Best Tax Software for 2017 - The Simple Dollar
Best Tax Software for 2017
Taxes are never, ever fun — especially if you’re just getting started on them with only days left before the filing deadline. You don’t need to dread April 18th, though — that’s right, the 2017 filing deadline is April 18th, not the traditional date of the 15th. Tax software has come along way, and if you choose the right option, you’ll be able to knock your taxes out quickly and confidently. ;s list of the best tax software companies features three faithful standouts: ,, and .
on Intuit's secure website
We have a clear favorite pick this year (the fourth year in a row, in fact). It’s TurboTax, and it’s our top pick for several reasons. It’ it has the most comprehen and best of all, it’s absolutely free for millions of Americans filing a 1040EZ or 1040A (and state returns) thanks to a resurgence of the company’s Absolute Zero program.
That’s available to anyone who has an income of less than $100,000; doesn’t have sizable med and doesn’t claim any rental, investment, or business income. Pretty great, right?
The Simple Dollar’s Picks for the Best Tax Software for 2017
The best tax software doesn’t just get your taxes filed — it educates users, leaving them confident about their return rather than worried about an audit. As a result, we dug deep into user experience this year. We put each software package through the wringer, evaluating facilitation, disbursement, accuracy tools, and deduction discovery. We also considered how much we enjoyed using it (yes, you can enjoy using tax software). We also looked for a few key features: an accuracy guarantee, audit-risk identification tools, multiple refund-disbursement options, strong customer support, and the ability to import all of your forms and data. And when we learned that the number of TurboTax users (6 million) filing from smartphones and tablets is up 15 percent from the previous year, we favored software with great mobile apps, too.
TurboTax, H&R Block, or TaxAct: What is the Best Tax Software?
Intuit’s
remains the industry’s most streamlined and intuitive tax software package for the 2016 fiscal year. Whether you’re self-employed, freelancing on the side, or filing a 1040EZ, TurboTax has all the tools you need to minimize headaches and capitalize on your return. Just remember: Its pricing schedule is a bit more confusing and expensive than competitors, so you might wind up paying more than you imagined depending on the complexity of your tax situation.
One of TurboTax’s most compelling features is SmartLook(TM), which connects users with a CPA or enrolled agent via one-way video. Users can share their screen and receive expert help, for free, with an unlimited amount of requests. What’s more, Intuit improved the tool for 2016 by adding the ability to schedule appointments, which tightens its competition with H&R Block, which boasts 12,000 in-person locations nationwide. SmartLook(TM) isn’t available for Federal Free Edition users, but outside of sitting in a room with a tax professional, it’s one of the best customer support tools in the industry, bar none.
TurboTax also upped its game this year with the launch of a brand-new tool for the self-employed called Expense Finder. Once connected to a user’s bank account, Expense Finder helps to pinpoint every single transaction from the past year that might qualify as an expense. It can be difficult to keep track of every nickel and dime spent on things like travel and food, so this is a welcome addition to the TurboTax family. Plus, users get a free, one-year subscription to Intuit QuickBooks.
is one of the most trusted names in finance thanks to its excellent customer service. With over 12,000 locations in the United States, you’re likely not far from speaking face-to-face with a professional who can help you sift through the financial maze. And regardless of which plan (edition) you choose, you also get free, in-person audit support.
The company’s software isn’t quite as simple or feature-rich as TurboTax, but it can be more affordable for small-business owners and those with multiple investments and properties. TurboTax’s “Premium” edition runs about $140 (state and federal), while H&R Block’s “Premium” edition costs around $90. Both cover the same forms from schedules C, D, E, and F (those that are related to deductions, self-employment, and investment income), but H&R Block customers get the benefit of in-person support while also saving $50.
is the most affordable option out there. Consider this: The company’s top-of-the-line edition, called Premium, runs $55 and includes forms from schedules C, D, E, and F — that means freelancers, homeowners, investors, and the self-employed can take advantage of the same deductions available on TurboTax’s “Self-Employed” ($140) and “Premium” ($92) editions for almost half the price. However, TaxAct has limited e-filing capabilities because it doesn’t support forms 1041 and 1065 in every state. So if you plan to file online, make sure to .
The flipside to its affordability is that TaxAct doesn’t offer as robust customer support as the likes of TurboTax’s SmartLook(TM) CPA video chat or H&R Block’s 12,000 office sites. But if you don’t mind forgoing the bells and whistles, TaxAct is one of the best, and most affordable, software options available.
Still sounding a little too spendy? Check out our
to see if there is a good option that fits your needs.
