BAKCFG FOR WINDOWS 95

BakCfg for Windows 95 is a DOS-based interactive branching batchfile
which works with PKZIP 2.04g installed on your system to archive the DOS
startup, alternate startup (previous DOS,) Windows Registry and Registry
backup (DA0 files,) and globally searches your entire boot drive for INI
files buried deep in obscure hidden folders about which you never knew.
It is far more thorough than several other popular Windows 95 emergency
recovery packages, with proof in the form of a preview sample backup log
file included in the distribution archive. Unlike one popular package
which requires up to ten diskettes on which to store backups, BakCfg
detects more configuration data, storing full pathnames for precision
manual restore operations, and compresses it all on a single standard
1.44MB diskette.

Advantages
----------
All the above is compressed on a single standard 1.44MB diskette, as
opposed to as many as ten diskettes required by some popular Windows 95
configuration backup systems. To see a real-life example of what is
archived on a BakCfg disk, see the file BAKCFG.LOG. Note the Length
totals for an idea of the volume of configuration data that is
compressed on a single diskette. For a peek at the fully-commented
version of the batchfile, which explains each line and parameter in the
file, see the file BAKCFG.ASC. If you also have a Windows-compatible Zip
manager, selective restoration of settings often may be performed by an
easy drag-and-drop procedure from the Zip manager window into Explorer
folders, allowing full manual control. BakCfg is offered free of charge
as a batchfile model which may be modified for personal use.

If you find BakCfg useful, however, please consider sending a voluntary
$2 contribution The Campus For Human Development, which is a non-profit
five-agency public/private cooperative rescue and support project for
the homeless in Nashville, Tennessee. The Room In The Inn program alone,
which is largely run by Campus volunteers, places as many as 200 people
nightly in guest homes hosted by generous local residents during the
winter season. Thanks!

Campus For Human Development
General Fund
532 Eight Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203

The Campus For Human Development operates year-round.
For more information please visit http://www.chd.w1.com/

Notice
------
It has come to my attention that BakCfg may have been uploaded by
well-intentioned users to software archive sites. While I certainly
appreciate the intent, you should know that a batchfile program, in
order to be customizable, is editable by anyone. That means a malicious
user could modify BakCfg and insert in it a command to do damage to
computer data. This is not the same as a virus--an anti-virus program
would have no way to detect a destructive command in a batchfile.
Therefore I encourage you to get BakCfg from the author's page, or from
a reputable source. As with any batch file, it's a good practice to
examine the contents before testing. The No Nags site which lists BakCfg
only mirrors the download links from the author's page and does not
offer any files off its own webserver. This practice insures that you
get not only an authorized release, but the most current version. The
Freeware Publishing Site in Belgium now also carries BakCfg, and will be
regularly updated with new releases.

System Requirements
-------------------
Windows 95 on a stand-alone system with the Windows\Command folder
preserved intact to permit DOS 7 operations

PKZIP.EXE and PKUNZIP.EXE (PKZ204g) in the DOS Path (Windows\Command
folder recommended.) This version is used as some circumstances may
prevent Windows 95 from starting, thus requiring a restore operation in
DOS mode. You can get a copy of PKZ204G.EXE free for private use, at
http://www.pkware.com/.

The supplied companion file EXCL.LST that tells PKZIP which pathnames to
ignore when searching for files to back up (may be edited in a text
editor.)

BakCfg assumes that it and the companion file EXCL.LST file are located
in the C:\Windows\Command folder. BAKCFG.BAT may be edited to
accommodate different file locations. Free customizations also provided
on request.

While running BakCfg does not affect current Windows 95 system settings
in any way, the author accepts no liability for any errors in user
implementation. Neither does the author claim any affiliation with
PKWare, any of its associates, or any archive software developers.

Quick Start For Using BakCfg As-Is
----------------------------------
Use Explorer's Tools, Find, to ensure that PKZIP.EXE and PKUNZIP.EXE are
located in the C:\Windows\Command folder. These files should be dated
02-01-93 02:04am, release version 2.04g, unless you've purchased the
registered version. Delete any extra copies found in other locations to
avoid system conflicts.

Move the BAKCFG.BAT and EXCL.LST files to the C:\Windows\Command folder.

To run BakCfg, from the Taskbar, click Start, Run, and on the Open
dialog line, type: bakcfg and click OK. Then simply follow the prompts
that appear in the DOS window. You'll need a blank 1.44MB floppy
diskette, of course.

Alternately, you can use the MS-DOS Prompt icon get a full-screen
command prompt and type BAKCFG then press Enter.

