Automated Backup on Windows 7

Posted on March 11, 2013. 0 Comments

Windows 7 comes with a built-in Backup and Restore tool. Windows Task Scheduler can be set to wake up the computer at a preset time (when it is not in) to start Windows Backup. Task scheduler can also be set to email or display a backup success or failure notification.

Specify What and Where to Back Up

1. Connect the peripheral device that will serve as backup destination (e.g. portable hard drive, USB stick, etc.).
2. Log into Windows as a user who is an Administrator.
3. Start Windows Backup from Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore.
4. Under Backup section, select "Change settings".
5. Select backup destination. Click on Next.
6. Select "Let me choose" for "What do you want to back up?". "Let Windows choose" is recommended by Microsoft but is problematic as it tends to skip user folders that are saved in libraries. Click on Next.
7. Select the checkbox next to your user folder (e.g. C:\Users\USERNAME\). This will automatically select all subfolders under your user folder. Select other folders if you store data outside your user folder (you shouldn't). Select the checkbox next to "Include a system image of drives". Click on Next.
8. Verify your backup settings and then select "Change schedule". Choose to run backup daily and at a time when computer is not in use (e.g. early morning hours). Click on OK. Click on "Save settings and exit".

Wake Computer Up for Backup

1. From Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options select "Change plan settings" corresponding to your power plan.
2. Select "Change advanced power settings".
3. Navigate to Sleep > Allow wake timers. Select Enable for both "On battery" and "Plugged in" options. Click on Apply. Click on OK.

Be advised that if you change your power plan or restore default settings for your power plan, you will need to repeat the above procedures for backup to continue to work.

Configure Backup Scheduled Task

1. Start Task Scheduler from Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools.
2. Navigate to Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > WindowsBackup.
3. Right-click on AutomaticBackup task and choose Properties.
4. Select General tab:
   1. Under "Security options" make sure the task is running as SYSTEM account.
   2. Select "Run with highest privileges" checkbox.
   3. Set "Configure for" dropdown to the entry listing Windows 7.
5. Select Conditions tab:
   1. Select "Wake the computer to run this task" checkbox.
   2. Clear all other checkboxes.
6. Click on OK.

Configure Backup Success Notification

1. Start Task Scheduler from Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools.
2. Click on Create Task.
3. On General tab:
   1. For Name enter Backup Success Notification Task.
   2. For Description enter "Notifies backup admin of scheduled backup successful completion".
   3. Select "Run only when user is logged on" radio button.
   4. Set "Configure for" dropdown to the entry listing Windows 7.
4. Select Trigger tab:
   1. Click on New... button.
   2. Set "Begin the task" dropdown to "On an event".
   3. Under Settings select Basic radio button.
   4. Set Log dropdown to Microsoft-Windows-Backup/Operational.
   5. Set Source dropdown to Backup.
   6. For Event ID enter 4.
   7. Click on OK.
5. Select Actions tab:
   1. Click on New... button.
   2. Set Action dropdown to "Display a message".
   3. For Title and Message enter Backup Completed Successfully.
   4. Click on OK.
6. Click on OK.

Configure Backup Failure Notification

1. Start Task Scheduler from Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools.
2. Click on Create Task.
3. On General tab:
   1. For Name enter Backup Failure Notification Task.
   2. For Description enter "Notifies backup administrator of scheduled backup failure".
   3. Select "Run only when user is logged on" radio button.
   4. Set "Configure for" dropdown to the entry listing Windows 7.
4. Select Trigger tab:
   1. Click on New... button.
   2. Set "Begin the task" dropdown to "On an event".
   3. Under Settings select Custom radio button.
   4. Click on New Event Filter... button.
   5. Select Filter tab.
      1. Set Logged dropdown to "Last hour".
      2. Select "By log" radio button.
      3. Set "Event logs" dropdown to Microsoft-Windows-Backup/Operational.
      4. For Event ID enter 5,8,9,17,22,49,50,52,100,517,518,521,527,528,544,545,546,561,564,612.¹
      5. Click on OK.
   6. Click on OK.
5. Select Actions tab:
   1. Click on New... button.
   2. Set Action dropdown to "Display a message".
   3. For Title and Message enter Backup Failed or Cancelled!
   4. Click on OK.
6. Click on OK.

¹Microsoft Corporation, Backup Operations.↩