What should the best tax software have?
Accuracy guarantee: If you pay an IRS or state penalty or interest because of a calculation error, the company pays you for the penalty and interest.
Audit-risk identification: Tools that help you identify red flags that trigger audits, like failing to report all your income, or breaking rules on foreign accounts.
Refund disbursement options: Users can choose how a refund is paid, including via check, direct deposit, prepaid debit card, savings bonds, etc.
Strong customer support system: A comprehensive knowledge base, live chat, email support, etc.
Data import: The ability to import your W-2 by taking a picture, or at the very least, importing information from your previous tax return.
Which deductions should the best tax software offer?
Aside from the standard deductions — $9,300 for head of household filers, $6,300 for singles and married persons filing separate returns, and $12,600 for married couples filing jointly — we only considered software that also offered:
Charity Donations
Itemized Deductions
Business Owner Deductions
Depreciation Summary
Vehicle Deduction Methods
Rental Property Deductions
How to Choose the Best Tax Preparation Software for You
The needs for a nine-to-five employee and a CEO of a startup company are worlds apart. Maybe you’re like me and work multiple freelance jobs. Your tax software is completely dependent on your specific tax needs.
If you’re new to paying taxes, I highly recommend starting with the free version of our top income tax software choice, TurboTax. It’s reliable and intuitive, and should make your first time filing taxes a bit less painful. If you’re lucky, your taxes will be simple enough that you don’t have to upgrade beyond the Free Edition.
Best Small Business Tax Software: H&R Block
It’s always nice to have someone watching your back, especially if you’re in charge of a small business. With H&R Block, you can take your taxes to any local office and have someone look over it for free. The personal touch of H&R Block’s customer service makes it a no-brainer for any business owners out there. It’s the best tax software for small business, hands down.
Best Professional Tax Software for Experienced Tax Filers: TurboTax
Overall, TurboTax still remains the best tax software for the serious tax filer. The intuitive software is built to handle even the most complicated tax needs with ease. TurboTax rapidly determines everything from refunds and deductibles to accurate audit risks.
Income Tax Calculator
We’ve built an income tax calculator to help you determine your federal
and expected take-home earnings based on your filing type, locations, and annual earnings. This should help you prepare and plan your taxes as well as manage your finances for the year, especially if you owe more money than you anticipated because you didn’t withhold enough.
A Guide to the Different Versions of Tax Software
Thankfully, finding the right version of your software isn’t as difficult as it sounds. Since it behooves these tax-filing companies to move your money as effortlessly as possible, they’ve allowed for smooth upgrading, if needed for your current tax situation. If you’re unsure of where your exact needs lie, I would recommend starting with each company’s free tax software option and working your way up, or staying there if it covers you. Your income flow and your situation will dictate which tier you’ll be in, but I’ll give you a quick rundown of the four main levels offered by the best tax software companies:
Federal Free Edition — The best deal, this provides the resources to prepare and e-file both federal and state taxes and is generally utilized by those with the most basic tax needs. Federal filing is free, but state filing typically incurs a fee.
Basic Edition — Includes all the features found in the Federal Free Edition with the addition of access to basic deduction-identification tools and improved support.
Deluxe Edition — Generally offers more to identify deductions through industry- or occupation-specific searches. May also include more robust tools for life events, donations, and audit risk.
Premium Edition — Generally grants access to the full functionality of the software with deduction assistance that expands to include rental properties and other business-specific tax deductions, along with advanced calculators and additional investment resources.
Tax Software Comparison: TurboTax vs. H&R Block vs. TaxAct
While we have found TurboTax to be the best tax software option overall, all of the main competitors have something unique to bring to the table. To remove any remaining bias, let’s compare some of the measurable qualities of each tax software option.
The table below compares the main components of each contender, not a breakdown of every feature these companies have to offer. You can find our deeper dive into the ins and outs of our main competitors below.
Best Tax Software: Feature Comparison
Below are ALL of the things you need to consider when choosing the best tax software. After comparing, simply click get started to be one step closer to finishing your taxes!
FeatureTurboTaxH&R BlockTaxAct
Filing Federal Online$0 - $90$0 - $60$0 - $30
Filing State Online$30 - $100$20 - $80$0 - $25
Desktop Software (both federal and state)$30 - $100$20 - $80$40 - $55
Office LocationsX?X
Free Filing for the Military???
Accuracy Guarantee???
Audit-Risk Identifier??X
Multiple Disbursement Options???
Prior-year Returns???
Automatic Import??X
Audit Support???
Complete Taxes on the Mobile App???
