Fab's AutoBackup 7 Pro - a must have tool for techs

[fincoder]

Here's a thought: On the "Extra files and folders" page, place a button that will "Scan for unusual profile files and folders" and anything found will be added to the "Additional Folders" tree or "Additional Files" list on this page and automatically checked. From there on the backup and restore is handled by existing code. You're work is done! Minimal changes to the gui, no change to the "just do it" use case, re-use existing code. Everyone wins!

This was essentially my suggestion in this thread two weeks ago:

the Extra Files & Folders tab could highlight them somehow. And a checkbox at the bottom 'Select All Non-Windows Folders' (which could also be controlled by the settings profiles feature).

My idea was to use the Extra Files & Folders feature that already exists, perhaps the 'unusual' folders could be highlighted in bold or a colour (if possible), but the main point being a simple option to 'select all non-windows folders' or words to that effect. When ticked it would select all the unusual folders in the existing Extra Files tree, then the files are backed up as per existing Extra Files code.

The only extra GUI element is the 'select all non-windows files' checkbox, and perhaps the highlighting of those extra files in the tree but this isn't essential. The simplicity of this implementation is the reason why I've been encouraging the useful new feature.

To my mind the only bit of this I'm unsure of is when there are multiple user profiles selected in the first step. Maybe the 'unusual' user profile files/folders should be selected only if they're in the user profiles selected to backup.

Don't forget, everybody: there is already a Windows 10 library folder in the profile folder that is ignored by the backup because it's new (3D Objects). I see this new development to the backup as a 'catchall' so new library folders don't necessarily need to be specifically added into code immediately. If the new library folder ends up being used it could be added to the GUI and code later.

 

[fincoder]

Trusting the grab everything route is going to bite some one sooner or later because it makes you lazy

But that's kind of the point of Fabs Autobackup. And nobody will be forced to use the new feature.

Don't over complicate what it already does well with bloting it up

My and glennd's suggested implementation barely changes the GUI at all, and doesn't require any additional code for the backup phase so it should also be relatively easy to develop. See my post above.

I too would prefer no to add more complexity to the GUI. It should implemented using the already existing Extra Folders page.

 

[glennd]

This was essentially my suggestion in this thread two weeks ago:

Well it must be a good idea then!

To my mind the only bit of this I'm unsure of is when there are multiple user profiles selected in the first step. Maybe the 'unusual' user profile files/folders should be selected only if they're in the user profiles selected to backup.

Of course, the scan is only looking at the selected profiles. You've already expressed which profiles you care about on the first page. Just look in those profiles for non-standard folders/files and automatically check them in the treeview/listview.

The whole process takes one extra mouse click.

 

[fincoder]

I like the mock-up. Nobody can say that clutters up the Fabs GUI too much.

 

[Porthos]

To be clear, An optional button like shown above is fine. I just don't want to have to deselect any more items than I already do currently.

 

[GTP]

I may not be using Fabs as intended, but when someone just wants their stuff, its nice to hit a button and backup, hit another button and restore.

But there's the issue! What exactly are you backing up?

 

[Mr. Ingram's Computer Repair & Shoppe]

But there's the issue! What exactly are you backing up?

I want it to back up everything, which is why I make sure "check everything" is checked.
Why would a backup program purposely not backup something obviously important?
Before I had Fabs, I'd just drag over the entire user folder and then delete AppData folder. That is essentially what I want + odd folder/files in "C:\"

I want it to be set like that, or I be able to set that as default, that way I can just clickity-click and everything moves over.

 

[GTP]

At the end of the day, I open the odd folders and LOOK with my own eyes and see if I need them to restore.

Trusting the grab everything route is going to bite some one sooner or later because it makes you lazy. Fab's grabs the standard stuff and has the ability in it already to grab anything else you want. Don't over complicate what it already does well with bloting it up.

+1 this ^^^
Trusting a program (even a great program like Fabs Autobackup) to backup client data without physically checking for "unusual" folders/files is a big no no!
I have already been caught twice missing some important data the client had put in some weird location.
Just yesterday I had a client that had phone pics stored in the C:\Windows\Temp folder!
Had I not physically looked with my own eyes it would have been N&P'd!

