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

[Karl00]

Does the last folder in the path exist on your server? If not, then it's normal. Create it and see what's next

Yes, it does exist. This happens on the customer's laptop but not another PC that I tested.

 

[fabs]

Yes, it does exist. This happens on the customer's laptop but not another PC that I tested.

That's weird it works on one and not another. Does your share require credentials to be accessed? If so, since you can access it from Windows explorer, are you running Fab’s AutoBackup with the same credentials or are you prompted for administrator login information?

 

[fabs]

Which is why I'm suggesting that the default browser is logged in the Installed Software List report. Then the tech can manually set the default after installing the browser.

This will be in the next update. The program will look in the registry for default browser and default email client and add them to the installed software html report, user per user since this is not defined at machine level but user level :

 

[fincoder]

The program will look in the registry for default browser and default email client and add them to the installed software html report, user per user since this is not defined at machine level but user level

Thankyou!
Great implementation. Hope it wasn't too much coding...

 

[fincoder]

It's interesting that the cause of Microsoft's latest Windows 10 release failure is similar to what we've discussed recently about Fabs Autobackup.

In summary, users that had relocated some of their user profile folders (e.g. to D:\Data), but still had data in the old location (C:\Users\User) lost those old folders. And in my experience some customers do get into this confused situation with data in both locations. Apparently they're fixing it so that 'the “original” old folder location and its contents remain intact'.

It might be worth considering this issue in regards to Fabs backing up relocated profile folders.

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsex...ber-2018-update-released-to-windows-insiders/

 

[Porthos]

Some people move too much from the system drive to save space on the system drive. I have no issues with the last upgrade or using Fab's to back up data when I set up a dual drive system.

 

[fabs]

Some people move too much from the system drive to save space on the system drive. I have no issues with the last upgrade or using Fab's to back up data when I set up a dual drive system.

Redirected folders are not an issue. Entire profiles moved elsewhere are.
This is a thing that would require a lot of coding and could also get rid of the rest of my hair. Especially when it comes to deal with offline systems...

 

[fabs]

Hi!
Not a big update but pretty nice anyway: Fab's AutoBackup 7 Pro V7.0.7.377 has just been released.

Change log:
Added:
- Installed software list now includes default browser and default email client software for each user whose profile has been selected for backup / transfer.

Fixed:
- Lots of Google Chrome cache files were still copied even if the "Exclude local browsers cache" option was selected. This will speed up the copy process.
- When backing up data from more than one user profile, backup path and its free space was several times in job summary.

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

 

[Karl00]

Better to install programs first or restore first?

Had odd situation where customer wanted his Steam stuff moved to his other drive not with Windows, but this program didn't move the Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps folder. I guess this was to be expected due to different location. His Steam stuff was originally on the C drive before intake and wanted Windows reinstall.

 

[fabs]

Better to install programs first or restore first?

Had odd situation where customer wanted his Steam stuff moved to his other drive not with Windows, but this program didn't move the Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps folder. I guess this was to be expected due to different location. His Steam stuff was originally on the C drive before intake and wanted Windows reinstall.

Usually, this is not an issue. In this particular case, the program put the stuff back in the default location, so it would have been better to install and set steam before restore.

 

[fincoder]

Redirected folders are not an issue

Do you mean not an an issue for Fabs AutoBackup? There was a discussion a couple of weeks ago about Fabs handling redirected profile folders, I can't remember if that was implemented. I think we can all safely ignore the possibility of the entire user profile being relocated as that isn't a documented feature of the OS, or is it?

The latest Windows 10 upgrade disaster is due to profile folders being relocated, and the original folder locations still with data in them getting deleted. It shows that there are users out there with this strange folder arrangement, I think it's because people don't choose the option to move data to the relocated folders, then later they start using the original folders again (by navigating the filesystem, or older apps might use the default file path instead of the profile folder location setting). There's also the scenario where the older OneDrive client would relocate known folder and leave the data behind.

Maybe Fabs AutoBackup should save the redirected profile folders PLUS the default folders if they still exist, as the Windows 10 upgrade process will now apparently do in future. Otherwise the previously requested feature of saving non-standard profile folders could solve this.

 

[fabs]

Do you mean not an an issue for Fabs AutoBackup?

Yes, that's what I mean. I use folder redirection for "My documents', "My music" and "Downloads" and there's no problem for Fab's AutoBackup to find and back them up. As soon as it has been done the right way using their properties through windows Explorer, it is a breeze.

There was a discussion a couple of weeks ago about Fabs handling redirected profile folders, I can't remember if that was implemented. I think we can all safely ignore the possibility of the entire user profile being relocated as that isn't a documented feature of the OS, or is it?

Since redirected folders are already handled (folders paths are grabbed from registry, so I get their real path), no need to change anything for them. Entire profiles location change is a pain to do, so, people doing that know what they are doing, so, I think it can be ignored. In worst case, a disk image of the client's computer before starting anything on them is the base trick to CYA.

Maybe Fabs AutoBackup should save the redirected profile folders PLUS the default folders if they still exist, as the Windows 10 upgrade process will now apparently do in future. Otherwise the previously requested feature of saving non-standard profile folders could solve this.