Extensive Educational Material?XX
Online Tax Software Reviews: A Deeper Look at the Top 3
TurboTax: The Best Tax Preparation Software
is undeniably the most recognizable name in tax prep software, and it has the chops to back it up. Its audit and deduction tools are the best in the business, and its list of features is ever growing with the addition of SmartLook(TM) video support and Expense Finder for the self-employed. And like H&R Block, TurboTax allows users to upload their W-2 by taking a picture with a mobile device. (If your payroll provider is one of TurboTax’s many partners, you can even import your W-2 online.) Here are a few more highlights:
A comprehensive Federal Free Edition that includes 1040EZ, 1040A, and 1040 forms as well as live chat
Incredibly easy-to-use software
The best mobile app in the business
Expense Finder, which helps the self-employed identify every possible deduction
Incredibly thorough AnswerXchange knowledge base
Strong customer support, including SmartLook(TM) expert video chat
Heads-up audit detection while you file your taxes
A wide array of disbursement options
Trusty phone support hotline
TurboTax Downsides
While TurboTax is the overall best tax software in the field, it’s not without its weaknesses. As many disgruntled users will point out, the price has steadily climbed over the past few years and stands as one of the most expensive options on the market. (For example, TurboTax charges $80 to file federal taxes online, compared to competitor H&R Block’s $60.) But, like we mentioned before, if you have a simple tax situation, you can file absolutely free through TurboTax’s Absolute Zero program.
It’s also important to note the company has a steep processing fee of $34.99 if you pay your TurboTax fee with your federal refund.
H&R Block: The Best Customer Support at an Affordable Price
With over 12,000 locations spanning the US,
is able to provide a personal touch that TurboTax and TaxAct can’t match. And the best part is that no matter which plan you choose — the free online edition, or the paid desktop edition — everyone gets access to a real-life tax professional. All you have to do is visit the office with the giant green block. Here are a few more highlights:
Standout tools to help with more complex tax needs, including deductions
Helpful page-by-page overviews and step-by-step workflow guidance
Premium edition is $30-$50 cheaper than TurboTax’s.
Peppered with links throughout each page to answer any questions you might have, such as “What qualifies?”
A bookmarking system lets you tag anything you want to refer to later.
File federal taxes for free with the At Home Free Edition, which provides many tax forms other competitors don’t, plus free audit support and representation.
H&R Block Downsides
Right now, you may be asking, “With such incredible customer service, why isn’t H&R Block the best tax software?” Frankly, its bland website and slightly confusing interface can’t compete with the simplicity of TurboTax. But if you’d feel more confident having a copilot on your tax journey, H&R’s marginally less attractive software is hardly a good reason to skip it.
TaxAct: The Best Cheap Tax Software
is undeniably one of the most affordable tax software options on the market for the standard taxpayer — its most expensive plan is less than half the price of TurboTax, and it supports the exact same forms. A big reason for these savings is found in its lack of features for the self-employed, investors, or property owners. To be clear, you can still use TaxAct if you fit in those categories, but it won’t be as easy as using TurboTax or H&R Block. The bottom line is this: If you’re a straightforward W-2 employee with a simple return, TaxAct has all you need to effectively file your taxes and save some cash. Here are a few more highlights:
Offers top value without sacrificing quality (only extras)
Provides a pre-built spreadsheet where you enter information like reporting category, sales proceeds, gains/losses, and other relevant stock information
Limited state e-filing
A useful “Refund Snapshot” dashboard
Mini-alerts identify errors and robust learning resources make sure you get all the help you need.
With the Free Edition, you can file federal tax forms for simple and complex tax returns for different statuses and life situations.
TaxAct Downsides
TaxAct’s educational resources have improved since last year, but it still doesn’t match TurboTax’s offerings. It also has a few lightweight features, like a deductions calculator and “Life Changes” event wizard (which alerts customers to important information related to life events and how they impact taxes), but they aren’t as fleshed out as comparable tools from the other companies. Finally, TaxAct doesn’t allow you to import your W-2 by taking a photo like TurboTax and H&R Block. Once you put it in manually, though, you can important it from previous tax returns in the future.
Although TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxAct were our top picks,
are also worth a look.
TaxSlayer Highlights:
You can choose to be guided or not, which is great if you’re confident in your tax abilities and want to bypass all the quizzes.
Prior-year tax form access makes it easy to prepare your forms and alter them to save time.
The life events guide makes sure you correctly input information about births, a new home, etc.
Why TaxSlayer Didn’t Make the Cut
Deduction tools aren’t as strong as the top three — items like charity donations, rental properties, and industry-specific deductions aren’t identified.
