Fab's AutoBackup 6 Pro - a must have tool for techs

[Mike McCall]

Nevermind. It's portable and therefore doesn't install (insert comment about reading the directions here).

 

[glricht]

Ok, I get it now. I just purchased Fabs. Oddly, when I first started it I accepted the EULA and it wrote an .ini file to my desktop. If I delete the file it asks again for me to accept the EULA. If I leave it on the desktop it doesn't. I prefer a relatively cleans desktop, so how can I have it write it someplace else?

IIRC, Fabs writes the .ini file to the same location as the executable. If AutoBackup6Pro.exe file is on the desktop, that's were the .ini file will be written. (If that's not the case, send an email to Fab - his support is great.)

 

[numnutz]

Ok, I get it now. I just purchased Fabs. Oddly, when I first started it I accepted the EULA and it wrote an .ini file to my desktop. If I delete the file it asks again for me to accept the EULA. If I leave it on the desktop it doesn't. I prefer a relatively cleans desktop, so how can I have it write it someplace else?

I have yet to try this program but are you viewing hidden files, folders and drives?

 

[JustInspired]

What?!? This is AWESOME! Now, why didn't I think of that. There are lots of times when making a new profile is the best answer - I am definitely going to give this a try next time.

For someone who's hobby is buying software and then watching it gather dust on the shelf, this program is probably the best money I've ever spent.

I can relate to that last comment.

The profile in question was in Windows 7 (one admin user). Every time Windows Explorer was launched, it would crash; Documents, Pictures, Computer, any other folders etc.
After removing the antivirus and digging the hell out of the shell extensions in Autoruns and cleaning up as best I could with Tweaking.com's AIO I finally did what I should of done at the start and made a new user. (Had to Run>control userpasswords2 as I couldn't get into control panel)
That user worked fine so I copied everything with FABS from old to new, deleted the old, remade a new one with the same name and copied everything back. Worked great.

 

[glennd]

I can relate to that last comment.

The profile in question was in Windows 7 (one admin user). Every time Windows Explorer was launched, it would crash; Documents, Pictures, Computer, any other folders etc.
After removing the antivirus and digging the hell out of the shell extensions in Autoruns and cleaning up as best I could with Tweaking.com's AIO I finally did what I should of done at the start and made a new user. (Had to Run>control userpasswords2 as I couldn't get into control panel)
That user worked fine so I copied everything with FABS from old to new, deleted the old, remade a new one with the same name and copied everything back. Worked great.

Ok, that's impressive.

 

[drjones]

If you do a search, I posted a thread where I talked about how stupid I felt upon discovering fabs....I can't believe I hadn't been using it for longer.
It absolutely pays for itself the very first time you use it!

 

[NYJimbo]

FYI, a few versions were released this past week. If you purchased a copy of 5.x or 6.x you should be able to go back to the "store", login, click on the details of your previous order and download from the same link again to get the latest update.

Fab's AutoBackup 6 Pro
Version : 6.1.2.25705
Date : 06/24/2015

Changed/Fixed: Copy errors when restoring "My pictures" and some other folders that were not properly detected.

Version : 6.1.2.25694
Date : 06/22/2015
Added : - Google Earth places (.kml files) are now supported
- Printers listing has been improved : if the printer uses a standrad TCP/IP port, the program says if it is LPR or RAW.
Removed :
Changed/Fixed : - The program's created user accounts did not appear in the welcome screen if they were not local administrators.
- The way to apply the desktop wallpaper has been changed : now, a script is placed in the user's startup folder. This avoids errors when when adding it to the user's registry. The restored or transferred wallpaper may not be visible until the user sing in his account again.
- Configuration ini files can be written with path larger than 255 characters. In fact, the file is first written in the temporary files directory, then moved to its final location).
- The default location to save backup logs has been changed to avoid errors when choosing a drive's root as backup folder. Now, its path looks like "X:\YYYY-MM-DD\Computer_Name\AutoBackup Backup Log - YYYY-MM-DD - HH-MM.htm"

 

[mraikes]

Thanks for the head's up Jimbo, just DL'd the current version. I rarely think to check to see if it's been updated unless there's some kind of problem.

One thing I really appreciate is that Fab doesn't nickle & dime us over every change or minor upgrade.

According to my history, I've paid Fab 3 times. About 4.70eur in 2009 (I guess that would have been one of the early starter or personal versions, I really don't remember), 50 eur in 2010 (for my first Pro version), and 45 eur in 2014 for the latest version. So about 17 euros per year since I first purchased it. That's actually embarrassing for such a great tool.

Compared to all the people that try to gouge us for being techs, Fab has arguably made one of the greatest contributions to our work and is the least compensated for the benefit he represents to us.

 

[cypress]

FYI, a few versions were released this past week. If you purchased a copy of 5.x or 6.x you should be able to go back to the "store", login, click on the details of your previous order and download from the same link again to get the latest update.

Fab's AutoBackup 6 Pro
Version : 6.1.2.25705
Date : 06/24/2015

Changed/Fixed: Copy errors when restoring "My pictures" and some other folders that were not properly detected.

