Free Backup Utility

If you are impatient, Download the RevRDist files (disk copy archive) now. Make certain you read the directions below. Please contact me at ken@irisrichardson.com if you find any problems with any of the setup files. Thank you.

To use the RevRDist backup utility as in its current configuration, you will need AppleScript installed on your system. Applescript can run on all PowerMacs and most 680x0 based Macs as well. If you have an old Macintosh and your not using OS 7.5.5 or better, the Applescript portion of this utility might not function. RevRDist can function on its own by using an alias to launch the utility instead of the Applescript launcher if your computer can not use Applescript.

One reason I love RevRDist is that it is a public domain program. You can do with it anything you want. If you need detailed information on how to customize RevRDist, you can find much of what you need at the RevRDist home page. My goal here is to make your life easier, so you can setup a backup system without knowing how it all works. If you look at the home RevRDist home page, don't worry that is was originally designed for something entirely different than backing up files. It works for backups too!

The RevRDist Files are saved in a compressed Disk Copy volume. If you do not have disk copy, you can download it from Apple or find it on your system CD-ROM on more recent Macintosh models.

To use the preset RevRDist software, you will have to decide several options to piece together the required components:

  • What volume do you want to back up?
  • Do you want to backup an entire volume or just the documents folder?
  • Do you want automated backup when the computer is shutdown or do you want to perform a backup only when you run the program?
  • Do you want a backup system that removes deleted files or preserves them?

After you have downloaded the RevRDist backup utility, create a folder called 'Zip Backup' on the volume that you want the backup to reside. Into the folder copy four files: one from the 'Application Files', two from the 'Distribution Files', and one from the 'Preferences Files'. Do NOT just copy the folders, copy the individual files that reside within those folders.


Application Files:
Select 'RevRdist on Demand' is used if you only want to perform a backup periodically when you click on an icon to do so.

Select 'RevRdist on Shutdown' if you want the computer to do a backup every time the computer is restarted or shutdown.


Distribution Files:
Select 'Backup of Documents Folder' if you want to backup only the 'documents' folder and do NOT want files you have deleted on your hard drive to be removed from your backup.

Select 'Backup of Entire Volume' if you want to backup an entire volume and do NOT want files you have deleted on your hard drive to be removed from your backup.

Select 'Clean Backup of Documents Fldr' if you want to backup only the 'documents' folder and you DO want files you have deleted on your hard drive to be removed from your backup.

Select 'Clean Backup of Entire Volume' if you want to backup an entire volume and you DO want files you have deleted on your hard drive to be removed from your backup.


Location of Backup:
This item is an exception to the rule. While all the other files are copied to the 'Zip Backup' folder on your backup disk, place this item either on your desktop or in the shutdown items folder within your System folder, depending if you want the program to run when you shutdown the computer or not.

Copy the 'Backup' if the volume name of your backup device is 'Backup'.

Copy the 'Data2' if the volume name of your backup device is 'Data2'.

Copy the 'Zip 100' if the volume name of your backup device is 'Zip 100'.

If you need a different name for the backup volume, you will have to customize the backup system which requires you to edit the Applescript code and resedit the Preference file resource.


Preference Files:
Select 'Data to Backup' if the volume name of your backup device is 'Backup' and the data to be backed up is on the volume 'Data'.

Select 'Data to Data2' if the volume name of your backup device is 'Data' and the data to be backed up is on the volume 'Data2'.

Select 'Macintosh HD to Backup' if the volume name of your backup device is 'Backup' and the data to be backed up is on the volume 'Macintosh HD'.

Select 'Macintosh HD to Zip 100' if the volume name of your backup device is 'Zip 100' and the data to be backed up is on the volume 'Macintosh HD'.

If you need a different name for either the backup or source volume, you will have to edit the Applescript code and resedit the Preference file resource.



Download the RevRDist files (disk copy archive)




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