FAQ
The Knowledge Base provides an easy and quick guide to help with most common questions, with the following How to topics

 

Click on a question:

 

 

Using questions:

  • What is WestNet Backup?

    • Click here to read more.

  • What is a Backup Set?

    • WestNet Backup 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 content. more...

  • What can I do with a Backup Set?

    • Click here to read about Backup Set commands.

  • What maximum amount of data can I backup?

    • This will depend on which Backup plan you have chosen. There is no limit to the amount of data the software can backup.

  • Does WestNet Backup support tape drives?

    • WestNet Backup is an online-only backup service. If you would like to also backup to tape or other media, Contact Support to discuss other options.

  • Does WestNet Backup handle different time stamp conventions between NTFS and FAT?

    • Yes, this difference does not influence backup procedure.

  • Can I backup an open file which is in use by another program?

    • Yes, if you use Windows NT/2000/XP. WestNet Backup has a special kernel driver that allows to backup open files. It gains an access to a file on the kernel level. more...

  • Can WestNet Backup run as a service on Windows NT/2000/XP?

    • To run periodical backups WestNet Backup uses the standard Windows scheduler that is run as a service on Windows NT/2000/XP. The scheduler starts backups whether you logged or not.

  • Can I perform backup of different files or folders at a time?

    • Yes. You can backup as many files or folders as you need. For details, see Backup Set Wizard page.

  • Can the program do a full restore to a blank hard drive?

    • Yes, the program can do this. However, the program is not intended for backing up system files and you can not use it for restoring the whole operating system.

  • Is there an easy way to create Backup Set for My Documents and Windows Settings?

    • Yes. WestNet Backup has templates for most standard Backup Sets. Click here to read how to use Backup Set templates.

  • Why are the dates in the ZIP files not correct when I view them from WinZip?

    • We wanted to make WestNet Backup portable: it must work on both Windows and UNIX.  That's why the date format is a little different from a standard ZIP format for DOS (Windows). We use the UNIX format of the date.

    WestNet Backup works with this date format without any problems.  Other programs (like WinZip) show the wrong date, but when they unzip files, the date is of no importance.  This is not a bug, it is just a peculiar little feature of WestNet Backup.

  • Why instead of one backup archive I found in the target folder many files with "...zip.zNNN" and "...zip.cat" extensions?

    • When WestNet Backup backs up, it makes a few backup archives because that allows to span backup on a few media and to increase reliability and speed of restore process.

    ZIP format does not support native spanning and that's why WestNet Backup makes a few small volumes. Each ".zNNN" files is a volume. Don't worry, it's a standard ZIP file, but it contains only a part of backed up files. Click here to read more about splitters. Restore wizard automatically works with them and you don't need to know anything else about it.  This is a normal situation.

  • How to map or disconnect network drive during backup?

    • 1. Double-click on a Backup Set to edit it
    2. Go to External programs page
    3. Add a new external command.
    4. Use "net" DOS command. (type "net /?" in the command prompt to get more information)

 

ADD:

  • How to add a new backup Set?

    • Use Add a new Backup Set command from Sets menu. It opens a new Backup Set Wizard. Just follow instructions of the Wizard to add a new Backup Set.

  • How to add a new Backup Set from the template?

    • Click here to read more.

  • How to add a log of an external program to the backup log?

    • 1. Activate External commands page of the Backup Set Wizard
    2. Add the external command that you want to execute.
    3. Add the external command with the path = $(AddToLog) and command line = name of the report file of the external program.

 

BACKUP:

  • How to backup all files?

    • 1. Select a Backup Set from the WestNet Backup explorer.
    2. Click Sets menu.
    3. Select Run full backup...

  • How to backup only new or changed files?

    • 1. Select Backup Set from the WestNet Backup explorer.
    2. Click the Sets menu.
    3. Select Run incremental backup...

  • How to get a list of files to backup?

    • 1. Select Backup Set from the WestNet Backup explorer.
    2. Click the Sets menu.
    3. Select File to backup...

 

COPY:

  • How to copy the local backup archive to a floppy?

    • 1. Select Backup Set from the WestNet Backup explorer.
    2. Click Sets menu.
    3. Select Copy local backup archive...

  • How to copy source files to...?

    • 1. Select Backup Set from the WestNet Backup explorer.
    2. Click the Sets menu.
    3. Select Run full copy... to copy all source files from the Backup set
    3. Select Run incremental copy... to copy only new or changed source files from the Backup Set.

  • How to copy WestNet Backup repair files to a floppy?

