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Hi all

Looking for some guidance from you knowledgeable members.
As suggested by many of you I always make a complete usb HD copy of my entire C:’/ B B folder and also my C:/ realband folder for emergency or possibly move to another pc.
My question is as there are often update patches to apply during the year, and these are stand alone exe files that do the update, do they when run mess with any of the files in the :C:/BB FOLDER. Making it necessary to make a new back up.
Or can I safely do it once fairly soon after my yearly upgrade and not again till the years updates stop coming in towards the end of the year.
I do of course keep a back up of my separate biab patch downloads at least the last 3

The C:/bb folder is quite big 103g 126,438 files 5,609 folders so can take some time and I would not want to do it on a monthly or more often patch basis if this is not necessary
Your advice appreciated
Mike


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When you run any patch update, it affects the contents of the BB folder, any subfolders, and possibly the RealTracks and Drums folder.

To do my backups, I use a Windows command line utility called Robocopy (which I embed in a batch file). It lets me copy only new or changed files to my backup drive, so it's pretty fast. (External USB drives are not very expensive).

I've been using this technique for many years and it has saved my butt a few times and has eased moving BIAB to a different computer, with all my preferences intact.


John

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I use Directory Opus as an alternative to Windows Explorer. It has similar features to Robocopy in that you can just sync your local drive or folders to your backup device and it will only copy newer or altered files to the backup. It does a Compare between your day-to-day drives and your backup and thus is pretty quick to just update the newer files.

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I use Microsoft's SyncToy (it's free) to keep my back-ups synchronised. It only adds new files or those that have changed... very efficient.


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I wouldn't be surprised if SyncToy actually ran robocopy in the background (since they are both from Microsoft).

Not that I use them all, Robocopy gives me a whole lot of options when backing up data. And I'm an old DOS-Head anyway, so going to the command line is not a problem. I've written some pretty convoluted batch files (and in a past life, I had to write some pretty detailed Novell Netware login scripts to support multiple business units sharing the same networking resources), so that doesn't bother me. I get that it's Greek to a lot of folks.

But you definitely want a utility that just copies the differential (new/changed), and as an option, deletes the files on the destination that are no longer valid, in order to mirror your backup target to the source content. It definitely saves a lot of time.

I lost one of my drives recently and was back up and running in no time (well, except it did take quite awhile to copy all the data from a USB2 external drive back to the new hard drive).

And while we are on the subject, don't forget an imaging solution for your boot drive. I have lost my boot drive before, and was back up and running on a new drive in about an hour as if nothing had happened. That versus re-installing the OS, all the applications, all the custom configuration, all the authorization/authentication, etc. It is definitely worth the cost of an external drive and an imaging application (I use Acronis True Image, but there are free ones available). When I managed a computer lab working at the Federal Aviation Administration, we imaged all our Windows servers using the free G4L (basically Ghost For Linux). Never had a problem with it and it also worked over the network. But the interface might scare some people off, even though for us it was rock solid.


John

Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD
Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA

BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK

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Interesting thread.

I have a few backups of biab on two PG drives and each yaar I just install the latest version of biab on each + the latest realtracks etc.

Then a few times throughout the year I might add the latest biab update patches,and to realband as well.

So its interesting that both Noel and John are using Robocopy and SyncToy.

Just wondering (without trying to hijack Mike's thread) are these utilities a lot faster than just doing a straight copy of the whole biab folder from one drive to the backup, or a lot faster than just installing the latest upgrades each year and doing the subsequent update patches?

Musiclover

Last edited by musiclover; 05/08/17 11:47 AM.

Musiclover

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Originally Posted By: Mike Head
Hi all

Looking for some guidance from you knowledgeable members.
As suggested by many of you I always make a complete usb HD copy of my entire C:’/ B B folder and also my C:/ realband folder for emergency or possibly move to another pc.
My question is as there are often update patches to apply during the year, and these are stand alone exe files that do the update, do they when run mess with any of the files in the :C:/BB FOLDER. Making it necessary to make a new back up.
Or can I safely do it once fairly soon after my yearly upgrade and not again till the years updates stop coming in towards the end of the year.
I do of course keep a back up of my separate biab patch downloads at least the last 3

The C:/bb folder is quite big 103g 126,438 files 5,609 folders so can take some time and I would not want to do it on a monthly or more often patch basis if this is not necessary
Your advice appreciated
Mike


dang... using commas would have made that easier to understand.... (the bold part in the OP)

I run my BB/RB from the factory HD. if it fails, which it never has, I would call PG and see what they could help me do.

The only thing I backup is my work folders and projects. I keep the most current year on the C drive and move them to the storage drive and backup drive as they age out.

I've never had any issues with anything not working properly after the updates and bug fixes. Regarding such things..... you only need to do those updates if you are having issues that need resolution.


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www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
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Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

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Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!

Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

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