Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.0 Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q174329
SUMMARY
Microsoft Systems Management Server Installer includes a feature that
allows you to back up files that are replaced during an installation. This
process is not automatic by default.
MORE INFORMATION
To enable support for backing up replaced files, the Installer variable
BACKUPDIR must be set to a value that is a valid directory path. Typically
a backup directory would be created below a program's main installation
directory.
Use either of the two following methods to ensure that the BACKUPDIR
variable is set.
Method 1
If you wish to display the Backup Replaced Files dialog box or are
performing a silent installation (using the /s command line switch), do the
following:
Under Installation Interface, click the Dialogs tab.
Click to select the Backup Replaced Files check-box.
This will display the dialog asking whether you want to back up replaced
files, and what directory to store them in, and then sets the BACKUPDIR
appropriately. If the option to display the dialog is selected, the
default is set to %MAINDIR%\BACKUP.
NOTE: When a Systems Management Server Installer executable is run with the
/s switch (for silent installation), none of the dialogs selected are
displayed, but if the Backup Replaced Files dialog box is selected,
BACKUPDIR will still be set to %MAINDIR%\BACKUP, and files will be backed
up accordingly.
Method 2
If you wish to have an interactive installation, but prefer not to include
the Backup Replaced Files dialog box, in Script Editor view, insert a Set
Variable script item before the first instance of any Install File script
items:
Variable: BACKUPDIR
New Value: %MAINDIR%\BACKUP
Operation: Nothing
Either of these methods will cause a backup directory to be created (user
specified location for Method 1 and BACKUP under the application's main
directory for the Method 2). As each file is installed, Installer will
check to see if the file being installed is replacing a current file. If
it is, it will backup the current file to the specified backup directory,
then install the new file. If the application is later uninstalled, the
backed-up files will be restored.
For more information on creating backup copies of replaced files, refer to
the online help provided with Microsoft Systems Management Server
Installer. Search the index for the word BACKUPDIR.