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

[nlinecomputers]

Yes, you can transfer or you can point to the Windows directory as the source. I always back up to an external drive and then restore. Yes, it is two steps but I like having that directory of all the stuff to refer to should an error occur on restore. It is easier to find the missing items. It is very rare but has happened.

 

[timeshifter]

One problem I keep running into is the Nirsoft programs getting nuked by the AV. Are there any simple ways to prevent this that don't involve digging into the AV program and excluding things, or just turning off AV while running them?

 

[britechguy]

Are there any simple ways to prevent this that don't involve digging into the AV program and excluding things, or just turning off AV while running them?

I consider excluding the folder where I keep them to be as "simple as pie." I haven't had AV cut me off at the knees when I try to run them. Issues happen more when I try to save them initially.

 

[Porthos]

One problem I keep running into is the Nirsoft programs getting nuked by the AV. Are there any simple ways to prevent this that don't involve digging into the AV program and excluding things, or just turning off AV while running them?

Fabs used to add exclusions to Defender. If using a 3rd party AV you have to do the exclusions/disabling yourself.

 

[timeshifter]

I consider excluding the folder where I keep them to be as "simple as pie."

If you know where the setting is. I just tried in my Windows 11 VM. I can't find it on the first try. Gonna have to Google it.

OK, not too bad, I just wasn't seeing it

Virus and Threat Protection in the Windows Security App - Microsoft Support

Learn how to use virus and threat protection options in Windows Security to scan your device for threats and view the results.

support.microsoft.com

 

[Larry Sabo]

Fabs used to add exclusions to Defender. If using a 3rd party AV you have to do the exclusions/disabling yourself.

It would be sweet if @fabs could do it for the major AVs as well. Kaspersky is especially a PITA.

 

[timeshifter]

Fabs used to add exclusions to Defender. If using a 3rd party AV you have to do the exclusions/disabling yourself.

But the exclusions for Defender don't exist now?

Naive question: how can a program do that? Don't recall ever seeing software add files or folders to an AV's exclusion list. I guess it could be done with a UAC prompt?

 

[nlinecomputers]

But the exclusions for Defender don't exist now?

Naive question: how can a program do that? Don't recall ever seeing software add files or folders to an AV's exclusion list. I guess it could be done with a UAC prompt?

I assume that it's in the registry somewhere. Like everything else in Winders

 

[timeshifter]

I assume that it's in the registry somewhere. Like everything else in Winders

Then wouldn't it be overly easy for malware to just insert their own exclusions into the registry?

 

[GTP]

It would be sweet if @fabs could do it for the major AVs as well. Kaspersky is especially a PITA.

Add Emsisoft to this list.

 

[fabs]

Sorry guys but that will not be that simple. Powershell commands were pretty easy ton find for Defender but if I succeed doing that with other AVs, then they will just remove Fab's entirely...

 

[timeshifter]

Sorry guys but that will not be that simple. Powershell commands were pretty easy ton find for Defender but if I succeed doing that with other AVs, then they will just remove Fab's entirely...

So how do we add exceptions to Defender? Are the Powershell commands included with Fabs?

 

[fabs]

So how do we add exceptions to Defender? Are the Powershell commands included with Fabs?

Yes, it does it by itself.

 

[timeshifter]

Yes, it does it by itself.

The portable version does it? So every time I run it, it adds them (if they’re not already there)?

 

[fabs]

The portable version does it? So every time I run it, it adds them (if they’re not already there)?

Yes, it adds them while running and removes them when quitting

 

[Larry Sabo]

@fabs, I just ran into a problem trying to exclude a folder that AutoBackup 7 Pro build 7.12.1.5971 was unable to read. I left it trying for a long time but it seemed to be stalled trying forever. (I thought it would time out and skip the file/folder?) Anyway, I backed up and excluded the folder but on retry, it still stalled on the same folder, rather than skipping it.

Edit: I left it trying the excluded folder and the job eventually proceeded and did exclude the selected folder. I'm retrying without the exclusion to see what it does if I give it enough time.

Edit 2: it eventually resumed and backed up the previously excluded folder and its sub-folders.

 

[nlinecomputers]

@fabs, I just ran into a problem trying to exclude a folder that AutoBackup 7 Pro build 7.12.1.5971 was unable to read. I left it trying for a long time but it seemed to be stalled trying forever. (I thought it would time out and skip the file/folder?) Anyway, I backed up and excluded the folder but on retry, it still stalled on the same folder, rather than skipping it.

Edit: I left it trying the excluded folder and the job eventually proceeded and did exclude the selected folder. I'm retrying without the exclusion to see what it does if I give it enough time.

Edit 2: it eventually resumed and backed up the previously excluded folder and its sub-folders.

sounds like a bad sector on the drive.

 

[Larry Sabo]

sounds like a bad sector on the drive.

I agree(*); my concern was with the program appearing to ignore the exclusion, but not.

Edit: (*) the drive has over 60,000 power-on hours of operation and likely suffers from a slow-responding firmware problem, in spite of a healthy SMART report. It's slow as molasses.

 

[fabs]

I agree; my concern was with the program appearing to ignore the exclusion, but not.

I see that you excluded the "I:\Users\Roger\AppData\Local\Google" folder. The program looks for the "I:\Users\Roger\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data" folder when it deals with Chrome profile. I agree it should not have been processed at all since it has been excluded. However, the Chrome profile was still selected on the main interface. That may be why it kept trying to process it anyway.

 

[Larry Sabo]

However, the Chrome profile was still selected on the main interface. That may be why it kept trying to process it anyway.

When I selected the Google folder, I assumed that included all sub-folders, including the Chrome\User Data folder.