No live chat or user forum to get help instantly — however your questions do jump to the front of the queue for faster response time via the premium service.
eSmartTax Highlights:
Great Affordable Care Act (ACA) forms and resources
A clean and modern interface makes this software easy to navigate.
Owned by Liberty Tax, which has office locations available for in-person help.
You can import prior-year forms and pre-populate information to save time.
Why eSmartTax Didn’t Make the Cut
It’s missing some of the more common features like a life events adviser and tax calculator.
Deduction discovery resources are very limited, which won’t suffice for more complicated tax situations.
Sale-of-home feature is only available at its Premium level. The sale of a home is a fairly common transaction that would be a no-brainer at a Deluxe tier level.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re filing for your family, your business, or yourself, the biggest piece of advice is to be proactive. While we all lead busy lives, it’s always best to get a jump on the upcoming tax season and not let it sneak up on you.
Admittedly, there will never be a replacement for hiring a professional to take care of your taxes. But for anyone looking to save some money and take matters into their own hands, we’ve found TurboTax to be the best tax software on the market. Its ease of use and intuitive design paired with the gravitas carried by its name make it the premier option on the market. H&R Block and TaxAct aren’t hanging too far behind, offering unsurpassed customer service and affordability, respectively. But for the majority of taxpayers, your best bet is the slick industry hallmark: .
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Backing Up and Recovering Data
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Introduction
This document will walk you through how to protect your servers and data using two technologies: Backup and Shadow Copies of Shared Folders.
Use Backup to help protect data from accidental loss if your server's hardware or storage media fails. For example, you can use Backup to create a duplicate copy of the data on your hard disk and then archive the data on another storage device. If the original data on your hard disk is accidentally erased or overwritten, or becomes inaccessible because of a hard disk malfunction, you can easily restore the data from the archived copy.
Shadow Copies of Shared Folders is a file-storage technology that provides user access to snapshots of files that are located on a shared network resource, such as a file server. With Shadow Copies of Shared Folders, users can quickly recover deleted or changed files that are stored on the network without administrator assistance, which can increase productivity and reduce administrative costs.
The tasks that are covered in this document are:
Creating an Automated System Recovery (ASR) set
Backing up your file and print servers
Backing up the Active Directory directory service
Enabling Shadow Copies of Shared Folders on a file server
Restoring files from Backup
Restoring your computer using an ASR set
Restoring Active Directory
Restoring Previous Versions of files and folders
IMPORTANT:
All the step-by-step instructions included in this document were developed by using the Start menu that appears by default when you install your operating system. If you have modified your Start menu, the steps might differ slightly.
Before You Begin Using Backup
The recommendations in this document are only for file and print servers running Microsoft Windows Server
2003. The following sections cover the options that you should consider before creating backups of your servers.
Select a Type of Backup Storage
The backup storage can be a hard disk drive, a separate storage device such as a tape drive, or an entire library of disks or tapes organized and controlled by a robotic changer.
Backing up to a tape is preferable because you can create a backup and store the tape in a different location from the computer. This protects against hard disk failure as well as loss from a fire or other catastrophic event.
If you choose to back up to a hard disk, make sure that it is a hard disk separate from your primary hard disk in case your primary hard disk fails. Backing up to a hard disk drive is convenient, but does not protect against a catastrophic event such as a fire or earthquake.
Select a Schedule
It is best to perform backups late at night, on weekends, or whenever the server is not being used. You can back up files that are open or in use, but it is safer to back up your server during a slow use period.
You should schedule a weekly normal backup of all of your data, including the System State data for the server. A normal backup will copy all the files you select and mark each file as having been backed up. In addition, you can also schedule a daily differential backup. A differential backup copies files that have been created or changed since the last normal backup (the "differences"). It does not mark files as having been backed up so the changed file will also be backed up as part of the next normal backup. If you are performing a combination of normal and differential backups, restoring data requires that you have the last normal as well as the last differential backup.
Backup Permissions
Certain permissions and user rights are required to back up files and folders. As part of scheduling backups, you will be asked for information about who is running the backup. If you are a member of the Administrators or Backup Operators group on the local computer, you can back up any file and folder on the local computer to which the local group applies. Likewise, if you are a member of the Administrators or Backup Operators group on a domain controller, you can back up any file and folder locally on any computer in the domain with which you have a two-way trust relationship. However, if you are not a member of either the Administrator or Backup Operators group for the domain, and you want to back up files, then you must be the owner of the files and folders that you want to back up, or you must have one or more of the following permissions for the files and folders you want to back up: Read, Read & Execute, Modify, or Full Control.
