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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/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 save the backup definition as anXMLfile for easy re-running and scheduling.

If you wish to backup your Operating System, Do Not use a File & Folder Backup, you must use an Image Backup. A File / Folder backup is not suitable for restoring your Windows OperatingSystem.
  1. Start Macrium Reflect and within the 'Backup Tasks' pane at the top left of the application window select 'Create a File and Folder backup' to start the backup wizard.
  2. Select 'Add folder' as shown below

  3. Select the folder you would like to backup, or the folder that contains the specific files you would like to backup. In this case, the Documents folder has been selected. This will open the 'File and folder backup' dialogue.

  4. This dialogue allows a number of different masks and wildcards to 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.
  5. You should be returned to the original dialogue where you can add further individual directories if necessary. In the 'Destination' section, specify where you would like the backup to be made and then click Next.  See also section on Backup Destinations below.
  6. A summary screen gives the details of what is being backed up. Click Finish

  7. 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
  8. 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:


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