    • 1. Select the File menu.
    2. Select Save/Restore repair information command.

  • How to copy a log of an external program to the backup log?

    • 1. Activate External commands page of the Backup Set Wizard
    2. Add the external command that you want to execute.
    3. Add the external command with the path = $(AddToLog) and command line = name of the report file of the external program.

 

CHANGE:

  • How to change (view) the Backup Set properties?

    • 1. Select Backup Set from the WestNet Backup explorer.
    2. Click the Sets menu.
    3. Select Edit Backup Set... to open a Backup Set Wizard.

  • How to change the interface language?

    • 1. Select Settings command at the File menu.
    2. Just select your language on the drop-down list.
    3. Click OK
    4. Reload the program.

  • How to change toolbar buttons?

    • 1. Click the right mouse button on the toolbar.
    2. Select Customize buttons.

  • How to change shortcut keys?

    • 1. Select Settings command at the File menu.
    2. Activate Hotkeys page.
    3. Select a menu item from the list to change its hotkey.
    4. Set your pointer to Hot Key edit box.
    5. Type your new shortcut key
    6. Click Assign. button

 

DECODE:

  • How to decode encrypted files?

    • 1. Select Decode encrypted files command at the File menu.
    2. Add files to decode, by browsing the files.
    3. Select username and type a password.
    4. Press Decode button.

 

DELETE:

  • How to delete a Backup Set?

    • 1. Select Backup Set from the WestNet Backup explorer.
    2. Click the Sets menu.
    3. Select Delete backup set...

  • How to delete saved files from the Backup Set?

    • 1. Select Backup Set from the WestNet Backup explorer.
    2. Activate Restore tab.
    3. Select files or folders in the tree of saved files.
    4. Select Delete selected item command at the Commands menu.
    5. Press "Yes" to delete.

  • How to delete a PGP (encryption) key?

    • We does not allow to delete PGP key through our Software because it's too dangerous. But you can delete it by using native PGP Freeware tool. You can download it at http://www.pgpi.com.

 

DISABLE:

  • How to disable Interactive adviser?

    • 1. Click Help menu
    2. Uncheck Adviser item to disable adviser or check it to enable.

 

ENCRYPT:

  • How to encrypt backup archives?

    • 1. Select Backup Set from the WestNet Backup explorer.
    2. Select Edit Backup Set... command at the Sets menu.
    3. Activate Backup Storage page of the Backup Set Wizard.
    4. Select an encryption key there.

 

FIND:

  • How to find a backed up file or folder?

    • 1. Select Backup Set from the WestNet Backup explorer.
    2. Activate Restore tab.
    3. Select the file or folder in the tree of saved files.
    4. Select Find... command at the Commands menu.
    5. Fill in the fields.
    6. Click "OK"
    7. Click the Find next... menu to search again.

 

MOVE:

  • How to move the program to a different computer?

    • To move WestNet Backup to a different computer you have to:

    1. Save your current repair information under "File -> Save/Restore repair information...". We recommend to save it on a floppy disk.
    2. Install the latest version of WestNet Backup on a target computer. You can download it at http://www.kiesoft.com.
    3. Restore the saved repair information under "File -> Save/Restore repair information..."
    4. Apply your registration key.

    As a result you will have all your Backup Sets and encryption keys. If you need to restore files, do it as usual. But all backups will be full at the first time (Because repair information does not have big local catalogs files you need to do incremental backups). If you do not want to do full backups again you have to copy "C:\Program Files\EB\Catalogs" folder from the sourse to the target computer.

    But do not delete any files from your sourse computer until you are not sure that everything was moved OK.

 

REFRESH:

  • How to refresh the tree of backed up files

    • 1. Select Backup Set from the WestNet Backup explorer.
    2. Activate Restore tab.
    3. Select Refresh contents of active child window command at the Commands menu.

 

RESTORE:

  • How to restore a few saved files?

    • 1. Select Backup Set from the WestNet Backup explorer.
    2. Activate Restore tab.
    3. Select the necessary files
    4. Select the Restore button.

 

SCHEDULE:

  • How to schedule a backup?

    • 1. Select Backup Set from the WestNet Backup explorer.
    2. Select Edit Backup Set... command at the Sets menu.
    3. Activate Scheduling page of the wizard and edit the schedule properties.

 

VIEW:

  • How to view backed up files or logs?

    • 1. Select Backup Set from the WestNet Backup explorer.
    2. Activate Restore tab to view a tree of backed up files.
    3. Activate Log tab to view logs.

 

Have a question that is not answered here? Mail it to: staff@westnet.com