Information Resource for Windows Backup Software NTBackup

A little known fact of NTBackup is that the list of files and folders that you want to backup are held in ordinary unicode text files. You can manually edit these .BKS files using a text editor like notepad, as long as the file is saved in unicode format. In our experience this is far better than using the built-in tree view functionality, which cannot show the order in which files and folders were selected. This order can be critical in determining how the backup works. In some cases, conflicting selections do not show up in the tree view but can be seen in the text editor.

The format of these files is quite simple. In order to create a selections file on which to work, the best thing to do is to create a one line backup selections file from within NTBackup by selecting just one item and then use the File -> Save Selections As menu command to save the selections files. By default the backup selections file is saved with the .BKS file extension.

If you plan to regularly do this, then it is best to associate Notepad with the .BKS file extension so that you can open these .BKS files from Windows Explorer by just double-clicking them. To do this select Start -> My Computer, then Tools -> Folder Options -> File Types.

To add this association, click the New button and follow the instructions. When you have finished you should have an entry in the registered file types as follows :-