3
Backing Up Files
This chapter includes the following topics:
How the Backup Function Works
Backing Up Files
How the Backup Function Works
The WD Backup software is a scheduled backup application that automatically
backs up the
files
that you select on the schedule that you specify.
When you create a backup plan, you specify the backup:
▪
Target—the external storage device where you will copy your
files
for backup
protection. The backup target can be any supported:
◦
External storage drive
◦
Cloud service account
▪
Source—the computer
files
and folders that you want to copy to the backup
target for backup protection. The backup source can be any internal hard drive,
hard drive partition, or any:
◦
External storage drive
◦
Supported cloud service account
▪
Schedule—the time of day, day of week, and month that you want to run the
backup.
When you click
Start Backup
after creating a backup plan, the WD Backup software
copies all of the
specified
backup source
files
and folders to the
specified
backup
target. Then, on the schedule you
specified,
the WD Backup software automatically
backs up any:
▪
New
file
that was created in or copied to a backup-protected device or folder
▪
Existing backup-protected
file
that was changed
This protection is automatic—the WD Backup software does it for you without any
action on your part. Just leave the backup source and target devices connected to
your computer.
Note:
Whenever you disconnect and reconnect a backup target or source
device, the WD Backup software rescans the backup source device for
new or changed
files
and resumes automatic backup protection
according to the schedule.
Excluded Files—
The WD Backup software will not backup
files
that have
specific:
▪
Attributes: reparsePoint, temporary
▪
Names: \AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows, [CommonApplicationData]
\Western Digital\, [CommonApplicationData]\Microsoft\Windows\Caches\,
config.msi,
MSOCache, ntuser.dat, ntuser.ini, [RecycleBin], $recycle.bin, recycler,
Backing Up Files
My Passport
™
User Manual
10