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

[fabs]

Hello,
Fab's AutoBackup 7 Pro and Fab's AutoBackup 7 Home & Office V7.8.4.4908 have just been released.

Here is the change log for both versions:

Added:
- Since they are now in password protected zip archives, Nirsoft tools are now directly bundled in setup program.
- Added a checksum control for Nirsoft tools updates. Sometimes, firewalls can block download attempts so downloaded file could be 0kb and the program could hang during backup/transfer. If download fails, the program will show a message prompt and Nirsoft tool previous version is restored. This way, the program remains functional.

Fixed:
- There could be error messages (sometimes app crashes) when using the program without active network connection while it was trying to check for Nirsoft tools updates.
- Greatly improved search time while listing files to be copied for Google Chrome, Chromium Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi, Maxthon, Avant Browser, Comodo Dragon browser, Epic Privacy Browser, Avast Secure Browser, AVG Secure Browser, Comodo Dragon browser, 360 Browser and Chromium.
- Windows Defender could catch some Nirsoft tools when the program was checking their versions numbers. This was not disturbing for the rest of the process but it is now smoother.
- Improved exclusion process from Windows Defender for Nirsoft Tools. Now, the program excludes them as soon as it starts and totally cleans matching exclusions when it closes.
- Pro only: since setup package is just a container, it does not require admin privileges anymore to unpack files.
- Setup will not show End User License Agreement (EULA) as the program itself shows it at first startup. There is no need to accept it twice.

Grab it from your orders history's details on the shop's website at https://store.fpnet.fr/account.php or using the bundled updater tool (click the "Download Fab's AutoBackup 7.X" link within the program and get the updated files).

 

[cypress]

Really good update!

 

[Diggs]

Fabrice! What happened? Autobackup has for years paused before writing a backup to report the size of that backup. I rely on that. I upgraded my Autobackup and then blundered into a 300GB backup and had no idea because there is no more pause for size reporting before starting. Can that be put back again?

I've also wondered why using an older version of Autobackup I could back up a Google Chrome profile but the newer version doesn't. I thought I saw somewhere about Google encryption but why does an older version of FABs back it up where the newer doesn't? I happened to backup and restore the same customer drive with two different versions of Autobackup. The old version I got all of the Google profile with favorites, etc. Using the newer version I didn't. (I need to rerun this test again but hard to replicate as I don't think I have the older version I was using on a drive any more and the customer drive may have a drill press whole through it.... chuckles.)

 

[fabs]

Fabrice! What happened? Autobackup has for years paused before writing a backup to report the size of that backup. I rely on that. I upgraded my Autobackup and then blundered into a 300GB backup and had no idea because there is no more pause for size reporting before starting. Can that be put back again?

This option still exists. Just before running the job, there is a "show options" link at the bottom that allows you to enable the "Show total size before copy" :

I've also wondered why using an older version of Autobackup I could back up a Google Chrome profile but the newer version doesn't. I thought I saw somewhere about Google encryption but why does an older version of FABs back it up where the newer doesn't? I happened to backup and restore the same customer drive with two different versions of Autobackup. The old version I got all of the Google profile with favorites, etc. Using the newer version I didn't. (I need to rerun this test again but hard to replicate as I don't think I have the older version I was using on a drive any more and the customer drive may have a drill press whole through it.... chuckles.)

Now, let's talk about that Chrome "problem". Yes older versions used to grab ENTIRE Chrome profile. That being said, current 2018 or 2019, it appeared that full Chrome profiles restored are juste wiped out when Chrome starts up. Why ? Because most Chrome profiles settings are now encrypted and encryption key seems to be tied to Windows user's profile somehow. Chrome says that an external program has changed profile so it has reset it and everything gets lost after that. I had to limit Chrome feature to bookmarks because that's the only item that just will not get deleted.
Fab's can still get full Chrome profile but for Active Directory domain user accounts only. It still works for them.

I'm sorry about that disappointment but this is strictly not because of me. Google is to blame here.

 

[Diggs]

This option still exists. Just before running the job, there is a "show options" link at the bottom that allows you to enable the "Show total size before copy" :

Ahh - Thank you. I should have known it was user error. I've had it set for so long I forgot it might have been an option instead of the default.

 

[Diggs]

let's talk about that Chrome "problem".

Does this problem exist for Edge? Can Edge be used to manually grab Chrome's Bookmarks/Favorites before a N&P, FABs grabs those bookmarks from Edge and then back into Edge after the N&P and then after Chrome is installed use the Chrome import Bookmarks to grab those back from Edge again? A bit convoluted but it can give us techs an easier option to save a customers bookmarks/favorites at least.

 

[fabs]

Does this problem exist for Edge? Can Edge be used to manually grab Chrome's Bookmarks/Favorites before a N&P, FABs grabs those bookmarks from Edge and then back into Edge after the N&P and then after Chrome is installed use the Chrome import Bookmarks to grab those back from Edge again? A bit convoluted but it can give us techs an easier option to save a customers bookmarks/favorites at least.

