Opening Screen for Backup or Restore Wizard

Microsoft does love its Wizards and NTBackup is no exception. The first time NTBackup is launched from Start > All Programs > Accessories> System Tools > Backup, the program will open to the Backup or Restore Wizard by default. To escape the Wizard, remove the checkmark from Always Start in Wizard Mode and click Advanced Mode.

Backup or Restore

The choice is simple. Select whichever operation is intended.

What to Back Up

A number of different preset backup groupings are displayed as well as the option to make custom backup selections. If custom is selected, the Items to Back Up screen shown below will open. Any of the other selections will take you to the Backup Type, Destination, and Name screen.

Items to Back Up

If you selected the Let Me Choose What To Back Up selection in the What To Back Up screen, this gives you the opportunity to select the files to be included. The view is a slightly modified version of the standard Windows Explorer view with selection boxes.

Backup Type, Destination, and Name

The screen where a name and destination for the backup are entered.

Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard

The final screen where the actual backup process is imitated. This location also contains the Advanced  button where important additional backup parameters may be specified.

Type of Backup

Specify the type of backup that will be performed. Choices include Normal, Differential, Incremental, Copy, and Daily. For specific details of each type click here.

How to Back Up

Allows specifying verification, compression, and shadow copying settings for the backup.

Backup Options

Set specifications for overwriting data and who is allowed to access the backups

When to Back Up

Set whether you want the backup to be done immediately or placed on a schedule.

Schedule Job - Schedule Tab

Set the details for the backup schedule or multiple backup jobs that have been created.

Advanced Schedule Options

Set more detailed options for a specifically scheduled backup.

Schedule Job - Settings Tab

Contains specific conditions that determine whether a scheduled backup will commence, i.e., do not run if on battery power or if certain timeframes have elapsed.

Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard

The final screen where the actual backup process is initiated when the Advanced button was selected from this same screen previously. The Advanced button is no longer available.

Backup Progress

Screen showing the details of the current backup in progress, including elapsed and estimated time remaining.

Backup Progress - Complete

The final backup progress screen showing the final time elapsed and the total number of files processed. Contains the Report button that will show the Backup Log.

Backup Log

A savable and printable log generated from the Report button on the final Backup Progress screen that is generated in Notepad.