Creating an ASR Set
In addition to regular backups of your data, you should use Backup to create an Automated System Recovery (ASR) set when you first place your server into production and again before and after any major changes to the system such as software and hardware upgrades. An ASR set contains a backup of your operating system files and a bootable floppy disk that can be used to start your computer if it will not start normally. Before creating an ASR set, make sure that you have a 3.5-inch floppy disk available to make the boot disk.
Before You Begin Using Shadow Copies of Shared Folders
Shadow Copies of Shared Folders should be used in conjunction with a regular backup plan on file servers that use shared folders to provide users access to files. Shadow Copies for Shared Folders will allow users to recover their own files without costly intervention from a backup administrator. It is not a replacement for regular backups-shadow copies cannot be used for permanent archives and may be deleted depending on the storage limits and the number of shadow copies that exist on the server.
Default Schedule
When you enable Shadow Copies of Shared Folders, a default schedule is created. If you keep the default settings, shadow copies of the volume will be taken at 7:00 A.M. and noon, Monday through Friday. This schedule might work for your users, but it is important to consider the particular work habits of your users before using this default schedule. You might want to consider the following questions:
Do most of your users work from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., Monday through Friday, in the same time zone?
Are users spread out across time zones Does this mean that you need more copies throughout the day to cover all of the work hours?
How much work time can your users afford to lose Will the default schedule of copies twice a day (7:00 A.M. and noon, Monday through Friday) provide adequate coverage?
How often can copies be taken without needing to add additional storage?
How many days of history can be retained before reaching the limit of 64 shadow copies?
You might want to create an initial schedule and deploy to a small group to test whether your scheduled shadow copies stay within the storage limits you set. Also, consider polling your users to find out their work habits and when they think that a shadow copy would be beneficial. This kind of information can help you determine the best schedule for your specific users.
Default Storage Settings
You can only enable Shadow Copies of Shared Folders on a per- that is, you cannot select specific shared folders and files on a volume to be copied or not copied. By default, the shadow copies will be stored on the volume that is being copied (the source volume). If you have more than one drive available on your server, you should use a separate volume on another disk to store the shadow copies. This eliminates the possibility that high input/output (I/O) load will cause shadow copies to be deleted. This is the recommended configuration for heavily used file servers.
The default storage size is 10 percent of the source volume (the volume being copied). The minimum amount of storage space that you can specify is 100 megabytes (MB). If the shadow copies are stored on a separate volume, change the default to reflect the space available on the storage volume instead of the source volume. Remember that when the storage limit is reached, older versions of the shadow copies will be deleted and cannot be restored.
When determining the amount of space to allocate for storing shadow copies, you must consider both the number and size of files that are being copied, as well as the frequency of changes between copies. For example, 100 files that only change monthly require less storage space than 10 files that change daily.
There is a limit of 64 shadow copies that can be stored on a volume. When this limit is reached, the oldest shadow copy is deleted and cannot be retrieved.
Installing Client Software
In order for client computers to use Shadow Copies of Shared Folders, the Previous Versions client software must be installed on the client computers in your organization. It is recommended that you download and place the installation package on a shared resource and send an e-mail to users about what the client does and how to install it. See "Sample E-mail" later in this section.
If your organization only has client computers running Windows XP, the Previous Versions client software can be found on a computer running Windows Server 2003 in the following location:
%systemroot%\system32\clients\twclient directory
If your organization has client computers running Windows 2000 and Windows XP, download the installation package (ShadowCopyClient.msi) from the
at /fwlink/?LinkId=22346. In addition, you will need to run the same installation package on Windows Server 2003. This sets a registry setting that allows access to the server from client computers running Windows 2000.
Sample E-mail
Organization members:
There is a new feature called Previous Versions that is available for employees who use shared folders for documents. If you work with files that are located in shared folders on your network, you may be able to access previous versions of your files. Accessing previous versions of your files is useful because you can:
Recover files that were accidentally deleted. If you accidentally delete a file, you can open a previous version and copy it to a safe location.
Recover from accidentally overwriting a file. If you accidentally overwrite a file, you can recover a previous version of the file.
Compare versions of file while working. You can use previous versions when you want to check what has changed between two versions of a file.
This feature has been enabled on the following file server: \\NameOfServer\SharedResource. Copies are scheduled to be taken at 7:00 A.M. and noon, Monday through Friday. Remember that these are copies of the files that were taken at these times. If you have worked on the file since the copy was taken and you need to revert or recover a previous version, you will lose all the work you have done since the copy was taken. Saving your work frequently is still the best way to ensure your work is not lost.