 

[Mr. Ingram's Computer Repair & Shoppe]

Just yesterday I had a client that had phone pics stored in the C:\Windows\Temp folder!
Had I not physically looked with my own eyes it would have N&P'd!

So you check EVERY folder within Windows?
A program can look just as good as a human.

We could just put a mirror drive option in fabs and have it backup absolutely everything, then you wouldn't have to check behind the program!

Why even use Fabs if you are going to go back and double-check it every time? Might as well do it your way the first time with just drag-n-drop.

I don't remove malware with programs, then go back and check every folder location to make sure all malicious software is removed. I trust the anti-malware programs to do their job.

 

[GTP]

I want it to back up everything, which is why I make sure "check everything" is checked.

See above.

Why would a backup program purposely not backup something obviously important?

So you would blame Fabs Autobackup for not backing up "important files" that were stored in a weird location as I sated above? And do I blame Fabs for not backing up a clients CFM file because the client had the default save location on a USB stick?
How the heck would Fabs know where anyone stores stuff outside "normal" parameters? The only safe method would be for Fabs to become an imaging program...

 

[GTP]

So you check EVERY folder within Windows?

Yes, especially with clients that are renowned for putting stuff all over the place! Imaging is your best friend here!

I don't remove malware with programs, then go back and check every folder location to make sure all malicious software is removed. I trust the anti-malware programs to do their job.

Then, IMHO, you are not doing your job correctly!
It takes but a few minutes to browse through the Program Files, Program Files x86, Windows and AppData folders for detritus.
Even a manual search through the registry for leftovers doesn't take that long and goes a long way to ensure that rubbish is removed.

 

[Mr. Ingram's Computer Repair & Shoppe]

The only safe method would be for Fabs to become an imaging program...

Then why even use fabs, it's an awful imaging program!

So you check EVERY folder within Windows?

Yes, especially with clients that are renowned for putting stuff all over the place! Imaging is your best friend here!

If imaging is my best friend, why would you use Fabs?
Part of me wants to save my tax return files in a ".db" file type in this location:
C:\Windows\Boot\DVD\EFI\en-US
then ship the laptop to you and ask for a data backup and then N&P. and see if you really do check every folder for any off files.
Customers are stupid, I'll give you that. But I have never checked that file location to see if there was a phone picture dump there.

It takes but a few minutes to browse through the Program Files, Program Files x86, Windows and AppData folders for detritus.
Even a manual search through the registry for leftovers doesn't take that long and goes a long way to ensure that rubbish is removed.

I would bet money that there isn't a single person in this forum that has sat down with a customer computer and went through every single file and personally read the code that made up every image, txt, docx, pdf, exe, rar, zip, batch, jar, jre, db, and the millions of formats out there just to double check that there is no type of hidden infection on a computer. We run our initial "will it die on my bench" scan, then a handful of malware and such scans, install any and all updates, followed by some cleanup tools, run a stress test, then send it out the door once it all checks out.

The only time I hunt for files, is when a customer needs a particular folder or files. Otherwise, just back it all up, clean it up, and restore what you need. quick, easy, and you can do it brain dead.

Fabs isn't made to ensure you get all the customer data, its a simple to save you time from having to drag-n-drop the same files you do for every average data-backup you do. It's a tool you pay for to take a lazy shortcut.

Fabs is great, it works wonders for my business, makes life a bunch easier. I'm just saying it's not a tool you use on a multi-million dollar data backup/restore job like you must have often. For me, its a program to backup some grandparents knitting patterns & pictures of her grandchildren with 1 click. I just want it to check where old people might accidentally save files to.

 

[GTP]

If imaging is my best friend, why would you use Fabs?
Part of me wants to save my tax return files in a ".db" file type in this location:
C:\Windows\Boot\DVD\EFI\en-US
then ship the laptop to you and ask for a data backup and then N&P. and see if you really do check every folder for any off files.
Customers are stupid, I'll give you that. But I have never checked that file location to see if there was a phone picture dump there.

Because customers are indeed stupid! This exactly where some clients would store their DVD's because "it has DVD in the name!"
Again, this is why I would image first, because if I didn't check that folder I would at least be able to find it again.

I would bet money that there isn't a single person in this forum that has sat down with a customer computer and went through every single file

Now your being deliberately silly. You're not checking "every single file." You're checking for folders that contain leftover files from the infection. just delete the folders.

