Acomdata HD250UFAPE5 User manual

PUSHBUTTON™
BACKUP
USER’S GUIDE

IMPORTANT
Before reading this guide, set up your AcomData
External Hard Drive according to the instructions
in your Hard Drive User’s Guide.
If you want to use your Drive for backups please
read this guide carefully; it contains important
information that will help you create the backup
strategy that best suits your needs.
If you do NOT want to use your PushButton™-
equipped AcomData Drive for backups, you do
not need to read this guide or install the supplied
software.

CONTENTS
AcomData Contact Information ...................................................................... 4
INTRODUCTION .........................................................................5
What is PushButton™ Backup? ...........................................................................................................5
How PushButton™ Backup Works .....................................................................................................5
Duplicates vs. Backups ..........................................................................................................................5
PUSHBUTTON™ BACKUP FOR WINDOWS PCS ..................................7
System Requirements ...................................................................................... 7
Software Installation ........................................................................................ 7
Installing Retrospect® Express ............................................................................................................7
Installing AcomData PushButton™ Manager ................................................................................9
Setting up PushButton™ Backup ................................................................... 11
Customizing the Button Backup Script ......................................................... 14
PUSHBUTTON™ BACKUP FOR MAC ............................................ 19
System Requirements .................................................................................... 19
Software Installation ..................................................................................... 20
Installing Retrospect® Express ......................................................................................................... 20
Installing AcomData PushButton™ Manager ............................................................................. 22
Setting up the Button Backup Script ............................................................ 25
Customizing the Button Backup Script ......................................................... 28
Install Retrospect Express 5.1 (Mac OS 9 & pre-OS 10.1.5) .................................. 34
APPENDIX ............................................................................ 35
Frequently Asked Questions ......................................................................... 35
Troubleshooting ............................................................................................. 37
Glossary ........................................................................................................... 38
One Year Limited Warranty ............................................................................ 40
Obtaining Service for Your AcomData Product ............................................ 40
Notices ............................................................................................................. 41

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AcomData
Contact Information
Address:
3410 Pomona Blvd.
Pomona, CA 91768
Telephone:
[phone]
Fax:
[phone]
Web Site:
www.acomdata.com
Customer Service:
[email protected]
Technical Support:
[email protected]
Pre-Sales Questions:
[email protected]

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INTRODUCTION
What is PushButton™ Backup?
PushButton™ Backup is an easy and convenient way to routinely backup your impor-
tant files simply by pressing the PushButton™ on the front of your Drive. Not only
does PushButton™ Backup make backups easier and more convenient, but since
you’re backing up your data to a hi-performance hard drive, as opposed to say, tape
or optical media, backups are also much faster.
How PushButton™ Backup Works
Along with special hardware and firmware components, (inside the Drive) PushButton™
Backup uses a special version of Retrospect Express and the AcomData PushButton™
Manager software (on the included CD) that work together to initiate and run backups
whenever you press the PushButton™.
Retrospect Express is the software that actually performs the data backup function.
The Retrospect Express software bundled with your AcomData Drive was specially
configured to work with PushButton™ Backup. The primary function of the AcomData
PushButton™ Manager is to enable the PushButton™ on the Drive to initiate a backup
when pressed.
The first time you use PushButton™ Backup, the Retrospect Button Backup wizard will
launch and help you quickly setup a Duplicate script that specifies the volume (drive)
you want to backup and the types of files you want to include in your routine backups.
After setup is complete, each subsequent time you press the PushButton™, Retrospect
Express will automatically launch and perform an incremental Duplicate, saving the
files to your AcomData Drive.
You only need to set up the script once. If you happen to delete the script, the next
time you initiate a PushButton™ Backup, Retrospect Express will run the Button Backup
wizard.
Duplicates vs. Backups
There are three types of backup operations available: Duplicates; Backups, and;
Archives. By default, PushButton™ Backup performs Duplicates. However, after you set
up PushButton™ Backup you can change the Button Backup script to perform Backups
or Archives instead. (The Archive operation is not discussed in this guide. For information

