Yes, this is exactly what I was thinking, and thanks for the advice on
the IE and Netscape bookmarks!

Now, does anyone have a good recommendation for crafting the option set to
accomplish what is described?  I have a horrible time with Windows
include / exclude statements, they never seem to do what I ask them to.

What is the best way to exclude the whole disk, and then back up only
a few selected directories?  Is there a more efficient coding statement

thanks!

bob

On Fri, May 09, 2003 at 09:25:32AM -0400, Nicholas Cassimatis wrote:
> All of the applications you listed have default save directories.  I'd
> recommend setting up a client option set to backup only those directories,
> then, when the users get their machines, they should also get a document to
> sign saying something to the effect of "Any data I save outside the
> established default directories (and you can list them here) will not be
> backed up, and I accept the risk to that data," and a signature line at the
> bottom.  This comes back to you and gets saved somewhere.  Once they sign
> off, then you can let them run their backups.
>
> Two other things I'd add.  One, since you have a group that would clone
> machines for a full restore, I'd probably also eliminate the System Object
> from the domain - it's 200-400MB of data you don't need backed up, since
> you'd be able to reclone and restore the whole system.  Two, don't forget
> to backup their Internet Explorer Favorites (or Netscape bookmark file).
> I've seen some people get very upset when that type of data is lost.
>
> Nick Cassimatis
> nickpc AT us.ibm DOT com
>
> Think twice, type once.