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A file and folder backup is a useful way to backup your working files, personal files and any precious data.   Unlike many other backup solutions Macrium Reflect can even backup open /and locked files by using Microsoft Volume Shadow copy Service (VSS).
In this tutorial I?ll take you through the steps to create a full backup ofyour ?Documents? folder and You can backup your Documents folder and save the backup definition as anXMLfile an XML file for easy re-running and scheduling.

1. Start Macrium Reflect and within

   From the

   'Backup Tasks' pane at the top left of the application window select '

   Backup task bar, select Create a File and Folder backup

   ' to

    to start the backup wizard.

   Select 'Add folder' as shown below
   Image RemovedSelect the folder you would like

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   Select Add folder. 

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   The Select Folder to backup dialog appears. 

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   Select the folder you want to backup, or the folder

   that contains

   containing the

   specific

   files you

   would like

   want to backup.

   In this case, the Documents folder has been selected. This will open the 'File and folder backup' dialogue.
   Image RemovedThis dialogue allows a number of

   Several different masks and wildcards

   to

   can be specified to include specific files within the given directory or exclude other files.

   For example, by default, all .temp, .tmp, .bak and .~* files are excluded from the backup. In this instance, the default settings shall be used to simply click OK.You should be returned to the original dialogue where you can

   Option	Description
   Include subfolders	Recurse all folders below the backup folder using the specified filters
   Exclude hidden files and folders	Do not backup files or folders that have the Hidden attribute
   Exclude system files and folders	Do not backup files or folders that have the System attribute
   Add files to include	Add a semi-colon separated list of file name filters to include in the backup. Use the asterisk * character as a wild card. For example; *.doc; *data*; *.xls
   Add files to exclude	Add a semi-colon separated list of file name filters to exclude from the backup. Use the asterisk * character as a wild card. Note: Exclude filters take precedence over include filters
   Add any folders to exclude	Add a semi-colon separated list of folder name filters to exclude from the backup. Use the asterisk * character as a wild card. Filter names can be full path and/or folder names. For example:  *temp*  will exclude all folders with the letters 'temp' anywhere in the folder name *\data\temp* will exclude all paths where the folder name begins with 'temp' that has a parent folder named 'data'

3. Click OK
4. Repeat to add further individual directories if necessary.

5. In

   the '

   the Destination

   ' section, specify where you would like

    section, specify where you want the backup to be made

   and then

   . 

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   Alternative Locations can be used to provide backup rotations or as a fail safe for temporary unavailability of the primary backup destination.
   
   

6. When you have finished adding folders and making all necessary changes, click Next.  See also section on Backup Destinations below.A

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   The Backup Plan Page is shown:
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8. The summary screen gives the details of what is being backed up. Click Finish. 
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9. You are now given the opportunity to save the backup

   details in an XML definitions file. Enter a meaningful name for the backup definition and click OK
10. The backup should be performed automatically.

Backup Destinations

If you plan to automatically delete your excess backups using Disk Space Management (DSM), such as after Scheduling your backups, care should be taken in choosing the destination folder.

DSM deletes oldest backup sets in the destination folder to make space available for new backups.  DSM for one (XML) Backup Definition can delete backups sets created by another Backup Definition for backups placed in the same destination folder. The use of different folders should be part of a retention policy for backups to make sure one backup definition does not delete backups of others if you do not want it to do so. DSM works at folder level but only on the designated destination folder of the backup.

For information: A 'backup set' consists of a full backup and any incrementals or differentials with the same Image ID.  The Image ID is the part underlined in the following example backup file name: 69B5FC3F39E0F9F5-00-00.mrbak

Video Tutorial

You can view a Youtube tutorial on backing up files and folders below:

<iframe width="560" height="349" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a2pBAHxSNGA"></iframe>

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   If you want to run the backup at this point, select 'Run this backup now' and click OK.