To install the software for accessing previous versions on your desktop, go to: \\NameOfServer\InstallationFolder and double-click ShadowCopyClient.msi.
Backing Up Your Servers
The following section describes the step-by-step procedures for:
Creating an Automated System Recovery (ASR) set
Backing up your file and print servers
Backing up Active Directory
Creating an Automated System Recovery (ASR) Set
You should use Backup to create an ASR set when you first place your server into production and again before and after any major changes to the system such as software and hardware upgrades. An ASR set is used as a last resort in system recovery, only after you have exhausted other options such as the startup options Safe Mode and Last Known Good Configuration.
Requirements
Credentials: To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators or Backup Operators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure.
Tools: Backup
To create an ASR set
Click Start, click Run, type ntbackup, and then click OK.
The Backup or Restore Wizard will appear. Click Next.
On the Backup or Restore wizard page, ensure Back up files and settings is selected, and then click Next.
On the What to Back Up page, ensure All information on this computer is selected, and then click Next.
On the Backup Type, Destination, and Name page, under Choose a place to save your backup, click the drop-down menu or click Browse to choose a location to save your backup. Under Type a name for this backup, type a descriptive name for the backup, and then click Next.
Screenshots in this document reflect a test environment and the information might differ from the information displayed on your screen.
On the Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard page, verify that all of the information is correct, and then click Finish to start creating the ASR set.
When the Backup Utility message appears, follow the directions and insert a .44 megabyte (MB) floppy disk into drive A, and then click OK.
When the Backup Utility message appears letting you know you can remove the floppy disk, make sure you label the disk with the information given.
When the backup is complete, the Backup Progress dialog box will indicate that the backup is finished. To view additional information about what happened during the backup process, click Report to open the backup report in Notepad. When you are finished, click Close.
Store the floppy disk in a safe place near the computer. Remember, this disk can be used along with your installation CD to start and restore the computer but you must have both the boot disk and the backup files that were created.
Backing Up Your File and Print Servers
To protect your servers, schedule regular backups of all of the data. We recommend that you schedule a weekly normal backup of all of your data, including the System State data for the server. A normal backup will copy all the files you select and mark each file as having been backed up. In addition, we recommend you schedule a daily differential backup. A differential backup copies files that have been created or changed since the last normal backup (the "differences").
Requirements
Credentials: To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators or Backup Operators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure.
Tools: Backup
To schedule a weekly normal backup
Click Start, click Run, type ntbackup, and then click OK.
The Backup or Restore Wizard will appear. Click Next.
On the Backup and Restore wizard page, make sure Back up files and settings is selected, and then click Next.
On the What to Back Up page, click Let me choose what to back up, and then click Next.
On the Items to Back Up page, click the items to expand their contents. Select the System State check box and select other check boxes for any drives or folders that contain data that should be backed up on a regular basis, and then click Next.
On the Backup Type, Destination, and Name page, under Choose a place to save your backup, click the drop-down menu or click Browse to choose a location to save your backup. Under Type a name for this backup, type a descriptive name for the backup, and then click Next.
On the Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard page, click Advanced.
On the Type of Backup page, in the drop-down menu, click Normal, and then click Next.
On the How to Back Up page, select the Verify data after backup check box, and then click Next.
On the Backup Options page, ensure the Append this backup to the existing backups option is selected, and then click Next.
On the When to Back Up page, under When do you want to run the backup, click Later.
In Schedule entry, type a descriptive name in Job name, and then click Set Schedule.
In the Schedule Job dialog box, under Schedule Task, click Weekly in the drop-down menu.
In Start time, use the up and down arrows to select the appropriate time for the backup to start.
In Schedule Task Weekly, select one or more days when you would like to have a backup created, and then click OK.
In the Set Account Information dialog box, in Run as, type the domain or workgroup and user name in the format domain\username or workgroup\username. In Password, type the password for the user account. Retype the password in Confirm password, and then click OK.
On the Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard page, confirm the settings, and then click Finish.
To schedule a daily differential backup
Click Start, click Run, type ntbackup.exe, and then click OK.
The Backup or Restore Wizard will appear. Click Next.
On the Backup and Restore wizard page, ensure Back up files and settings is selected, and then click Next.
On the What to Back Up page, click Let me choose what to back up, and then click Next.
On the Items to Back Up page, click the items to expand their contents. Select the System State check box and select other check boxes for any drives or folders that contain data that should be backed up on a regular basis, and then click Next.
