCSE, MCSA, MCDST [If this post helps to resolve your issue, please click the "Mark as Answer" or "Helpful" button at the top of this message. By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster.]

Correct. You would need alternate software to accomplish that task. But, you could setup a sync with your WD Passport software to run after your backup (or a realtime sync). Alternatively there is also Synctoy, which can be used for scheduled syncing as well.

Thanks to cdobbs and jpag4947 for the responses. I think I've got offsite file backup covered pretty well with Synctoy. What I'm trying to do here is put a system image on the two WD Passports I use for offsite backup. It looks like I can take those backups manually without disturbing the scheduled backup, which is a good workaround. Have to say though, I wish I could tell from the scheduled task what the destination of the backup will be; that information seems to be hidden. And there is a problem with the main "Backup or restore your files" window that may be a bug and deserves a separate thread; I'll open one for it later.