Version : 6.1.2.25694
Date : 06/22/2015
Added : - Google Earth places (.kml files) are now supported
- Printers listing has been improved : if the printer uses a standrad TCP/IP port, the program says if it is LPR or RAW.
Removed :
Changed/Fixed : - The program's created user accounts did not appear in the welcome screen if they were not local administrators.
- The way to apply the desktop wallpaper has been changed : now, a script is placed in the user's startup folder. This avoids errors when when adding it to the user's registry. The restored or transferred wallpaper may not be visible until the user sing in his account again.
- Configuration ini files can be written with path larger than 255 characters. In fact, the file is first written in the temporary files directory, then moved to its final location).
- The default location to save backup logs has been changed to avoid errors when choosing a drive's root as backup folder. Now, its path looks like "X:\YYYY-MM-DD\Computer_Name\AutoBackup Backup Log - YYYY-MM-DD - HH-MM.htm"

Big thanks about the update on the 6/24/15 I wasn't aware of this one. I had updated from the 6/22

 

[sorcerer]

How does it handle things that it can't restore? Presumably it just ignores them but I'd like to know for sure.

For instance, when doing a nuke & pave, how much do you reinstall for the customer? I remember someone on here (can't find the post now but it was here, I promise) saying that, for residential work at least, they explain it in builder's terms, ie, we have just refurbished your house (or built you a new one) and now it's up to you to move all your furniture in and to stock your cupboards the way you want them. In other words, we've reinstalled the operating system and all updates etc., now it's up to you to reinstall all your programs, printer drivers etc., etc.

So for example, Fabs backs up, say, the PST file from MS Outlook but, unless you have the customer's copy of Outlook and you install it for them first, Fab's will have nowhere to put that PST file will it, so will Fabs just ignore it?

Sorry for what's probably a silly question but just curious.

 

[joydivision]

I am pretty sure from my experience I have accidentally used Fabs before installing Outlook but when I open Outlook all the PSTs and accounts have been transferred. It doesn't always work though and Windows mail can be a pain with FABS. If the N&P was a result of a bad virus infection then I tend not to transfer over the browser profiles, FABS gives you a choice of what to copy and not.

I've been using it for years and it is simply brilliant, not always perfect put it makes life so simply. In fact my N&Ps while I rarely do them are stupidly automated now.

 

[sorcerer]

Cheers Ian

 

[nlinecomputers]

How does it handle things that it can't restore? Presumably it just ignores them but I'd like to know for sure.

For instance, when doing a nuke & pave, how much do you reinstall for the customer? I remember someone on here (can't find the post now but it was here, I promise) saying that, for residential work at least, they explain it in builder's terms, ie, we have just refurbished your house (or built you a new one) and now it's up to you to move all your furniture in and to stock your cupboards the way you want them. In other words, we've reinstalled the operating system and all updates etc., now it's up to you to reinstall all your programs, printer drivers etc., etc.

So for example, Fabs backs up, say, the PST file from MS Outlook but, unless you have the customer's copy of Outlook and you install it for them first, Fab's will have nowhere to put that PST file will it, so will Fabs just ignore it?

Sorry for what's probably a silly question but just curious.

Fabs will restore the files and setup the needed registry keys to recreate the accounts. So sometimes installing outlook after the fact will result in Outlook being properly setup. FABS does not get passwords so you need to use another tool to collect that. But honeslty any tech that wouldn't resetup office for a client deserves to go out of business.

 

[Porthos]

As long as you do not open Outlook or any other mail program until you restore with fabs you should be fine.

 

[glricht]

But honestly any tech that wouldn't resetup office for a client deserves to go out of business.

^^ agree 100%

If we have to do a N&P, we'll create a list of installed apps and their license keys. Not all programs allow their keys to be retrieved using standard tools, but all the MS Office pgms do. And if any of the programs are email clients (Outlook, WLM, OE, etc), we'll also run Nirsoft's MailPassView to get the email passwords, server names, ports, etc. (As a courtesy, we'll also run Nirsoft's WebBrowserPassView to save their browser passwords and WirelessKeyView to save/restore their wifi network passwords.)

We have the installers for just about every MS Office application, so it's a simple thing to re-install using the client's key. And if an email client is involved, we'll set that up and test it too (Fabs and MailPassView makes it super easy to do this).

We don't re-install everything -- some programs are definitely the customer's responsibility -- but our clients are very appreciative when we go the extra mile. Makes for good referrals!

 

[Porthos]

^^I agree^^

Exception....Any bootleg software.....

 

[cypress]

^^ agree 100%

If we have to do a N&P, we'll create a list of installed apps and their license keys. Not all programs allow their keys to be retrieved using standard tools, but all the MS Office pgms do. And if any of the programs are email clients (Outlook, WLM, OE, etc), we'll also run Nirsoft's MailPassView to get the email passwords, server names, ports, etc. (As a courtesy, we'll also run Nirsoft's WebBrowserPassView to save their browser passwords and WirelessKeyView to save/restore their wifi network passwords.)

We have the installers for just about every MS Office application, so it's a simple thing to re-install using the client's key. And if an email client is involved, we'll set that up and test it too (Fabs and MailPassView makes it super easy to do this).

We don't re-install everything -- some programs are definitely the customer's responsibility -- but our clients are very appreciative when we go the extra mile. Makes for good referrals!

Very good stuff and I agree with all that. I make a list as well with the installed programs and do as much as I can to help the client. I wasn't using Nirsoft before but I will have to for the next time.

 

[A/CPC]

If we have to do a N&P, we'll create a list of installed apps and their license keys.

What do you use to generate the list?

 

[Rosco]

I love fabs. i have version 4 is the 6 really worth the upgrade?

Also i really feel if you dont reinstall office and other programs it will lead to problems.

 

[HCHTech]

Not all programs allow their keys to be retrieved using standard tools, but all the MS Office pgms do.

How many computers to you N&P with Office 2013 installed? They do not store the full key and utilities like Produkey will not give you the answer. You have to run a script to get the last 5 digits, then log into their Microsoft account to redownload the product.

In life or computers, anyone that says "always" or "never" should be questioned.