On the Backup Type, Destination, and Name page, in Choose a place to save your backup, click the drop-down menu or click Browse to choose a location to save your backup. In Type a name for this backup, type a descriptive name for the backup, and then click Next.
On the Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard page, click Advanced.
On the Type of Backup page, under Select the type of backup, click Differential, and then click Next.
On the How to Back Up page, select the Verify data after backup check box, and then click Next.
On the Backup Options wizard page, ensure the Append this backup to the existing backups option is selected, and then click Next.
On the When to Back Up page, under When do you want to run the backup, click Later. Under Schedule entry, type a descriptive name in Job name, and the click Set Schedule.
In the Schedule Job dialog box, under
Schedule Task, select Daily from the drop-down menu.
Start time , use the up and down arrows to select the appropriate time for the backup to start, and then click
In the Set Account Information dialog box, in Run as, type the domain or workgroup and user name in the format domain\username or workgroup\username. In Password, type the password for the user account. Retype the same password in Confirm password, and then click OK.
On the Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard page, confirm your settings, and then click Finish.
Backing Up Active Directory
Back up the Active Directory directory service to ensure the recoverability of your Active Directory data in the event of a security breach that corrupts or destroys your Active Directory installation. You can back up Active Directory by performing a system state backup.
You should perform this procedure on a regular basis on each of your domain controllers. In the event of a loss or corruption of Active Directory data, you can use this backup to restore Active Directory to a known, good state. For more information about backing up and restoring Active Directory, see "Best Practice Guide for Securing Active Directory Installations and Day-to-Day Operations: Part II" in Related Information later in this document.
Requirements
Credentials: To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators or Backup Operators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure.
Tools: Backup Utility
To back up Active Directory
Log on to a domain controller using an account (such as Administrator) that is a member of the Domain Admins group.
Click Start, click Run, in Open, type ntbackup, and then click OK.
On the Welcome page of the Backup or Restore Wizard, click the Advanced Mode link to open the Backup Utility. Click Backup Wizard (Advanced).
On the Backup tab, select the System State check box. In Backup media or file name, specify the backup media location, and then click Start Backup.
Enabling Shadow Copies of Shared Folders on a File Server
When you enable Shadow Copies of Shared Folders on your file server, snapshots of the content of shared files and folders will be taken. These snapshots can then be accessed using the Previous Versions client. By enabling Shadow Copies of Shared Folders, you also create a default schedule that will create shadow copies at 7:00 A.M. and noon, Monday through Friday. There will also be a limit set on the amount of space that can be used to store the shadow copies. The default storage size is 10 percent of the source volume (the volume being copied). When the storage limit is reached, older versions of the shadow copies will be deleted and cannot be restored.
Requirements
Credentials: To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure.
Tools: Computer Management
To enable Shadow Copies of Shared Folders
Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Computer Management.
In the console tree, right-click Shared Folders, select All Tasks, and click Configure Shadow Copies.
In the Shadow Copies dialog box, click the volume where you want to enable Shadow Copies of Shared Folders, and then click Enable. The Enable Shadow Copies dialog box will appear. Click Yes to confirm that you want to enable shadow copies on the volume.
To change default schedule settings, click Settings .
Restoring Data from Backup
There are several ways to restore your server depending on what files need to be restored and whether your system will start normally. The following procedures are covered in this section:
Restoring files from Backup
Restoring your computer using an ASR set
Restoring Active Directory
Restoring Files from Backup
If the original data on your hard disk is accidentally erased or overwritten, or becomes inaccessible because of a hard disk malfunction, the data may be restored from the back up copy.
Requirements
Credentials: To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators or Backup Operators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure.
Tools: Backup. If you are performing a combination of normal and differential backups, restoring files and folders requires that you have the last normal as well as the last differential backup.
To restore files from backup
Click Start, click Run, type ntbackup, and then click OK.
The Backup or Restore Wizard will appear. Click Next.
On the Backup and Restore wizard page, click Restore files and settings, and then click Next.
On the What to Restore page, click the items to expand their contents. Select any drives or folders that contain data that should be restored, and then click Next.
On the Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard page, verify that all of the settings are correct, and then click Finish.
Restoring Your Computer Using an ASR Set
ASR should be used as a last resort in system recovery, only after you have exhausted other options such as the startup options Safe Mode and Last Known Good Configuration. For more information about these and other recovery options, see "Repair overview" in Related Information later in the document.
Requirements
Tools: Your previously created ASR set, your previously created backup media, and the original Windows Server 2003 installation CD.
