Quick Start
This tutorial will walk you through owns simple backups and a restore.

     This chapter introduces you to basic EaseBackup's backup and restore operations and walks you through a tutorial in which you perform your own simple backups and a restore.

Prepare a Backup Set

     Start EaseBackup by selecting EaseBackup Explorer item at the "Start - Programs - KieSoft - EaseBackup" menu. The main window of EaseBackup Explorer will appear. It contains 2 parts: left resizable docked panel with a tree of all existing Backup Sets and an information window at the right side of the window. The content of the information window depends on the selected item at the left docked panel.

     At the first startup, there are no known Backup Sets and the main window looks like the image.

     EaseBackup works with data organized in Backup Sets. To backup or restore your data, you need to create a Backup Set defining which files to operate with, where to backup them, and when to update the backup. That's why you have to create a new Backup Set:

  1. Select Add a new Backup Set command at the Sets menu or
  2. Click Create New link at the left docked panel.

A Backup Set Wizard will appear. The first page introduces you in the Backup Set concept and allows to name a new Backup Set.

Each Backup Set must have an unique name that will be used to identify this Backup Set on a backup media. It has to contain up to 50 symbols, digits or spaces. Enter the name at the field.

Click the Next button to accept the entered name and proceed.


Now you have to select folders and files you want to backup. Common places like Documents, Pictures or Mail can be selected using check boxes.

If you need to select more files, use Let me choose files button. When you add a new Backup Set, all boxes are white.  You can include folders, registry keys, or files to backup by clicking on checkmarks near a folder or a file. Selected folders, files and registry keys have a white box with a red check. A gray box with a black check means that this folder will not be included in the backup, but it contains included files or folders. Use this state to find included folders in the tree. A gray box with a red check means that this folder will be included in the backup, but it contains a number of excluded subfolders.

EaseBackup works with many types of backup storages including hard and removable drives, FTP account, Amazon S3, Azure or Google cloud storages. Click one of links for more information how to configure storages.

Also you can select an encryption key that will be used to encrypt backup archives. For now, leave this combobox unchanged.

If you want to configure advanced properties like retension policy, external command, advanced schedule configuration, use Advanced button. Otherwise, click the Finish button to save the Backup Set.

EaseBackup uses the standard Windows scheduler to run scheduled backups. If you use Windows NT/2000/XP/2003, it's necessary to enter your Windows account username and password. If you make a mistake, Windows won't be able to run your scheduled backups.

Click the Continue button. EaseBackup will edit all necessary scheduled tasks by itself.

When the Backup Set is saved, EaseBackup will ask you "Start backup process right now?". Press YES button.


Your first backup

During any backup or restore process, EaseBackup shows a status window with all necessary information about the process.

Wait until backup process is finished. If the backup failed, you will see a dialog box with all error messages.

     When the backup process is finished, the main window of EaseBackup Explorer should look like the image below. My congratulations! Your first backup has been done!


Quick incremental backup

     Exit EaseBackup. Make few duplicates of some files in the folders you backed up. Make sure the names are different from the originals. Also you can make some new documents using your word processor or any other application you know well. Do not make them complicated; you need just few simple changed and new files.

     Start EaseBackup and right click on your Backup Set. A context-sensitive menu will appear. Select Run incremental backup... command to start backup of only new or changed files. It will take much less time than the first backup.

     The same status window will appear again. Wait until this quick incremental backup is finished. Congratulations on your second backup!

     If you would like, you can get a list of new and changed files. Use Files to backup... command from the menu.


Quick restore

     So we just backed up some files. Lets assume you have lost some or all of these files and you need to recover them.

     Start EaseBackup and select your Backup Set at the left docked panel. Four tabbed panels ("Status", "Backup", "Restore" and "Logs") will appear at the information window. To restore your files you have to activate Restore panel. It contains the tree of all backed up files of the selected Backup Set.

     You have to select the files you want to restore (click on a checkmark near a file or folder). When all necessary files are selected, press the Restore button to start the restore process. A Restore Wizard will appear. Walk through it without changing anything to restore the selected files to their original location.


Preparing for disaster

     The next chapter will teach you to prepare your computer if it ever stops working. See Preparing for disaster chapter.