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on Archives see the Help menu in Retrospect Express.)
Duplicates and Backups are the most common operations used for data backup; they
are described below.
About Duplicates
The Duplicate operation is essentially a “smart” copying process. Files and folders
from the source volume (e.g. your computer’s internal hard drive) are copied to your
AcomData Drive. Duplicated files and folders can be viewed and utilized just like the
original source file because a duplicate is a straight copy of the source file.
The Duplicate process saves space by overwriting old versions of duplicated files with
the latest versions from the source volume. It also saves time by copying only files that
are new or that have been changed since the last backup.
If you erase a file or folder on the source volume, the duplicated file or folder on your
AcomData Drive will also be erased the next time you press the PushButton™. In this
way, the backup is always an exact duplicate of the source. You can restore duplicated
files simply by dragging and dropping them back onto your computer’s hard drive.
The Duplicate operation is best suited for users who need quick access to their backed
up files and who do not need to backup their operating system or application files.
About Backups
The Backup process “packages” backed up files into a Backup Set. Files in a Backup
Set are not accessible via the desktop. They are only accessible via the Retrospect
user interface. To retrieve a file in a Backup Set, you need to “restore” the file using
Retrospect’s Restore function.
Instead of overwriting previously backed up files with the latest versions, with
Backups all previous versions of backed up files are saved, which allows you to restore
multiple versions of the same file as it has changed over time.
As well as backing up your files, Backups can also save other types of data, including
user settings, applications and their settings, and the operating system and its set-
tings (including the registry). This information is invaluable if you need to perform
disaster recovery on a computer that has become unresponsive. Backup Sets can be
compressed to save space, and encrypted for added security.
The Backup operation is best suited for users who want to backup their entire startup
disk.

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PUSHBUTTON™ BACKUP
FOR WINDOWS PCS
System Requirements
The following system requirements are for PushButton™ Backup only. The system re-
quirements for your specific AcomData Drive can be found in your Drive’s User’s Guide.
• Minimum 233 MHz processor (Pentium, Celeron, AMD, etc.)
• Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, or XP
• 128 MB of RAM
Software Installation
While we highly recommend backing up your files using the PushButton™ for its
ease and simplicity, it is possible to run backups, and any other Retrospect Express
operation, directly from the Retrospect Express user interface. If you want to run
backups without using the PushButton™ you do not need to install the AcomData
PushButton™ Manager. You only need to install Retrospect Express.
Installing Retrospect® Express
1. Save all work you are currently working on and
then restart your computer.
2. Insert the AcomData Software CD into your
CD drive. The CD will launch automatically
and you will see the Retrospect Express start
screen (Figure 1). If the CD is already in the
drive, locate the CD icon in My Computer.
Right-click the icon and select AutoPlay.
3. In the Retrospect Express start screen, select
“Install Retrospect Express.”
FIGURE 1

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4. In the Retrospect InstallShield Wizard (Figure 2), click Next.
5. Next you will see the License Agreement screen. If you accept the terms, select “I
accept the terms in the license agreement” and click Next.
6. Complete the Customer Information screen (optional) and click Next.
7. In the Setup Type screen (Figure 3), there are two options: “Recommended” and
“Custom.” If it’s not already selected, select “Recommended” and click Next.
8. In the Ready to Install the Program screen, click Install.
9. The Installing Retrospect screen will appear. Please wait while InstallShield Wizard
installs Retrospect.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3

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10. Once the InstallShield Wizard has successfully installed Retrospect, click Finish.
If you wish to install the AcomData PushButton™ Manager to run backups via the Push-
Button™, proceed to the next section: “Installing the AcomData PushButton™ Man-
ager.” Otherwise, restart the computer and Retrospect Express will be ready to use. For
information on how to use Retrospect Express see the Help menu in Retrospect Express.
Installing AcomData PushButton™ Manager
If you have just installed Retrospect Express, the Retrospect Express start screen
should still be up. If you do not see the Retrospect Express start screen, but the CD
is still in the CD drive, go to My Computer and double-click on the CD drive icon. The
Retrospect Express start screen will appear. If the CD is not in the drive, insert it. The
CD will launch and the Retrospect Express start screen will appear automatically.
1. In the Retrospect Express start screen click on “Install AcomData PushButton™
Manager.”
2. The Welcome to the AcomData PushButton™ Manager Setup Wizard will appear
(Figure 4). Click Next.
FIGURE 4