Well, this deserved to be well implemented to not complicate program's use. Like looking for real folder paths, compare them with default path and is there is a difference, include default location too. The thing that disturbs me is : when it comes to restore, how do I choose which file to keep if there is a conflict? Or do I put them in a special sub folder like "@Recovered" so the client can decide by himself. This one would be the best option IMHO.

 

[fabs]

I have worked a bit around this. The program will compare the detected folder's path and the one it should have by default. If there is a difference, it checks the default location for content. For example, if content is discovered in the old "My documents" folder (like if the user has left his files behind), it is copied inside a "@recovered" folder that's added to the documents backup (or to the new user's documents folder in case of a restore/transfer job). This way, there is no file conflict to worry about and the client will find this folder on top of the others among his documents folder, so, he can easily check what's inside.

The process is totally transparent for the tech since there is no additional option to set.

This has been added for :
- My documents
- My music
- My pictures
- My videos
- Downloads
- 3D Objects

The thing also works if you are dealing with an XP machine.

By the way, next version will also support Brave browser profile.

 

[fincoder]

if content is discovered in the old "My documents" folder (like if the user has left his files behind), it is copied inside a "@recovered" folder that's added to the documents backup

That would work.

I was going to suggest just restoring or transferring the default folder data in the default folder location where it was originally, and it wouldn't clash with files in the relocated folder path. In the backup storage location it could just be kept in _DEFAULT_Documents or something similar, but restored to the actual default location. Is there a reason why the files can't go back to the default location? Maybe you want to teach the user a lesson

 

[GTP]

I have more and more clients using EPB (Epic Privacy Browser) which is being recommended by banks and financial institutions here.
Will Fabs support Epic and others like Opera, Tor, Vivaldi, WaterFox, Pale Moon and many others that my clients use?

 

[Diggs]

Will Fabs support Epic and others like Opera, Tor, Vivaldi, WaterFox, Pale Moon and many others that my clients use?

In all honesty, I have never ran across any one of these browsers being used in the wild. I'm not sure FAB wants to write for every possible option.

 

[fabs]

Is there a reason why the files can't go back to the default location? Maybe you want to teach the user a lesson

Simple, if users set another path for a folder, it is obvious that everything that was in the old folder must follow. Indeed, at restore/transfer, they will wonder why there is a "@Recovered" folder in their docs. Then, the lesson should be learned (hopefully) !

 

[fabs]

I have more and more clients using EPB (Epic Privacy Browser) which is being recommended by banks and financial institutions here.
Will Fabs support Epic and others like Opera, Tor, Vivaldi, WaterFox, Pale Moon and many others that my clients use?

There is already support for Opera, Vivaldi and Waterfox. Perhaps others may come later.

 

[GTP]

Just used Fabs version 7.0.4.32756 only to discover that several items were not backed up because they must be manually checked in the program.

My bad that I didn't think to/know that those items should be checked. AFAIK they were checked by default.
Client not happy because data is now gone.

Looks like I need to go back to an even earlier version still or consider not using Fabs altogether.

Too many cooks have spoiled the broth...imo.

 

[fabs]

Just used Fabs version 7.0.4.32756 only to discover that several items were not backed up because they must be manually checked in the program.

My bad that I didn't think to/know that those items should be checked. AFAIK they were checked by default.
Client not happy because data is now gone.

Looks like I need to go back to an even earlier version still or consider not using Fabs altogether.

Too many cooks have spoiled the broth...imo.

I am really sorry to read this and understand your anger. However, if you want me to fix anything, do not you think I would need some clues like what was left behind, in which circumstances, anything that could be useful to know ? I do not think going to the first V7 release or even V6 will solve what happens imho. If you think it would, here you will find all the versions I have released since the first V7 but you will be exposed to more risks : http://download.fpnet.fr/release_history/pro/
Updates are also here to fix stuff, not to spoil anything.

Just as a reminder, here is a list of all the issues that have been fixed since 7.0.4.32756:

7.0.6.33:
- Dropbox and hubiC contents were copied to their old paths when performing a direct transfer job.
- The program does not try anymore to get system serial number when the source drive is not the current system drive.

7.0.6.48:
- When a copy fails because a file was in use, the program now clearly logs it.

7.0.6.84:
- Restore to a newly created user profile from the app was not working. It required to restart the program or reboot the computer then restore the files.
- Better form resize handling for the live job information boxes and labels.
- When using VSS snapshots, the source folder looked like "C:\Fabs_X_ShadowCopy" and could appear on job reports. The "Fabs" word has been replaced with "VSS" since this could be disturbing for branded software.

7.0.7.300:
- When backing up or transferring Outlook data from a downgraded Outlook machine. Example: there was a working Outlook 2016 that has been unistalled and replaced with Outlook 2010 instead, the program got the account settings from Outlook 2016 (the newest) instead of the ones from Outlook 2010. Now, the program gets the version of the currently installed Outlook first and then focuses on its settings.
- The file copy progress bar was not working anymore while copying files over a UNC network path.
- The default browser detection method has been improved (thanks to Alex from Malwarebytes for the trick). Now the various pages and html logs open in the right browser.

7.0.7.377:
- Lots of Google Chrome cache files were still copied even if the "Exclude local browsers cache" option was selected. This will speed up the copy process.
- When backing up data from more than one user profile, backup path and its free space was several times in job summary.