# USB-Backup

**Repository Path**: mirrors_mcmilk/USB-Backup

## Basic Information

- **Project Name**: USB-Backup
- **Description**: Encrypted Backup on external Storage - Open Source GPL
- **Primary Language**: Unknown
- **License**: GPL-2.0
- **Default Branch**: master
- **Homepage**: None
- **GVP Project**: No

## Statistics

- **Stars**: 0
- **Forks**: 0
- **Created**: 2020-09-25
- **Last Updated**: 2026-07-05

## Categories & Tags

**Categories**: Uncategorized

**Tags**: None

## README


USB-Backup
==========


[USB-Backup] is a free backup solution for creating encrypted backups to
external USB media.

For the compression and the backup format itself the proven and very stable
software [7-Zip] is used.


## Features

- local disks, such as the system disk C: can be backed up by using shadow
  copies (warning, this requires administrator privileges)
- the use of the program is user-friendly and has been developed in
  cooperation with users
- Network drives and UNC paths can also be backed up
- Installation: no setup, just one AutoIT script (put together into one
  executable)
- Security:
  - during the initial backup, a password is set - without a password, you can
    not back up!
  - when the external disk will be lost, a stranger can not really see what
    was backed up
  - only username@pc are stored plaintext, but this is used to distinguish the
    backups in case of emergency
  - an encrypted index is stored on the external disk, so that a restore at
    any time and on any computer is possible
- to each directory, you can create exception lists
- after a setable time, USB-Backup reminds the user to update the existing
  backup
- the degree of compression and other 7-Zip parameters can be completely
  adapted in the USB Backup.ini
- Automatic updates of program and help file are possible, but you can disable
  this also
- the help file is currently not finished, sorry about that :(
  - you can help me with that :)


## Screenshots

- ![no stick](http://mcmilk.de/projects/USB-Backup/t_stick_no.png) -> no usb media plugged in
- ![with stick](http://mcmilk.de/projects/USB-Backup/t_stick_yes.png) -> some unknown media
- ![reg. stick](http://mcmilk.de/projects/USB-Backup/t_stick_reg.png) -> with plugged in registered stick


## Requirements

- Hardware
  - Intel Pentium III, 500MHz, 512MB RAM, 2MB Harddisk
- Operation System:
  - Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10
  - Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012
- Software:
  - for restoring the backups, 7-Zip Zstd is needed, when zstd was used for the backups


## Installation

- the program does not require installation and is run under default user
  privileges
- [USB-Backup] should be put into the Startup folder, so that it starts with
  windows - it is seen then in the system tray
- the per user configuration can be found in this folder: %APPDATA%\USB-Backup

## Configuration
- the program uses the file `USB Backup.ini` for it's settings

| Option=Default value | Description |
|----------------------|-------------|
| MaxFullBackups=0     | This number defines how many Full Backups are okay, before old ones get deleted. When zero, no limit is used. |
| FullBackupIn=365     | This number defines the days, until a new full backup will be created, instead of an update. |
| ShowUpdateHint=7     | Number of days until an backup becomes obsolete and the user will get some hint about this. |
| ShowEditConfig=1     | Enable "Edit configuration" in the menu. |
| ShowEditIndex=0      | Enable "Edit index" in the menu. |
| ShowWriteIndex=0     | Enable "Write index" in the menu. |
| ShowStatusMessage=1  | When set, the user will get a MsgBox() with Status information about the backup createt (success/failure). |
| EnableVSS=0          | Should USB-Backup use [Volume Shadow Copies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_Copy). This needs the password for the user `administrator` |
| DebugVSCSCCmd=0      | Turn on debugging of VSS. |
| UsePowerPlan=1       | Turn on the creation of an temporary USB-Backup powerplan. Needed for disabling Suspend Mode and so on, while creating some a backup. |
| DebugPowerPlan=0     | Turn on debugging of the powerplan changes. |
| CheckForUpdate=1     | Defines, if USB-Backup should check for updates. |
| NewVersionHint=300   | Number of seconds, for showing the user some hint for a new version of USB-Backup. |
| FileNameLen=16       | Length of the filenames, generated by USb-Backup. |
| Editor=notepad.exe   | Some command for editing files. This is used for opening the configuration. |
| RunBeforeCmd=        | Can be used for executing some command before backup starts. |
| RunAfterCmd=         | Can be used for executing some command after backup is finished. |
| 7ZipPriority=idle    | Possible: idle/normal. Defines, if 7-Zip process should run in background or normal mode. |
| Debug7ZipCmd=0       | Turn on debugging of the compression process / 7-Zip. |
| IniVersion=6         | Internal use, do not change! |

These two options are the `compression` and the `update` command line of 7-Zip:
* 7ZipCreateCmd=7zg-mini a "%A" %o -m0=LZMA2 -mx9 -ms=on -mhe -slp -ssc -ssw -scsWIN -p"%P" "%p"
* 7ZipUpdateCmd=7zg-mini u "%A" %o -m0=LZMA2 -mx9 -ms=on -mhe -slp-ssc -ssw -scsWIN -p"%P" -u- -up0q3r2x2y2z0w2!"%U" "%p"

## Download

- [see releases](https://github.com/mcmilk/USB-Backup/releases)
   
## See Also

- [AutoIT Homepage](https://www.autoitscript.com)
- [7-Zip Homepage](http://www.7-zip.org/)
- [7-Zip Zstd Homepage](https://github.com/mcmilk/7-Zip-zstd)
- [USB-Backup Homepage](https://mcmilk.de/projects/USB-Backup)

[7-Zip]: http://www.7-zip.org/
[USB-Backup]: https://mcmilk.de/projects/USB-Backup