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3. In the Select Installation Folder screen (Figure 5), select the destination folder. We
recommend using the default location shown in the Folder field. Click Next.
4. The Confirm Installation screen will appear. Click Next.
5. When the Installation Complete screen appears, click Close.
6. In the Retrospect Express start screen, click Quit.
7. Restart your computer. After the computer boots up, you should see the AcomData
PushButton™ Manager icon on your System Tray (Figure 6).
Proceed to the next section: “Setting up PushButton™ Backup.”
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 6

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Setting up
PushButton™ Backup
When you set up PushButton™ Backup, the Button Backup script that is created is set to
run Duplicates by default. If you want run Backups instead of Duplicates, first complete
this section, then go to the next section: “Customizing the Button Backup Script.”
1. Press the PushButton™ on the Drive. Retrospect Express will launch. In the Welcome
to Retrospect! window (Figure 7) the license code field will display the correct
license code. You do not need to enter a license code. Click OK.
2. Next, the display will ask you to register your copy of Retrospect Express. To regis-
ter, click Register Now and complete the Retrospect Express Registration form.
3. In the Retrospect Button Backup wizard click Next.
4. In Step 1 (Figure 8) you will be asked which volume you want to backup (for exam-
ple, C drive). Click Next.
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 8

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5. In Step 2 (Figure 9) you will be asked what files you want to backup. Select Entire
volume to backup and entire disk, or select Documents only. Click Next.
6. In Step 3 (Figure 10) you will be asked where you want to save your backup. Select the
AcomData Drive and click Next.
7. In the next window (Figure 11) you will have the option to click Start Now or click
Finish to exit the wizard.
FIGURE 9
FIGURE 10
FIGURE 11

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If you wish to change the script in order to run Backups instead of Duplicates, click
Finish and proceed to the next section: “Customizing the Button Backup Script.”
If you wish to start running Duplicates now, click Start Now. The Duplicate operation
will run, and when it is complete Retrospect Express will quit. From then on, when-
ever you want to run a backup, simply press the PushButton™. Retrospect Express will
launch, automatically perform an incremental Duplicate operation, and then quit.

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Customizing the
Button Backup Script
This section shows you how to change the Button Backup script to perform Backups
rather than Duplicates. You can also set the script to perform Archives. (The Archive
operation is not discussed in this guide. For information on the Archive operation, see
the Help menu in Retrospect Express.)
If you change the Button Backup script to perform another type of operation, the old
script will be overwritten and no longer available.
1. Launch Retrospect Express by clicking the Retrospect Express icon––do not press
the PushButton™. Click Automate in the navigation bar and choose Manage Scripts
(Figure 12).
2. Select the Retrospect Button Backup (Duplicate) script and click the Delete icon on
the toolbar in the Scripts screen (Figure 13).
FIGURE 12
FIGURE 13

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3. On the Scripts screen, click New. A window will appear giving you the option to set
up the script using EasyScript. Click No.
4. You will be asked what kind of script you wish to create. Choose Backup and click
OK. In the text field (Figure 14), type in the exact name: Retrospect Button Backup.
You must type the name correctly or PushButton™ Backup will not recognize this
script. Click New.
5. In the Backup: Retrospect Button Backup window (Figure 15), click Sources to specify
drives or folders. After you finish specifying drives and folders, click OK. You might
find the following suggestions helpful:
• To specify multiple drives on your computer, in the Volume Selection window hold the
Control key while you click the drive names.
• To specify folders, in the Volume Selection window highlight a drive and click
Subvolume to view and choose a folder within that drive. Then, in the Defining
Subvolume window, click Define. In the Volume Selection window, click one of the
defined folders to select it, or hold the Control key while you click to select multiple fold-
ers.
• To remove a drive or folder, select it in the Volume Selection window and click Forget
in the toolbar.
FIGURE 14
FIGURE 15

