Copy Quicken Backup file to an external hard drive - which file ?

bobble
bobble Member ✭✭
I did one Quicken backup this morning, but my Quicken Backup folder contains both
QData-2022-08-07.AM8.58     , 74,146 KB and
QData-2022-08-07                   , 74,148 KB. Do I need to copy both of these to the hard drive?

Answers

  • Valderi
    Valderi Member ✭✭✭✭
    edited August 2022
    You may copy only the first one with the date and the time if it is the last copy.
  • Chris_QPW
    Chris_QPW Member ✭✭✭✭
    It is hard to say which one is the newest data file.  You only need the last one, but the last one might not be the one with the time on it depending on what you did.  I notice that one with just the date is slightly bigger so it might be the latest one.  You can look at them with Windows File Explorer and see which was modified last.

    When you do a backup there are two check boxes, one for the the date and one for the data and time.
    The first one in your list had both of them on, the second had just the date check box on.

    If both of the backups you did had the time on them you would be able to tell which one was done first by the time on the file name.  Whether you want the time on the backup file name or not depending on if you want multiple backups for the same day or not.
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  • UKR
    UKR SuperUser ✭✭✭✭✭
    bobble said:
    I did one Quicken backup this morning, but my Quicken Backup folder contains both
    QData-2022-08-07.AM8.58     , 74,146 KB and
    QData-2022-08-07                   , 74,148 KB. Do I need to copy both of these to the hard drive?
    Looks to me like you have set up Quicken to create both an Automatic and a Manual Backup to the same folder.

    I recommend you review your backup settings in Quicken to ensure that you create a backup every single time you close Quicken. That minimizes the number of lost changes since the last backup, should you have to restore your data file again.

    How to properly set up Quicken Backup
    How to make Quicken create a backup for you automatically every time you close Quicken
    What Quicken backups are available where?

    For the sake of this discussion it is assumed that your Quicken data file is located in the Default (and recommended) place: C:\Users\username\Documents\Quicken

    Review the backup settings available in Quicken (under Edit / Preferences / Backup).

    In there you will find two types of backup: Automatic and Manual Backup.

    Automatic Backup should be enabled and by default goes to a \Backup folder that's part of the folder which contains your current Quicken data file, e.g. \Documents\Quicken\Backup. Set it to create a backup after running Quicken [1] times and to keep [9] (or more, your choice) backup copies.
    The file name for Automatic Backup files contains a date and time stamp as part of the file name, e.g. QDATA-2020-03-22.PM03.45.QDF-backup

    To create a Manual Backup copy of your Quicken data file on an external device (USB-hard drive or USB memory stick recommended), put a checkmark at "Manual Backup Reminder" to enable the function and set "Remind me after running Quicken [xx] times" to [1].

    Click OK to save the changes.

    From now on, when you close Quicken using the red X button, you will get a popup window.

    When you get this window for the first time, on some versions click the radio button for "Backup on my computer".
    Change the Backup File name's drive letter and path to point to your external device so that it looks something like this: E:\Quicken Backup\QDATA-2019-04-01.QDF-backup
    or use the Change button and work your way through the dialog.

    Do not change the filename portion! Just overtype the drive letter and choose a backup folder name. If the folder does not exist, it will be created.

    Also choose the option to "Add date to backup file name".

    Every day when you run Backup or close Quicken, an additional backup file is created. Without the Add Date option you only have 1 backup copy which is overwritten every day ... and that may prove bad in a problem recovery situation.

    Allow this backup to run to save the changes made on the screen.

    Of course, once in a while you will have to go in and delete some of the oldest backup files, at your discretion, to avoid filling up your USB device.

    One can never have enough backups of a Quicken data file. BTDTGTS to prove it!

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