I'm looking for a computer Backup program that will allow me to define
multiple originating (or source) folders on one computer and make a backup copy of
those folders on another computer across a home Windows XP network.  I
want the copies of the source folders to be exactly the same as the
originals.  

In other words, I'm not looking for a program that will
create one big backup file or will take the source files and turn them
into Zip files or some similar thing.  I would like the source files
to be copied to another hard drive
across my home network in exactly the same way that they appear on the
source drive.  I should be able to go the the backup computer and open
Windows Explorer, find the "destination" folder, double click on any
file in it and open it.

I need to be able to define a "backup set" of the source or original
folders.  This backup set must be able to include multiple folders on
the source computer.  This backup set must be saveable so that I can
direct the backup program with a couple of clicks to save all of the
data in the source folders on the source computer onto the destination computer.

It would be great if I could schedule the backup set to run
automatically, but that is not crucial.

It would also be great if the program were sophisticated enough to be
able to distinguish between changed and unchanged files and to only
update the changed files when making new copies.  This feature is not
necessary, only desireable.

I am willing to pay $50 for a program that will do this.

ArcServe http://www3.ca.com/Solutions/ProductFamily.asp?ID=115 use the
archive part of the program , it does exactly what you want although
the pricetag may be a bit on the steep side (arround $470)

You could use Xcopy (or Xcopy32) and a large batch file :) 
Copies files and directory trees.

XCOPY source [destination] [/A | /M] [/D[:date]] [/P] [/S [/E]] [/W]
                           [/C] [/I] [/Q] [/F] [/L] [/H] [/R] [/T] [/U]
                           [/K] [/N]

 source       Specifies the file(s) to copy.
 destination  Specifies the location and/or name of new files.
 /A           Copies files with the archive attribute set,
              doesn't change the attribute.
 /M           Copies files with the archive attribute set,
              turns off the archive attribute.
 /D:date      Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
              If no date is given, copies only those files whose
              source time is newer than the destination time.
 /P           Prompts you before creating each destination file.
 /S           Copies directories and subdirectories except empty ones.
 /E           Copies directories and subdirectories, including empty ones.
              Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T.
 /W           Prompts you to press a key before copying.
 /C           Continues copying even if errors occur.
 /I           If destination does not exist and copying more than one file,
              assumes that destination must be a directory.
 /Q           Does not display file names while copying.
 /F           Displays full source and destination file names while copying.
 /L           Displays files that would be copied.
 /H           Copies hidden and system files also.
 /R           Overwrites read-only files.
 /T           Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not
              include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes
              empty directories and subdirectories.
 /U           Updates the files that already exist in destination.
 /K           Copies attributes. Normal Xcopy will reset read-only attributes.
 /Y           Overwrites existing files without prompting.
 /-Y          Prompts you before overwriting existing files.
 /N           Copy using the generated short names.

corwin02:

Uh.  That would be way too expensive and outside the parameters I requested.

crythias:

Not exactly what I was looking for, but I'm game.  I well remember DOS
and am not a complete DOS idiot although creating a batch file to do
what I want is well beyond my level of competence.

Can you create generic batch file that will allow me to copy files
across my Windows network?

If you think it's doable make me an offer price wise.

I think it's simple:

-=-=- Begin backup.bat -=-=-=-
@echo off
xcopy32 /s /d /q /h /m c:\sourcedirectory1 destinationdriveletter:\backupdir
xcopy32 /s /d /q /h /m c:\sourcedirectory2 destinationdriveletter:\backupdir
...
-=-=-=- End Backup.bat -=-=-=-

you don't have to include /d... If no date is given, copies only those
files whose source time is newer than the destination time.

/m or /d are probably redundant. Your results may vary. A file, when
changed, sets its own archive bit "back me up!"... the /m says, "OK,
but I'm only going to back up the archive bits, ignore the rest, then
reset the bit so I don't back them up again until changed."

Wherever you put the backup.bat, you can call it with Task Scheduler.

xcopy32 is built in to Windows, so this is a rather free thing.

oops. I forgot to mention: backup.bat is supposed to be everything
between the -=-=- tags, except of course the ... -- that just means
keep going for the folders you want to copy. You only need the top
level of any folder you want to copy. You MAY need to include
c:\sourcedir1\*.*, but I don't think so. I forgot that you may want to
include the /E and /H flags to copy empty directories and hidden and
system files:
xcopy32 /s /d /q /h /m /e /h c:\sourcedirectory2 destdriveletter:\backupdir

PS: XP does open .zips natively like folders, but you knew that :).
Still, doesn't apply to what I'm sayin' :).

Ok.  I'm getting a little uncomfortable here asking for more advice
without a mechanism to pay you beyond the question price, but we can
work that out somehow if your suggestions work for me.  Allright?

I understand the basics of your batchfile, but what would be the path
from the sourcefile on the source computer to the destination file on
the other computer on the network?

I can see running a batchfile that identifies a source path such as
"c:\mydocs\fred\*.* but how would I write the destination path to a
folder that is on another computer?  What would be the DOS name and
path string for that folder?

Thanks for your help.

Ron

:) I am not a Google Answers Researcher. Information from me is free.

OK, I was hopefully assuming the following information:
1) you have a directory (folder) on the remote (backup) computer that
you wish to hold the data from the source computer
2) you have shared that folder (right-click, sharing...)
3) (on the source computer) you have mapped a network drive to the
backup computer share (rt-click on My Computer, Map Network Drive,
choose a letter (X?), browse to the backup computer and its
sharefolder, OK)

So assuming that much has been taken care of, you now have an X: drive
which is mapped to \\backupcomputer\sharename, destinationdriveletter
is X:\

I know I've skipped broadly over the steps. They aren't too hard, and
I'm assuming a lot more about your network configuration (you can
browse and see both computers on your network, you have "Everyone Full
Control" assigned to the backup folder, ...)

or if you didn't map a driveletter, the dos map for destination is
\\backupcomputer\sharename, although *SOME* programs balk at not
having a real drive letter.

Also, you will do well to enclose your directories in ""'s, especially
if they contain spaces.
"C:\my documents" versus c:\my documents

You should include mapping the drives in the batch file as the first
step. The batch file would follow this process:

unmap any drives that are mapping using drive letter X
map the drive using letter X
copy the files
unmap drive letter X

or:

net use x: /d
net use x: \\computerb\sharenameb
....
net use x: /d

the .... is the script you guys are already working on.

I'd recommend using robocopy though instead of xcopy. Robocopy
supports mirroring which will only copy new or modified files. It is a
part of the NT/Win2k resource kit.

http://www.ss64.com/nt/robocopy.html

crythias and forge -- thank you for your help.  I am able to track
your instructions.  I will play with them and see if I can get them to
work.

I'm still open to purchasing a program that will do what I want in an
idiotproof manner if anyone knows of one.

Final note:

Thanks again for the help I received on this question. You guys gave
me the final clue I needed to make an existing program that I knew
about work for me and accomplish my stated goals.

I'm embarassed to admit that I did not know what the "map a network
drive" function in Windows was for.  I've never spent the time to
learn and understand networking other than just enough to install some
plug and play cards and plug everything into my router.  It all just
worked. (Bless you Microsoft and Linksys.) Your explanations of how to
create a batch file and direct the path to another computer throught
the "map" function gave me the piece of info I needed to make the
shareware program "12 Ghosts Backup" work for me.

Thanks again.