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6. To add additional folders or drives as described in the previous step, click Add in the
Sources window. After you finish adding folders and drives, click OK.
7. In the Backup: Retrospect Button Backup window, click Destinations. To create a new
location, in the Backup Set Selection window, click Create New to launch the Create
New Backup Set wizard.
8. In the Create New Backup Set wizard, click Next. Select Disk (Figure 16) as the Backup
Media and click Next.
9. Enter a name for the Backup Set or use the default name (Figure 17). In this exam-
ple, the Backup Set is named Custom Backup. Click Select.
FIGURE 16
FIGURE 17

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10. In the Select a Disk window, choose the AcomData Drive as the location for the
Backup Set (Figure 18) and click OK.
11. Verify the Backup Set name; make sure the AcomData Drive is selected as the des-
tination, and click Next.
12. Keep Backup Set Security set at None and click Next (Figure 19).
FIGURE 18
FIGURE 19

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13. Click Next to save the Retrospect Catalog File for this Backup Set in the default
location: My Documents\Retrospect Catalog Files (Figure 20). Retrospect uses the
catalog to keep track of the files in the Backup Set.
14. Click Finish to close the Backup Set Creation wizard.
15. Select the Backup Set in the Destination selection window and click OK.
16. Select the Backup Set in the Retrospect Button Backup: Destinations window and
click OK.
17. In the Backup summary window, Retrospect Express confirms the source and des-
tination that you selected. The Selecting category lists the file selection criteria that
Retrospect Express uses with this script. By default Retrospect Express uses the All
Files criteria, which means that Retrospect Express will back up all your files the first
time it performs a backup, but will back up only new and changed files with each
following backup. If you want to use the Selecting button to choose file selection
criteria other than the All Files default, see the Help menu in Retrospect Express.
18. To add software compression to allow for more backups to the AcomData Drive,
click on Options in the Backup summary window. Check “Data compression (in soft-
ware)” and click OK to return to the Backup summary window.
19. After making sure that the backup script is correct, click OK to save your changes.
20. To use your new script, quit Retrospect Express and press the PushButton™ on
your AcomData Drive.
FIGURE 20

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PUSHBUTTON™ BACKUP
FOR MAC
System Requirements
The following system requirements are for PushButton™ Backup only. The system re-
quirements for your specific AcomData Drive can be found in your Drive’s User’s Guide.
• Power Macintosh (G5, G4, G3, iBook or iMac)
• Mac OS X v.10.2 or later
• 128 MB RAM
Mac OS X v.10.2 + Users:
While we highly recommend using PushButton™ Backup for its ease and simplicity, it
is possible to run backups from the Retrospect Express user interface. If you want to
run backups without using the PushButton™, you do not need to install the AcomData
PushButton™ Manager. You only need to install Retrospect Express.
Mac OS X v.10.1.5 Users:
You can use the same version of Retrospect Express that is supplied for PushButton™
Backups, except you cannot run backups from the PushButton™. Rather you would
run backups via the Retrospect Express user interface.
Mac OS 9 and pre-OS 10.1.5 Users:
We have included Retrospect Express v. 5.1, which will allow you to run backups via the
Retrospect Express user interface. Go to “Install Retrospect 5.1.”

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Software Installation
Installing Retrospect® Express
1. Before installing the software, we recommend that you save any files you may be
currently working on, and restart your computer.
2. Insert the AcomData Software CD into your CD drive. An icon labeled “AcomData
PushButton™ Backup” will appear on your desktop and a window displaying the
contents of the CD will open automatically. If the window does not open, double-
click on the CD icon.
3. Inside the AcomData PushButton™ Backup window, double-click on the Install
Retrospect Express icon (Figure 21).
4. The Authenticate window will appear with the message: “Install Retrospect Express
requires that you type your password.” This is the password you use to log on to your
computer. Type in your password and click OK .
FIGURE 21