When using multi-volume zip files, you should try and keep the number of disks used to a minimum. The zip file contents table is stored on the last disk in the set, and if it should be damaged the whole backup is lost. We recommend that you read the section of the Help file that concerns multi-volume zip files, and always test the zip file for integrity (using the option in the Advanced window) after you have created it. ZipBack is in fact designed to make it easy to create smaller and more regular backups of the files you use most often, which minimizes the risk of data loss.

A report has come in from one user, of a very large multi-volume zip file that could not be unzipped because the contents table was split across the last two disks in the backup set. This is a very unlikely scenario, but the compression system files have been updated to counter the problem in current shipping versions. You can download and install this patch yourself if you experience any problems in an existing installation.

To install it, make sure that ZipBack is not running. Once you've downloaded the file (multivol.exe), run it and select your Windows\System folder (Windows 95) or WINNT\System32 folder (Windows NT) as the target for the extracted files. Click the Select All button and then click Extract files from Zip. Once the files are extracted, restart ZipBack. If errors occur when restarting, you can return to the original configuration by re-installing ZipBack from your original disks.

One of the files required for installing ZipBack Pro Internet Edition in Windows NT 4.0. was not included in some early shippping versions. ZipBack will install, but fail to run afterwards. To correct this, download the required file and instructions for installing it here. Just click on the link below, and make sure you save the file NTInstal.exe in a temporary folder on your hard disk.

ZipMail uses standard MAPI commands to communicate with your mail client. The success depends on how well your mail client interprets these commands. (Microsoft Exchange handles them with no problem).

Zipmail requires the file MAPI32.DLL to run, and this is not included with ZipMail. It should already be in your WINDOWS or SYSTEM folder if you have mail software installed. If ZipBack cannot find this file, the Mail option will be disabled. However if you start ZipMail from your Start menu, you will receive an error message when you try to send the message if MAPI32.DLL is not available.

When you send files which have long file names to ZipBack from the Send-To menu, the Source folders list may show the shortened version of the folder name under certain circumstances. The file name is not affected.

This has no ill effects on the operation of the program, and as soon as you switch to another folder and back the long name is restored.

See the Help file for more details on using the Send-To menu.

1. On your Start menu select Settings then Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove programs.
3. In the list of installed programs select ZipBack Pro.
4. Click Add/Remove.. to remove it from your system.

During removal you may also be told that some components cannot be removed. These are any option sets or configuration files you have created. To remove them:

5. Once the removal program has finished open My Computer.
6. Select your ZipBack program folder and press Delete.

You can set up ZipBack to automatically archive or back-up any set of files directly from your Start menu. As an example, we'll create an Option Set to back-up our daily-updated files.

1. In the main ZipBack window click Sets, then in the Option and Back-up Sets window click Run Set Wizard.
2. Type a name for the set, such as DAILY, and a description such as Daily Back-up. Then click Next.
3. Click 'I want to select individual files...', and the File Selector window opens.
4. In File Selector click on the files you want from any drive or folder, adding them to the top window. To add all the files in a folder click the 'All files in (folder)' button.
5. Click OK, then back in the main ZipBack window change the Target drive to A: (or your back-up drive) and enter a new file name, for example My Daily. The default name is Selected. Then turn on the Update or Add New Files Only checkbox.
6. Go back to Set Wizard and click Next. Leave both the check- boxes ticked, and click Next again. Then click Close.
7. Exit from ZipBack, and you'll see the new shortcut in an Explorer window. Close this window then open your Start menu, select Programs then Back-up Sets. Make sure you have a disk in the target drive and click Daily Back-up. You'll see ZipBack load, and the files being backed up.
8. When complete, ZipBack closes down again (unless you run out of disk space, or an error occurs). Note that if you are using an evaluation copy, you'll have to click the Continue button.

No, we didn't hide it on purpose. In the main ZipBack window open the About tab and click the Options button.

By default, ZipBack is optimized for using a mouse when selecting from list boxes, as this is the way most people work. One click selects a file or folder instead of it requiring the usual double-click. If you want to use the cursor (arrow) keys to move around a list box:

1. Open the About tab in the main ZipBack window and click the Options button.
2. In the General page turn on the Use the Cursor Keys in Directory and File List Boxes option.

Only one zip or unzip process can be running at any time. Once you start the process, the Zip button is disabled until it is complete. To run concurrent zip or unzip processes you can start another instance of ZipBack from your Start menu.

NOTE: The free 'Unzip Client' version cannot be used to zip files, so the Zip button is disabled until you select an existing zip file as the Source.

Yes, you're right. We looked long and hard at what extra features we could offer through the right mouse button. With a few minor exceptions we could not see any that gave significant increase in ease of use, so rather than include them just for cosmetic reasons we left them out altogether.