I just want it to check where old people might accidentally save files to.

Which it doesn't and quite rightly shouldn't do without YOU first checking what's getting backed up....
Do we need to go round and round??

 

[Porthos]

Do we need to go round and round??

 

[glricht]

Fabs is much more than a simple backup/restore folders of files. If that's all you're using it for, then you're not taking advantage of its capabilities, such as:

• Backing up & restoring emails, signatures and what-not for various email clients (Outlook, WLM, Windows Mail, eM Client,Thunderbird and many others) and creating the appropriate profiles
• Various Office settings
• Handling a large variety of browsers
• Can run with a local or offline drive, within Windows or WinPE environment
  
• So many other capabilities that it's hardly worth documenting them -- see the web site
• Solid, consistent and professional support
• etc., etc., etc., etc.

 

[Mr. Ingram's Computer Repair & Shoppe]

• Backing up & restoring emails, signatures and what-not for various email clients (Outlook, WLM, Windows Mail, eM Client,Thunderbird and many others) and creating the appropriate profiles

• Various Office settings

• Handling a large variety of browsers

• Can run with a local or offline drive, within Windows or WinPE environment

• So many other capabilities that it's hardly worth documenting them -- see the web site

• Solid, consistent and professional support

• etc., etc., etc., etc.

1. I haven't seen that many mail clients in my area... Just not a job that would justify Fabs price, I don't hold value to that.
2. I don't even have any custom Office settings, and as far as I'm aware, my customers do not either.
3. This is actually incredibly useful, I love this feature.
4. I agree, it is an incredible piece of software, I love it.
5. Agreed, Fabs and SDIO are the only two "small" programs I know where support is better than anything I could pay for.
6. yup yup yup yup

Fabs is much more than a simple backup/restore folders of files.

But you have to admit, it does that very well already.

If that's all you're using it for, then you're not taking advantage of its capabilities, such as:

I probably don't take 80% advantage of the majority of software I own. I buy a program to solve a current problem... Fabs did that for me, solved a problem.

I'm just giving suggestions on how it could solve more problems for me.

It could be an entire different software package with a different name with it's own price.
I'd pay money to solve problems.

 

[GTP]

Agreed, Fabs and SDIO are the only two "small" programs I know where support is better than anything I could pay for.

You forgot WRT. Alex's support is as good as any! Especially for a "free" program.
WRT is as integral to my business as Fab's, SDIO or even Microsoft for that matter.

 

[River Valley Computer]

You forgot WRT. Alex's support is as good as any! Especially for a "free" program.
WRT is as integral to my business as Fab's, SDIO or even Microsoft for that matter.

We have the same things in ours. Also UVK.

 

[fincoder]

Just yesterday I had a client that had phone pics stored in the C:\Windows\Temp folder!
Had I not physically looked with my own eyes it would have been N&P'd!

Sorry @Barcelona but I don't get paid enough to go above and beyond like this. A temp folder is for temporary files that by definition can be deleted. Program Files are for programs that can't be saved. The Windows folder is for the OS. If people use these locations for personal data and don't have a backup then their data wasn't safe, so losing those files has nothing to do with our work to fix their computer.

Each of us has there own market, rates and expenses. I couldn't stay in business if I had to image every system and check all the folders for user data.

This is why I'm looking forward to the proposed Fabs feature of looking for 'unusual' folders/files. This would improve my service without adding to my time or customer bills.

I already put much more effort into recovering user data than any other tech in my region.

 

[GTP]

I don't agree @fincoder. Clients trust and rely on us to put things right.
They don't store stuff in odd places knowingly and it's a very small percentage that do it anyway.

I have a flat fee for workshop, so spending ~15 minutes to go through folders or even just a couple of simple searches for *.jpg.*.mp3, *.mpg etc. to see what turns up is providing better service IMO.

It also saves the headache later when a client asks "where's my pictures of my deceased mother/father or worse baby/child?"
They don't/won't care when you tell them "hey, you shouldn't store your stuff in <insert location> anyway!"

They'll just spread the word that YOU lost all their treasured memories.

As for imaging drives? I don't image every (healthy) drive but when I know a client can be problematic, I'll image their drive just in case.
Any drive with problems gets imaged of course.
I use ODIN which is portable and very fast.