Source Types
Details on each of the Backup sources can be found by clicking the links below.
This option allows you to manually browse your local or network file structure and select specific files or folders for backup. Selecting only the files and folders you require gives you the flexibility to create precise, custom jobs that encompass files scattered across multiple locations into a single, consolidated, backup routine. Handpicking files and folders in this manner may also help to save time and disk space (especially important to users with limited resources or if the application is to be used in a networked environment on multiple workstations).
To backup only selected folders or files
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Select the 'Files and Directories' radio button.
The right hand side pane displays a message that no items are available for backup. In More Options mode you have to select files / folders from tree view.
To add files or folders, click the 'Add file...' or 'Add folder...' buttons.
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Navigate and select the file(s) or the folder(s) you want to backup. Repeat the process to add more files or folders.
The selected items will be displayed in the right side pane.
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Note: Selecting a folder helps to backup all the sub-folders and the files in it. |
If you want to delete the added files or folders, select the item(s) and click the 'Delete items' button.
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Click 'Next'.
Alternatively, you can also select a desired file / folder to be backed up, from the Windows Explorer window. Right click on the desired item and select 'CBU BackUp'.
The process moves to Step 2.
Disk, Partition and Master Boot Record
You can backup the contents of the entire hard disk drive or specific partition in your computer and / or the Master Boot Record (MBR) of that drive.
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Background Note: Track0 is the area located at the start of your hard disk containing the first 63 sectors. It stores the information regarding the layout of the disk like the partition table. Also Track0 stores the licensing information for software because it is an area of the disk outside the OS file system and not seen or used by most computer users (and therefore cannot be easily modified or replicated). The MBR is the very first sector on Track0 and contains the instructions necessary for a computer to start up. It is also known as the 'Boot Sector'. Backing up the Track0 and MBR (preferably to a separate physical drive or removable media) helps to recover a drive should the original Track0 and MBR become corrupted and the machine un-bootable. |
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Important Note: In order to create a backup for Disk Partitions and MBR, Comodo BackUp has to be run under administrative privileges. Refer to the note in the chapter Starting Comodo BackUp for more details. |
To backup the whole Disk drive, drive partition(s) and / or the MBR
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Select the 'Disk, Partitions and MBR' radio button.
The right hand side pane displays the options for selecting the item to be backed up.
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To backup the whole hard disk in your system, select the 'Disk0' checkbox. This includes the boot partition and all the other individual partitions.
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To backup the Track0 and MBR, select the 'Track0 and MBR' checkbox.
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To select the individual drive partitions, CD / DVD or the USB memory, select the checkbox of the respective partition drive letter.
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Click 'Next'.
Alternatively, you can also select a desired drive partition to be backed up, from the Windows Explorer window, Right click on the desired drive and select 'CBU BackUp'
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Background Note: The backup of the selected disk / partition is performed in sector-by-sector method and the resulting backup file is an image of the selected drive or partition. |
The process moves to Step 2.
The Windows registry is a huge, constantly referenced, archive for collecting and storing configuration settings of Windows components and installed software and hardware. Whenever you perform a task such as installing or removing a program or modifying a file on your computer, Windows creates an entry in the Windows Registry to reflect this change. It is difficult to over-estimate the importance of the registry to Windows users because the entire operating system is so heavily reliant upon it. One corrupted or deleted registry key could bring your system crashing to a standstill. It is therefore a highly recommended practice to take regular backups of your registry so that, in the event of catastrophe, you can quickly roll back your system to its last working state. For the same reason, it is also a good idea to backup your registry before you install new software or hardware drivers.
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Important Note: In order to create a backup for the Registry files, Comodo BackUp has to be run under administrative privileges. Refer to the note in the chapter Starting Comodo BackUp for more details. |
To backup entire Windows Registry Files
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Select the 'Registry Files' radio button.
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By default, all the Registry files are selected. If you want to backup the registry files selectively, uncheck the files which you do not need to back up.
The process moves to Step 2.
Individual registry keys and / or 'hives' can be backed up selectively (for example, the registry entries corresponding to specific Windows components / installed hardware / software / applications etc). You may want to do this because you are about to install a new device, driver or piece of software and wish to be able to revert very important areas of the the registry to their previous state or because you would rather back up very important areas of the registry instead of a taking complete backup. Because of its somewhat complex nature, this option is suitable for advanced users. Users who do not have a working knowledge of the Windows registry are advised to backup the entire registry rather than selecting individual registry items.
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Important Note: In order to create a backup for selected Registry entries, Comodo BackUp has to be run under administrative privileges. Refer to the note in the chapter Starting Comodo BackUp for more details. |
To backup the Windows Registry hives selectively
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Select the 'Registry Entries' radio button.
The right hand side pane displays a message that no items are available for backup.
To add registry keys or hives, click the 'Add value...' or 'Add key...' buttons.
- Navigate and select the registry hive(s) you want to backup. Repeat the process to add more registry values or keys.
If you want to remove some items from the list, select the item(s) and click the 'Delete items' button.
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Click 'Next'.
The process moves to Step 2.
You can backup emails from mail clients like Mozilla Thunderbird, Eudora, Microsoft Outlook 2003 - 2010, Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail and Outlook Express. Address books and email client settings (such as incoming server, outgoing server and so on) can also be backed up. This is helpful to restore your mail and mail settings when you reinstall your operating system or configuring mail on a new computer system. Please note that only the mails and settings of the currently logged-in user can be backed up.
To backup of all the emails in your inbox and the settings configured for your mail clients
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Select the 'Mail Accounts' radio button.
The right hand side pane displays a list of all the installed mail clients. The supported clients are Mozilla Thunderbird, Eudora, Microsoft Outlook 2003, Microsoft Outlook 2007, Windows Live Mail and Outlook Express.
- Select the client(s) for which you wish to backup the emails stored (Inbox, Outbox, Unsent Items etc.) and their configuration settings by selecting the checkbox(s) beside the respective client(s).
- Click 'Next'.
Instant Messenger Archive and Settings
You can backup items like conversation history and conference chats from Instant Messenger (IM) clients like Windows Live Messenger, Skype, Yahoo! Messenger and Pidgin. You can also backup settings that are stored on the local machine (for example active skin, privacy settings, connection settings, proxy settings and so forth). This is helpful to restore your IM archives when you reinstall your operating system or you are configuring your IM client on a new computer.
To backup messenger archive and their configuration settings
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Select the 'IM Conversations' radio button.
The right hand side lower pane displays a list of all the installed messenger clients. The supported clients are Windows Live Messenger, Skype, Yahoo! Messenger and Pidgin.
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Select the client(s) for which you wish to backup the profiles related data (archives, profile settings etc.) by selecting the checkbox(s) beside the respective client(s).
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Click 'Next'.
The process moves to Step 2.
You can backup your browser settings such as Home page, Favorites, Security Settings and stored passwords. Please note that the browser data of the currently logged user only can be backed up.
To backup browser data
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Select the 'Browser Data' radio button.
The right hand side lower pane displays a list of all the installed browsers.
- Select the browser(s) for which you wish to backup the profiles related data (home page, security settings, stored passwords etc.) by selecting the checkbox(s) beside the respective browser(s).
- Click 'Next'.
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Note: You can also backup browser data in Other Profiles area of Shortcuts interface. Refer to 'Other Profiles' section for more details. |
The process moves to Step 2.