Any point to backing up prefetch files

In XP, when backing up files, is there any point to backing up prefetch
files?

I know they are only a tiny part of the harddrive, but I'm trying to
chip away at my backup size (and the time it takes).


While I'm posting: I googled once for a list of files and directories
not worth backing up, but I couldn't find such a list. Do you guys
have one?

I'm already skipping the following directories or files, via XXCopy's
exclusion file:

d:\$AVG\
d:\windows\temp\
"d:\System Volume Information\"
"d:*\temporary internet files\"
"d:\documents and settings\bigcheese\local settings\application
data\mozilla\firefox\profiles\9g7csz6r.default\cac he\"
"d:\program files\common files\symantec shared\*.*"
d:*\content.ie5\
d:\recycled\
d:\*\temp\
d:\*\*.tmp\
d:\:\tmp\
d:\*\*.tmp
\*.exh
\*.dmp
d:*\$NtUnin*.*\
d:*\$Nt*.*\
d:\windows\$hf_mig$\
d:\winME-CD\
"d:\windows\temporary internet files\"
"d:\program files\common files\symantec shared\*.*"
d:\windows\win386.swp //which I think is a left-over line from win98

I think from XXCopy's pov, I have some duplication for temp and tmp
files, but the syntax rules still confuse me. I can ask about them on
the XXCopy mailing list.

Thanks.

micky wrote:
In XP, when backing up files, is there any point to backing up prefetch
files?

There is little point in backing those up. They'll be recreated, as needbe.

I know they are only a tiny part of the harddrive, but I'm trying to
chip away at my backup size (and the time it takes).


While I'm posting: I googled once for a list of files and directories
not worth backing up, but I couldn't find such a list. Do you guys
have one?

I'm already skipping the following directories or files, via XXCopy's
exclusion file:

d:\$AVG\
d:\windows\temp\
"d:\System Volume Information\"
"d:*\temporary internet files\"
"d:\documents and settings\bigcheese\local settings\application
data\mozilla\firefox\profiles\9g7csz6r.default\cac he\"
"d:\program files\common files\symantec shared\*.*"
d:*\content.ie5\
d:\recycled\
d:\*\temp\
d:\*\*.tmp\
d:\:\tmp\
d:\*\*.tmp
\*.exh
\*.dmp
d:*\$NtUnin*.*\
d:*\$Nt*.*\
d:\windows\$hf_mig$\
d:\winME-CD\
"d:\windows\temporary internet files\"
"d:\program files\common files\symantec shared\*.*"
d:\windows\win386.swp //which I think is a left-over line from win98

I think from XXCopy's pov, I have some duplication for temp and tmp
files, but the syntax rules still confuse me. I can ask about them on
the XXCopy mailing list.

Thanks.

micky wrote:
In XP, when backing up files, is there any point to backing up prefetch
files?

I know they are only a tiny part of the harddrive, but I'm trying to
chip away at my backup size (and the time it takes).


While I'm posting: I googled once for a list of files and directories
not worth backing up, but I couldn't find such a list. Do you guys
have one?

I'm already skipping the following directories or files, via XXCopy's
exclusion file:

d:\$AVG\
d:\windows\temp\
"d:\System Volume Information\"
"d:*\temporary internet files\"
"d:\documents and settings\bigcheese\local settings\application
data\mozilla\firefox\profiles\9g7csz6r.default\cac he\"
"d:\program files\common files\symantec shared\*.*"
d:*\content.ie5\
d:\recycled\
d:\*\temp\
d:\*\*.tmp\
d:\:\tmp\
d:\*\*.tmp
\*.exh
\*.dmp
d:*\$NtUnin*.*\
d:*\$Nt*.*\
d:\windows\$hf_mig$\
d:\winME-CD\
"d:\windows\temporary internet files\"
"d:\program files\common files\symantec shared\*.*"
d:\windows\win386.swp //which I think is a left-over line from win98

I think from XXCopy's pov, I have some duplication for temp and tmp
files, but the syntax rules still confuse me. I can ask about them on
the XXCopy mailing list.

Thanks.

I always delete my pf files.

micky wrote:
In XP, when backing up files, is there any point to backing up prefetch
files?

I know they are only a tiny part of the harddrive, but I'm trying to
chip away at my backup size (and the time it takes).


While I'm posting: I googled once for a list of files and directories
not worth backing up, but I couldn't find such a list. Do you guys
have one?

I'm already skipping the following directories or files, via XXCopy's
exclusion file:

d:\$AVG\
d:\windows\temp\
"d:\System Volume Information\"
"d:*\temporary internet files\"
"d:\documents and settings\bigcheese\local settings\application
data\mozilla\firefox\profiles\9g7csz6r.default\cac he\"
"d:\program files\common files\symantec shared\*.*"
d:*\content.ie5\
d:\recycled\
d:\*\temp\
d:\*\*.tmp\
d:\:\tmp\
d:\*\*.tmp
\*.exh
\*.dmp
d:*\$NtUnin*.*\
d:*\$Nt*.*\
d:\windows\$hf_mig$\
d:\winME-CD\
"d:\windows\temporary internet files\"
"d:\program files\common files\symantec shared\*.*"
d:\windows\win386.swp //which I think is a left-over line from win98

I think from XXCopy's pov, I have some duplication for temp and tmp
files, but the syntax rules still confuse me. I can ask about them on
the XXCopy mailing list.

Thanks.

You might want to use CC cleaner to delete everything that
you listed above before backup.

micky wrote:
In XP, when backing up files, is there any point to backing up prefetch
files?

I know they are only a tiny part of the harddrive, but I'm trying to
chip away at my backup size (and the time it takes).


While I'm posting: I googled once for a list of files and directories
not worth backing up, but I couldn't find such a list. Do you guys
have one?

I'm already skipping the following directories or files, via XXCopy's
exclusion file:

d:\$AVG\
d:\windows\temp\
"d:\System Volume Information\"
"d:*\temporary internet files\"
"d:\documents and settings\bigcheese\local settings\application
data\mozilla\firefox\profiles\9g7csz6r.default\cac he\"
"d:\program files\common files\symantec shared\*.*"
d:*\content.ie5\
d:\recycled\
d:\*\temp\
d:\*\*.tmp\
d:\:\tmp\
d:\*\*.tmp
\*.exh
\*.dmp
d:*\$NtUnin*.*\
d:*\$Nt*.*\
d:\windows\$hf_mig$\
d:\winME-CD\
"d:\windows\temporary internet files\"
"d:\program files\common files\symantec shared\*.*"
d:\windows\win386.swp //which I think is a left-over line from win98

I think from XXCopy's pov, I have some duplication for temp and tmp
files, but the syntax rules still confuse me. I can ask about them on
the XXCopy mailing list.

Thanks.

Why not benchmark the backup time of XXCopy, versus
a VSS based backup program ? Those are more likely to
sequentially transfer the data, at the sector level,
and cut down on all the seeks that file by file cause.
VSS based backup programs, also come with a mount option, using
Explorer or their own File Inspector type window, so you can
random access the backup, and recover single backup files
(using nothing more than drag & drop).

Paul