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bit-team / backintime

Back In Time - An easy-to-use backup tool for GNU Linux using rsync in the back
https://backintime.readthedocs.io
GNU General Public License v2.0
1.9k stars 175 forks source link

Restore (with exclusion) #1727

Closed coffseducation closed 1 month ago

coffseducation commented 1 month ago

Hello,

I need to restore my system after an upgrade fail. I have a main drive with home folder then another drive with Music & Videos that have a bind mount. I have a third drive installed that has BiT backups. I have backed up both drives.

I want to re-install. How can I do so without re-installing the data for the 2nd drive. (Yes, I should have created two profiles/jobs).

In fact I cannot find any clear instructions on restore at all - let alone with exclusion of directories. Excluding directories is clear with backups, but not with restore.

Should I use Lucky Backup for this procedure?

Thanks.

buhtz commented 1 month ago

Hello coffseduction,

Thank you for taking the time to report the issue and providing the details. We appreciate your feedback.

Please post the output of backintime --diagnostics or give us your version of Back In Time if that command is not available in your version.

I have problems to understand your use case. You fresh installed your whole system (which OS?). And now you want to restore some files and folders from a previous backup you have done with Back In Time. Am I right so far? I did not understand what you mean by "install" or "re-install" in the context of Back In Time. I also not sure what it is about all the drives involved.

The docu about it needs improvement, you are right.

If you just want to use your files and folders from your backup then just do it. You don't need the restore feature in Back In Time for this. The backup is just a bunch of folders and files. Copy them with your file manager where every you want them.

If you want to use the restore feature of Back In Time you just do it, too. Have you setup Back In Time on your new system so that it shows you the backups?

Best regards,

coffseducation commented 1 month ago

Thank you so much for the reply!

re: backintime --diagnostics. After logging in at sddm on Kubuntu the screen freezes so I cannot get the version of BiT. The upgrade to Noble Numbut failed. I can switch to a tty so I will get that if it is important. I will get back to you.

No fresh install - yet. I have only used a live environment of the Garuda iso to try to understand the BiT process before committing further. BiT complains about the backup location not existing, but perhaps I need to install for it to work properly? I am unclear on the process here.

re: And now you want to restore some files and folders

If you just want to use your files and folders from your backup then just do it. You don't need the restore feature in Back In Time for this.

Thanks!

coffseducation commented 1 month ago

Back In Time version 1.4.3 on Kubuntu 23.10

coffseducation commented 1 month ago

Ok, I could not get BiT to see any config file. Dolphin showed them, but BiT could not see them in the directory. I am restoring with Lucky Backup. I suppose that means I will have to delete the backups in order to make room for a new BiT profile. Thanks for the help. Closing.

coffseducation commented 1 month ago

SOLVED!

Ugh! I finally figured it out!

When the system is re-installed the BiT drive needs taking ownership of again!!

I could restore the files with Lucky Backup so did not even consider this before.

After owning the drive the config imported and populated the backup list!

buhtz commented 1 month ago

Thanks for your feedback. Happy to hear that it went well on your side.

We will work on the documentation about the topic.