Backing Up GPS the fast way
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11 years
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Not sure if this has been covered but here's a way to back up your gps VERY quickly.
You can use a windows program called Robocopy to ONLY copy the files that have CHANGED since your last backup. Since you're only replacing files that have changed, the backup will be very fast. My last backup took less than 30 seconds.
1. Make a folder in C: drive called "Robocopy Command Files". You can name the folder whatever you like. Must be on your main hard drive which is usually C:.
2. In this folder create a notepad file named "GarminBackUP" or something similar.
3. Paste the following text into the notepad file:
robocopy "H:" "C:\Users\Alex\My Documents 2\Garmin\3490lmt Backup Files" /MIR /XJD /XD AppData /R:1 /W:8 /MT:128 /V /NP /tee /LOG:Backup.log
"H:" = The hard drive letter assigned to my Garmin when I plug it in to my computer. (This can be changed using Administrative Tools in windows Control Panel so it has a dedicated letter).
"C:\Users\Alex\My Documents 2\Garmin\3490lmt Backup Files" =
The location of my back up.
/MIR /XJD /XD AppData /R:1 /W:8 /MT:128 /V /NP /tee /LOG:Backup.log =
Some nuances on how robocopy operates. If you leave as is, it will work. Backup.log is a file that will be created to log the progress.
4. Save the text file.
5. Next click "save as" on the text file menu. At the end of the name of your text file add ".cmd" and save. This saves the text file as a command file which you double click to execute the copy function.
6. Now you should have one text file and one command file.
7. Hidden files (including operating system files) DO NOT need to be diplayed/unhidden first. Robocopy copies these files by default automatically.
8. Finally double click the command file you created and it should start executing the copy command.
9. The first run will take as long as a full copy normally would since all files are being copied. After the first run, only changed files will be copied and the operation will be much faster.
10. Note: there are other free programs such as FreeFileSync that accomplish the same thing but I think once you set up Robocopy, it is much faster.
11. One last caveat so you don't delete files on accident:
If you're trying to backup Folder A to B, Robocopy copies files that have changed in A to B AND DELETES any files in B that are no longer on A. This makes B identical to A. Don't use robocopy if you have files on B, and not A, that you want to keep.
thanks..
Is there any reason to consider the case where files are split across the internal memory and an SD card... As the SD card should have a drive letter assigned to it seperate from the memory on the GPS?
Never argue with a pig. It makes you look foolish and it anoys the hell out of the pig!
I haven't needed an SD with
I haven't needed an SD with my unit yet, but if the SD card has a separate drive letter then you would treat it like a completely different drive. You would have 2 robocopy commands like this:
robocopy "H:" "C:\GarminUnit" /MIR /XJD /XD AppData /R:1 /W:8 /MT:128 /V /NP /tee /LOG:Backup.log
robocopy "G:" "C:\GarminSDCard" /MIR /XJD /XD AppData /R:1 /W:8 /MT:128 /V /NP /tee /LOG:Backup.log
The first command backs up your unit. The second one backs up your SD card.
Actually let me clarify. I don't know how SD cards are treated by PCs on garmin units since I've never used one. You would use 2 different commands only if your SD card is assigned a different drive letter than your Garmin device.
3490lmt
AFAIK
Actually let me clarify. I don't know how SD cards are treated by PCs on garmin units since I've never used one. You would use 2 different commands only if your SD card is assigned a different drive letter than your Garmin device.
AFAIK and certainly on all my Garmin devices, the SD card always has a different drive letter than the Nuvi's assigned value.
Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.
Just curious ...
I haven't needed an SD with my unit yet, but if the SD card has a separate drive letter then you would treat it like a completely different drive. You would have 2 robocopy commands like this:
robocopy "H:" "C:\GarminUnit" /MIR /XJD /XD AppData /R:1 /W:8 /MT:128 /V /NP /tee /LOG:Backup.log
robocopy "G:" "C:\GarminSDCard" /MIR /XJD /XD AppData /R:1 /W:8 /MT:128 /V /NP /tee /LOG:Backup.log
The first command backs up your unit. The second one backs up your SD card.
Actually let me clarify. I don't know how SD cards are treated by PCs on garmin units since I've never used one. You would use 2 different commands only if your SD card is assigned a different drive letter than your Garmin device.
How is this utility better than using the standard Windows command line xcopy command with the /s/d/y switches?
using your above examples
xcopy H:\*.* C:\GarminUnit /S/D/Y >Backup.log
xcopy G:\*.* C:\GarminSDCard /S/D/Y >>Backup.log
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon
How is this utility better
How is this utility better than using the standard Windows command line xcopy command with the /s/d/y switches?
using your above examples
xcopy H:\*.* C:\GarminUnit /S/D/Y >Backup.log
xcopy G:\*.* C:\GarminSDCard /S/D/Y >>Backup.log
For this purpose I think they are virtually identical. Robocopy is a newer version of xcopy.
