Backup data files

 

When you pick File, Backup from the main screen, a window will open and you can copy your Brother's Keeper data files.  This will make a copy of the files for safe keeping, so that if a disaster happens, you can later restore the data from your backup copy.  This routine also has the ability to copy any external text files you have created and attached to notes and can also copy any picture files or media files you have attached.

 

If you have a USB memory drive, you can click "pick a different drive" and pick the letter for the USB memory drive and then you can click the button to Copy to that drive.

 

If your computer has a diskette drive,  then insert a diskette that is already formatted and then click on "Copy to A" to start the backup.  This routine will copy the nine main data files.  If your database is large, you may pick the choice to create a compressed file.  This will allow you to copy your database to a diskette even when the files are larger than 1.44 megabytes.  The compressed file is called BK6DATA.ZIP.  If your data files are very large and even the compressed data will not fit on one diskette, then the option for multiple diskettes will become available on the screen.

 

If your computer has a CD writer, you can backup to the CD drive.  The way to do that depends on what version of Windows you have.  If you have Windows XP, then follow the directions at the bottom of the backup screen and then pick your XP user name.  Then there will be a new button that says "Backup to CD-R with XP".  When you click that button, it will copy the BK data files to a temporary staging area on your computer.  Then XP should prompt you to finish writing the files to the CD.  If you are not prompted to finish writing the files to the CD, then you should stop BK and go to My Computer and open the drive letter for your CD drive.  It should show the files "ready to write to the CD" and then on the left will be a line to "finish writing these files to CD".  Click that line to complete the transfer.  If you do not see any files ready to write to the CD, then you may have picked the wrong XP user name.  In that case, go back to the BK Backup screen and press F6 and pick the correct XP user name.  If you still have trouble, go to My Computer and RIGHT click your CD drive letter and pick Properties, then pick the Recording tab at the top.  Be sure the option is turned on to "enable recording to this drive"

 

If you have Windows Vista, then you can click "pick a different drive" and pick the letter of your CD-R drive.  Then click the button to copy to that drive letter.

 

If you have Windows 98 or 2000 and you want to backup to a CD drive, you must have a program like "CD Direct" running or you must run a special format program on the CD.  Then in BK on the backup screen, you can click "Pick a different drive" and pick  the letter for your CD drive.  When you click the button to do the backup, if you get an error, then you might not have the correct CD programs running.  As a test, go to Wordpad and type a few words then pick File, Save As, and try to save the file on the CD drive.  If it does not work, the CD is not ready for programs like Wordpad and BK.  If you still can not get BK to write to the CD then make a note of where your BK data files are located (see the bottom of the main BK screen).  Then stop BK.  Then start your CD writer program and use it to copy that entire BK data folder to your CD drive.  Also copy any text or picture folder if you are have external files attached to people.

 

The backed up data files are only to be used by the File, Restore data files routine.  You can not view the data files by clicking on them.  Do not try to view or open the data files with any word processor or the files can be damaged.

 

To restore data from a USB drive or floppy or CD to the hard drive, use the Restore data files routine.