It does partially at least. Saved passwords and home page do not make it. Things like bookmarks and history get transferred without issue.
If you can then use Google Sync feature. This way, when you'll enable sync on new install, Chrome will get everything, including saved passwords.

Edit: I may have found some way to get more Chrome items but just bookmarks files. The culprit here is a file named "secure preferences". That's an encrypted copy of the "preferences" file that contains most of Chrome profile settings. For once, I could make Fab's "miss" this encrypted file when restoring or transferring a Chrome profile so the rest (except saved credentials) should follow. I've tested that manually and copied profile did not get wiped out. Maybe because Chrome did not have anything "secured" to compare unencrypted preferences with... This needs more testing but it looks promising.

 

[Porthos]

@fabs You used to grab Malwarebytes license keys but it seems to be encrypted now as well.

 

[sapphirescales]

I had to limit Chrome feature to bookmarks because that's the only item that just will not get deleted.

That really sucks. The ability for Fabs to back up browser profiles is the #1 reason why I use your software.

 

[fabs]

That really sucks. The ability for Fabs to back up browser profiles is the #1 reason why I use your software.

Let's see how my next experiments with chrome stuff goes.

Edit: the Chrome tests did not give expected results. I keep getting that "Chrome detected that some of your settings were corrupted by another program and reset them to their original defaults." when I go to Chrome settings after a manual profile copy... Just be aware that Fab's works like this since 12/18/2019.

@fabs You used to grab Malwarebytes license keys but it seems to be encrypted now as well.

Ouch... I can ask them if there's a way to get it anyway. If not, I'll have to remove the feature from Fab's.

Edit 2: It appears you're right about that. Fab's grabs someting but it's all encrypted and unusable. I'm trying to reach someone I know at Malwarebytes to see if there's a work around for that. If not, I'll have no choice but remove the feature.

 

[fabs]

I've decided to bring back the "full" Chrome profile handling, even if some settings disappear because of different encryption key between source and target user profiles.
Just to let you know, at startup after restore/transfer, Chrome will do this, no matters what you do:
- Default search engine reverts back to Google
- Start page and tabs are reset to Chrome defaults
- New tab page settings is reverted to defaults
- Pinned tabs are wiped out
- Website settings are reset (like granted popups or mic access)
- Cookies are wiped out
- Extensions and themes are removed

I'll just add a warning saying that user must NOT click the "Reset all settings" button when going to Chrome settings after restore or things will get worse. This way, maximum settings will be kept and I'll get covered for missing items...

 

[JoelM]

I'm having problems download the Nirsoft tools. On everyone of them I get the attached message.

 

[fabs]

I'm having problems download the Nirsoft tools. On everyone of them I get the attached message.

View attachment 13232

It looks like you have a problem with your firewall. All the instructions are in your screen shot.
If you can't edit your firewall rules, then, since nirsoft tools are now bundled directly, I suggest that you download the full Fab's AutoBackup package from your store account (here's the procedure: https://download.fpnet.fr/Download-Update-Guide.pdf).
The files will be extracted to "C:\Fab's AutoBackup 7 Pro" folder. Grab its content and overwrite your current files with them.

 

[Diggs]

I'm having problems download the Nirsoft tools.

Heh - The only errors I get when running FABs are the Nirsoft tools failing to get what ever they were after. (Sorry, no screenshot but it's pretty routine so I'll grab one on my next backup.)

 

[fabs]

Heh - The only errors I get when running FABs are the Nirsoft tools failing to get what ever they were after. (Sorry, no screenshot but it's pretty routine so I'll grab one on my next backup.)

That can happen if there is some anti malware else but Defender running and preventing them from running.

 

[fabs]

So, I don't have the secret receipt to grab Malwarebytes license key since it's now encrypted. This feature is now useless and will be removed in next Fab's version. I wish I had better news about that but I don't :/
At least, it will have some more features and improvements. If everything goes well, I may release it this week.

 

[sapphirescales]

@fabs Have you checked out Windows 11's new Media Player?

I have no idea how it works, but it looks like it will allow you to sort music/videos and use playlists (sort of like iTunes). You might want to check out whether Fabs can back up/restore the Media Player settings.

 

[fabs]

@fabs Have you checked out Windows 11's new Media Player?

I have no idea how it works, but it looks like it will allow you to sort music/videos and use playlists (sort of like iTunes). You might want to check out whether Fabs can back up/restore the Media Player settings.

As soon as it does not rely on those Jetblue databases, that is worth a shot

 

[Thomas Ehler]

ability to restore a multiple users backup in a single operation

This i gather USMT has been able to do for 20 years?

 

[fabs]

This i gather USMT has been able to do for 20 years?

Perhaps. The thing with USMT is that it will just care about regular Microsoft stuff or will need user to be aware of where each software stores its data and settings.