In news:63k2m5dbja0nq5pkbnor0b4h2chbbl5hrv@4ax.com,
mm <NOPSAMmm2005@bigfoot.com> typed:
> On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:14:07 -0500, "Twayne" <nobody@spamcop.net>
> wrote:
>
>> In news:48avl59ft76n1o2bf246b4pus7q683v2hi@4ax.com,
>> mm <NOPSAMmm2005@bigfoot.com> typed:
>>> Is there a list of files it's not worth backing up?
>>>
>>> I was watching my backup software messages go by today, and there
>>> were so many kinds of files I didn't want to save.
>>>
>>> For example, "temporary internet files" but from more than one place
>>> on the harddrive.
>>>
>>> Or, every AVG update file I've ever gotten.
>>>
>>> I googled as best I could and found one "list" in a pcguide article,
>>> but it only listed the swapfile and compressed volumes!
>>
>> Those are the norms for files to not backup. Do a Disk Cleanup
>> (Start; Programs; Accessories; System Tools; Disk Cleanup) first to
>> eliminate the "junk" on the drive.
>>
>> In XP the 'swapfile' is called pagefile.sys and doesn't need to be
>> backed up. I've no idea why it said not to backup COMPRESSED
>> VOLUMES; they will back up and restore just fine.
>>
>> Some other files I added to the not to backup list are:
>> Program backup files such as *.bak, but those might be useful to
>> you; ymmv. *.tmp,
>> ~*.* since sometimes they get located in strange places,
>> Recycler,
>> System Volume Information,
>> *.tmp,
>> *.temp, (I make my own and have multiple locations for them)
>
> I have excluded all of these except the SVI and the .bak files.
Running the Disk Cleanup application before backing up will get rid of most
of the files that aren't worth backing up. Unless you've done things
different than windows set them up, that should suffice fine.
>
> Does it matter if I delete the Recycle Bin files.
No, not really.
If I make sure I
> don't back the files up, their space is available when needed, right?
Right. Depending on how often you empty the Recycle Bin, it can get to be
pretty big. Personally I don't leave files in it for long. Every few days I
empty it, just to keep clutter down in case I do decide I want a recently
deleted file back, but it almost never happens. And if I really did need a
deleted, it'll usually be in my backup archives anyway.
HTH,
Twayne
>
>> HOWever, in the overall scheme of things, those are all minor
>> details/disk space when you compare them to the overall size of the
>> drive so many people don't even bother with them. Recycle, System
>> Volume Information and the pagefile.sys however can be pretty large
>> depending, so they're worth listing.
>>
>> None of the above are likely to amount to a speed improvement for the
>> backups though. It sounds like you might be running XPs ntbackup.exe
>> (Backup) which is fine and fully functional as long as you create
>> and keep updated the ASR diskette.
>> Then you have Norton Ghost and Acronis True Image, reasonably
>> affordable disk imaging programs that have better bells & whistles
>> and make things a little easier to do and make doing
>> Full/Incremental backups on a schedule a snap to do. Personally I
>> use Ghost but I think more people might be useing Acronis for
>> whatever reason, probably the price. The two are roughly the same
>> with the only major difference that Acronis doesn't clone disks IIRC
>> where Ghost does. Cloning however is seldom needed by most people.
>>
>> IMO the two major things to remember before running any backup:
>> Do a Disk Cleanup and don't include the pagefile or Recycler in the
>> backup, plus be SURE you create and understand the use of the ASR
>> floppy. In Ghost and TI the floppy can be a CD or DVD instead; and
>> all are bootable in order to do catastrophic failure recoveries or
>> install a new drive, for instance.
>
> Thanks and thanks all.
>
> I had exclude pagefile.sys and the recycle folder.
>
> Even though I keep all files showing, I don't spend as much time
> looking at them as I used to. My curiosity is mostly gone.
>
> So I was surprised by the System Volume information. Those are
> restore points, right? I would want to delete almost all of them, but
> not all in case I have to restore.
>
> I'll digest all you have said.
>
>
>> HTH,
>>
>> Twayne