Backup Guide

PicasaStarter Backup Feature

PicasaStarter 2.0 includes a new backup feature to allow the user to quickly back up the Database or the Pictures and Database. This feature is fairly basic, in that it simply makes a copy of the database and picture directories on first backup, and stores only the changes in subsequent backups.

The Backup feature uses the Windows NTFS (New Technology File System) Hardlinks feature to do incremental backups. This makes the incremental backups very fast. The first backup will be a full copy of the pictures and database, but subsequent backups will contain only the changed or new files. Because of the way Hardlinks work, each incremental backup will seem to be a complete backup and contain all the files and directories of the first backup, and Windows Explorer and other file managers will report the backup size as if it was a full backup. The amount of space on the drive taken by each backup will actually be only the size of the new and changed files.

Restore

PicasaStarter doesn't currently have an automated restore procedure. The backups are a mirror copy of the Pictures and Database at the time of the backup.

To Restore, the user will need to manually copy any files that are lost back to the original directories. Programs such as WinMerge and other directory compare utilities can also be used to simplify the process. FreeFileSync is a file and folder synchronization utiltiy that can also be used to restore pictures and the database. Set it up do do a mirror copy from the desired backup folder to the picture folder. A Restore tool is also planned.

Backup Settings Tab:
Backup function controls

• Backup Computer
  The Computer that defined the Backup will be the only one that is reminded to do backups. That Computer Name is shown here.
  Click "Take Over Backup Task" to set the Backup Computer to the present computer.

• Last Backup Date
  The last date this database was backed up.

• Backup Reminder Box
  Click the Down-Arrow to Specify how often you want to be reminded to do an incremental backup - Always, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Never.

• Take Over Backup Task
  Click to become the Computer that will be reminded about doing the backups. Your Computer Name will become the Backup Computer Name.

• Backup Directory and Browse and None Buttons

  • • Specify the directory path that will contain the Backup.

    • This folder should be on a drive with enough space to hold the full backup.

    • The drive can be a local or NAS drive as long as it has a NTFS compatible file system supporting Hardlinks.

    • Click the None button to disable backups on this database.

• Back Up Database Only Checkbox
  Check if you only want to backup the Database, or uncheck to back up Pictures and Database.