You can also create easy Desktop access to BakCfg by right-clicking on
it in Explorer, selecting Create Shortcut, and dragging the resulting
shortcut icon and dropping it onto the Desktop. The shortcut is
automatically named Bakcfg.bat, but can be renamed anything you like by
clicking once on the text portion of the icon and typing in a new name.
New! BakCfg now has a custom 3-D effect icon transparency! See the
What's New in Version 1.4 section below, and the FAQ.

Inspecting The Results
----------------------
BakCfg will create a log file named Bakcfg.log, in the Windows Command
folder, which lists the contents of the BakCfg diskette. If you
shift-right-click on the Bakcfg.log file in Windows Explorer, select
Open With, place a check mark next to "Always use this program to open
this type of file," then navigate to, and select Edit.com in the Windows
Command folder as the file association for *.LOG files, you'll be able
to double-click on the resulting Bakcfg.log log file to conveniently
inspect the contents of the BakCfg diskette. The DOS EDITor is
preferable to Notepad, as it properly displays extended-ASCII
characters. (See also BakCfg's new L parameter in the What's New in
Version 1.4 section.)

Performing A Restore Settings Operation
---------------------------------------
Using the resulting archives in a selective or global restore
configuration operation requires a basic familiarity with the PKUNZIP -d
-Jhrs parameters (the -J parameter is case-sensitive.) For information
on PKUNZIP parameters please consult the PKUNZIP.EXE file itself. Simply
type PKUNZIP -? for several screens of self-explanatory help. You can do
this from the Start, Run, Open dialog line as well as from the
full-screen DOS prompt.

When Windows startup is not affected, selective restoration of
individual configuration files (e.g. USER.DA*, SYSTEM.DA* or
miscellaneous INI files) may alternately be performed by simply dragging
and dropping files from a Windows Zip manager window into Explorer
folders. You must note the full pathnames recorded in the archive
contents window, and replace them in their original location.


I hope you'll find BakCfg as useful as it has been for me. Not that I
hope you'll have any configuration problems! But I'd love to hear your
comments. Please send me feedback at rtimai@mindspring.com


Version History
---------------
What's New in Version 1.4 (03/16/97)
Backup log file has been renamed from Bakcfg.txt to Bakcfg.log.

BakCfg now accepts a (viewLog) L parameter! Entering BAKCFG L causes
BakCfg to load the Bakcfg.log in the DOS EDITor for convenient browsing
of the contents of the current Bakcfg archive(s). BakCfg performs as
usual when run without the L parameter. See the FAQ for information
about how to use the L parameter.

BakCfg now has its own custom icon! A Bakcfg.ico file is now included in
the archive. This original 3-D effect icon transparency displays a black
floppy diskette with two intermeshed gears superimposed on it, and can
be attached to the Bakcfg.bat shortcut (Bakcfg.pif) to replace the
default MS-DOS icon if you have created a shortcut on the Windows 95
Desktop.

Removed the DEL routine. BakCfg now allows PKZip to overwrite existing
archives. This method was previously thought to encourage fragmentation
on the backup diskette, but testing revealed no significant
fragmentation. This is probably due to the fact that the Doscfg.zip size
which is written first does not change much. The current method allows
PKZip to Update/Refresh existing files, and Add new files, whereas the
previous method deleted all, then re-Added all files.

Among other minor changes, the Cancelled announcement has been removed.


Version 1.3 (02/05/97)
Added a real-life record sample of files actually archived on a single
BAKCFG diskette.

Added a fully-commented version of the batchfile BAKCFG.ASC which
describes every command and call in detail. The BAKCFG.BAT file is
identical to this file, but with all the REMarks removed.

Changed the default recording of the Bakcfg.txt log file to Append
instead of Overwrite. To change the default back to Overwrite, load
BAKCFG.ASC in Notepad and perform a text Search for the word append for
instructions.

Other minor cosmetic improvements.

BakCfg offered as "volunteerware" for Nashville's homeless: BakCfg is
dedicated to Charles F. Strobel, who founded and continues to run the
Room In The Inn program which finds shelter for the homeless for the
cold winter months.


Version 1.2 (01/30/97) - Added more error-checking with interactive
branching, added the DOS configuration backup with inclusion of
alternate (previous DOS) files, if present, as well as current DOS
startup and system files saved in a DOSCFG.ZIP archive. DOS messages now
display in an ANSI box.


Version 1.1 (01/14/97) - First FTP freeware release of basic no-frills
Registry/INI data only backup, after four months of continual testing.

