Microsoft DOS backup command
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About backup
Availability
Backup syntax
Examples
Extended Information
MS-DOS application that enables users to backup their data on their computer.
MS-DOS 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, and 6.22 users use the msbackup command. However, this file is still available to these users on the MS-DOS 6.0 and 6.22 supplemental disk.
The backup.com / backup.exe commands are external commands that are available in the below Microsoft operating systems.
MS-DOS 2.x - 5.x syntax
BACKUP [Source:\Path\Filename] [Target:] [/s] [/m] [/a] [/d:date] [/t:time] [/f:size] [/L:LogDrive:\Path\Log]
| Source:\Path\Filename | The source, path, and filename of the location of the file that you wish to backup. |
| Target: | The target drive for the backup file. |
| /s | Makes a backup of all files, directories, and subdirectories in the specified source location. |
| /m | Backup all files that have changed since the last backup. |
| /a | Adds a new backup file to existing backups instead of overwriting them. |
| /d:date | Backup files that have been created or modified since the date specified. |
| /t:time | Backup files that have been created or modified after this time. |
| /f:size | Create backup files in a specific size so they can be saved to an external storage such as a floppy disk drive. |
| /L:LogDrive:\Path\Log | Create a log of the backup and specify the location of where the log is to be saved. |
backup c:\work\*.* d: /s
The above example would create a backup of all the files and subdirectories in the work directory and save the backup to the d: drive.