Rotating Backup - defeating drive letter anarchy

Have questions about Backup4all, or having problems using it? Ask here for help.
Post Reply
Tens
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2025 3:01 pm

Rotating Backup - defeating drive letter anarchy

Post by Tens »

Thanks for the useful article showing us how to effectively prevent wandering drive letters from causing the backup process to fail.
https://www.backup4all.com/rotating-bac ... u0N1fKGTgx
It took me a bit of time to get through this, but I kept getting an error if the external disk connected was the first one referenced in the script, but not if it was the second. I had followed the instructions at point 11 -Select the 'Abort backup if action fails'. It seems that the script looking for the non existent 2nd drive was causing the error. Unchecking this option allows either disk to be found and the backup proceeding normally.
Am I doing the right thing here? :)

Adrian (Softland)
Posts: 1960
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:46 pm

Re: Rotating Backup - defeating drive letter anarchy

Post by Adrian (Softland) »

Hi,

Please use this script:
> REM unmount first
> mountvol C:\DiskMount /D
> REM try mount first drive (it will mount label W); fails if disk is not online
> mountvol C:\DiskMount \\?\Volume{301547fa-2c57-11e4-8317-f2b8544bc870}\
> IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 GOTO :end
> REM try mount second drive (it will mount label V); fails if disk is not online
> mountvol C:\DiskMount \\?\Volume{aeb73438-7f5c-11e3-8283-74d02b7dfc4e}\
> :end

After the first mountvol attempt, if the correct drive was mounted, the script will exit with success, without trying the second volume mount. Otherwise, the second attempt will be unsuccessful and the script will be considered with error.
Do you know you can monitor your backups remotely with Backup4all Monitor? You can read more here: https://www.backup4all.com/backup4all-monitor.html

Tens
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2025 3:01 pm

Re: Rotating Backup - defeating drive letter anarchy

Post by Tens »

Excellent Sir.
Thanks for that. Will try it later but I can see why that would work :D

Tens
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2025 3:01 pm

Re: Rotating Backup - defeating drive letter anarchy

Post by Tens »

Done that and it works fine - but I'd point out that you're missing an extra backslash before the \?\Volume on lines 4 and 7.
Thanks for your help.

Adrian (Softland)
Posts: 1960
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:46 pm

Re: Rotating Backup - defeating drive letter anarchy

Post by Adrian (Softland) »

Hi,

I added the double backslash now.
Do you know you can monitor your backups remotely with Backup4all Monitor? You can read more here: https://www.backup4all.com/backup4all-monitor.html

Tens
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2025 3:01 pm

Re: Rotating Backup - defeating drive letter anarchy

Post by Tens »

The above is now working perfectly. Thanks.

Though not a big deal, and probably not affecting many users, but if I've forgotten to connect a backup disk, the script correctly fails, and Backup4all then quits with an abort. It would be nice if there was an option to send an email if this happens.

Adrian (Softland)
Posts: 1960
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:46 pm

Re: Rotating Backup - defeating drive letter anarchy

Post by Adrian (Softland) »

Hi,

We will add your suggestion to our Wishlist.
Do you know you can monitor your backups remotely with Backup4all Monitor? You can read more here: https://www.backup4all.com/backup4all-monitor.html

Tens
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2025 3:01 pm

Re: Rotating Backup - defeating drive letter anarchy

Post by Tens »

Thanks. You're stars.

Post Reply