3490lmt
xcopy doesn't check for newer versions
I haven't needed an SD with my unit yet, but if the SD card has a separate drive letter then you would treat it like a completely different drive. You would have 2 robocopy commands like this:
robocopy "H:" "C:\GarminUnit" /MIR /XJD /XD AppData /R:1 /W:8 /MT:128 /V /NP /tee /LOG:Backup.log
robocopy "G:" "C:\GarminSDCard" /MIR /XJD /XD AppData /R:1 /W:8 /MT:128 /V /NP /tee /LOG:Backup.log
The first command backs up your unit. The second one backs up your SD card.
Actually let me clarify. I don't know how SD cards are treated by PCs on garmin units since I've never used one. You would use 2 different commands only if your SD card is assigned a different drive letter than your Garmin device.
How is this utility better than using the standard Windows command line xcopy command with the /s/d/y switches?
using your above examples
xcopy H:\*.* C:\GarminUnit /S/D/Y >Backup.log
xcopy G:\*.* C:\GarminSDCard /S/D/Y >>Backup.log
It will just copy everything, regardless if it's the newer version or the same. No speed gain there.
Striving to make the NYC Metro area project the best.
Incorrect.
It will just copy everything, regardless if it's the newer version or the same. No speed gain there.
The /D switch only copies files that are newer than the existing files on the target. I just tested it with my 3597 using a backup I created a few days ago, and it only copied 2 files ... current.gpx and garmindevice.xml. It just took a few seconds.
Of course if you don't already have a full backup at the target location, you will get a full backup of ALL files.
Incidentally, I am using the xcopy version that came with Windows Vista 64 bit.
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon
I sit corrected
It will just copy everything, regardless if it's the newer version or the same. No speed gain there.
The /D switch only copies files that are newer than the existing files on the target. I just tested it with my 3597 using a backup I created a few days ago, and it only copied 2 files ... current.gpx and garmindevice.xml. It just took a few seconds.
Of course if you don't already have a full backup at the target location, you will get a full backup of ALL files.
Every day you don't learn something new is a wasted day.
Striving to make the NYC Metro area project the best.
Back-up
The only time I ever do a backup of my GPS is just before updating to a new map. I keep the previous version, so always have two back-ups on the hard-drive.
How is highlighting the complete GPS and then use "Copy" and then on the external hard-drive use "Paste" any more difficult?
And YES I have my computer set to see all hidden files and folders.
Nuvi 2797LMT, DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD, Using Windows 10. DashCam A108C with GPS.
Ditto
The only time I ever do a backup of my GPS is just before updating to a new map. I keep the previous version, so always have two back-ups on the hard-drive.
How is highlighting the complete GPS and then use "Copy" and then on the external hard-drive use "Paste" any more difficult?
And YES I have my computer set to see all hidden files and folders.
I do the same. KISS is a good motto
Agreed.
The only time I ever do a backup of my GPS is just before updating to a new map. I keep the previous version, so always have two back-ups on the hard-drive.
How is highlighting the complete GPS and then use "Copy" and then on the external hard-drive use "Paste" any more difficult?
And YES I have my computer set to see all hidden files and folders.
It is simpler and the way I usually do it too, but it does take quite a while (15 minutes or more) to make the full backup. Since only a few files on a Garmin device get updated with normal operation, the method proposed by rc5781 makes a lot of sense if you like to back up frequently to make sure you always have the freshest copies of your files.
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon
Yes, the whole point of
Yes, the whole point of doing it this way is that it's faster, 30 secs vs 15 mins or so.
Btw, I use this exact same code to back up all of my user files. I put all of my important files in my user folder and backup using this code. The back up usually only takes about 10 mins (and we're talking about a lot more data). This way I can back up quite frequently without having my computer tied up for very long.
3490lmt
No need to unhide files
Just realized by doing a test that you don't need to "unhide" files, including hidden operating files. Robocopy automatically copies these by default.
Corrected intial post with:
7. Hidden files (including operating system files) DO NOT need to be diplayed/unhidden first. Robocopy copies these files by default automatically.
3490lmt
wow.. I need to try this
wow.. I need to try this
Old guy with old skill set!
How is this utility better than using the standard Windows command line xcopy command with the /s/d/y switches?
using your above examples
xcopy H:\*.* C:\GarminUnit /S/D/Y >Backup.log
xcopy G:\*.* C:\GarminSDCard /S/D/Y >>Backup.log
For this purpose I think they are virtually identical. Robocopy is a newer version of xcopy.
It just goes to show how dated my command skills are, going back to the early days of DOS. I didn't realize Microsoft had added the enhanced robocopy command to their command list. So ... I learned something new too!
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon
Backing Up GPS The Fast Way...!
The faster the vehicle the GPS is in, the faster the GPS will be backing up when the vehicle is traveling in reverse!
Nuvi1300WTGPS
I'm not really lost.... just temporarily misplaced!