To restore your computer from an ASR set
Insert the original Windows Server 2003 installation CD into your CD drive.
Restart your computer. If you are prompted to press a key to start the computer from CD, press the appropriate key.
Press F2 when prompted at the beginning of the text-only mode section of Setup. You will be prompted to insert the ASR floppy disk you have previously created.
Follow the directions on the screen.
Automated System Recovery will not restore your data files. For more information, see "Restoring Files from Backup" earlier in this document.
Restoring Active Directory
In the event that your domain controller is corrupted or destroyed, you can recover your data using the Directory Services Restore Mode startup option.
Requirements
Credentials: To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators or Backup Operators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure.
Tools: Directory Services Restore Mode
To restore Active Directory
Restart the domain controller, press the F8 key during the text-mode portion when starting Windows Server 2003 to reach the Windows Advanced Options Menu.
Choose Directory Services Restore Mode from the Windows Advanced Options Menu, and then press ENTER.
Select the operating system to start, and then press ENTER.
Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to log on.
At the logon prompt, supply the Directory Services Restore mode credentials you supplied during the Active Directory installation process (dcpromo).
Click OK to acknowledge that you are using Safe mode.
Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup.
On the Backup or Restore Wizard dialog box, click Advanced Mode.
On the Restore and Manage Media tab, click System State to restore from the appropriate backup media item.
In Restore Files to, select Original Location.
Click Start Restore.
Click OK to acknowledge the warning regarding restoring the System State to the original location.
In the Confirm Restore dialog box, click OK.
After the restore process is finished, click Close, and then click Yes to restart the computer.
Restoring Previous Versions of Files and Folders
With the Previous Versions client, you may be able to access previous versions of your files that are located in shared folders on your network. This feature is available when Shadow Copies of Shared Folders is enabled on the server.
Accessing previous versions of your files is useful because you can:
View previous versions to compare versions of file while working. You can use previous versions when you want to check what has changed between two versions of a file.
Recover files that were accidentally deleted. If you accidentally delete a file, you can open a previous version and copy it to a safe location.
Recover from accidentally overwriting a file. If you accidentally overwrite a file, you can recover a previous version of the file.
Requirements
Credentials: You must at least have Read permissions on the file to view or copy a previous version and Read & Execute permissions in order to restore the file.
Tools: Previous Versions client. The client is installed by default on computers running Windows Server 2003. For more information about installing the Previous Versions client, see "Before you Begin Using Shadow Copies of Shared Folders" earlier in this document.
To view a previous version of a file or folder
Locate the file that you want to view a previous version of (on the network), right-click the file, and then click Properties.
On the Previous Versions tab, click the version you want to view, and then click View.
Notes: If there are no previous versions listed, the file has not changed since the oldest copy was taken.
If you do not see the Previous Versions tab, the client is not installed.
Previous versions are read-only. You cannot make changes to the previous version of the file as it exists on the server.
To copy a previous version of a file to a new location
Locate the file that you want to copy (on the network), right-click the file, and then click Properties.
On the Previous Versions tab, click the version of the file that you want to copy, and then click Copy.
In the Copy Items dialog box, click a new location to place the file, and then click Copy.
Notes: If there are no previous versions listed, the file has not changed since the oldest copy was taken.
If you do not see the Previous Versions tab, the client is not installed.
When you use Copy, the file permissions will be set to the default permissions for the directory where the copy of the file is placed.
To restore a previous version of a file
Locate the file that you want to restore (on the network), right-click the file, and then click Properties.
On the Previous Versions tab, click the version of the file that you want to restore, and then click Restore. A warning message about restoring a previous version will appear. Click Yes to complete the procedure.
Notes: Restoring a previous version will delete the current version. If you choose to restore a previous version of a folder, the folder will be restored to its state at the date and time of the version you selected. You will lose any changes that you have made to files in the folder since that time. If you do not want to delete the current version of a file or folder, use Copy to copy the previous version to a different location.
If there are no previous versions listed, the file has not changed since the oldest copy was taken.
If you do not see the Previous Versions tab, the client is not installed.
When you restore a previous version of a folder, files in the current folder that were not contained in the previous version of the folder will not be erased.
When you restore a file, the file permissions permissions will remain the same as they were before the restore. When you copy a previous version of a file, the permissions will be set to the default permissions for the directory where the copy of the file is placed.
Restoring a large directory puts a heavy load on the file server and can result in previous versions being deleted. Try to restore individual files instead of entire directories whenever possible.
To recover a file that was accidentally deleted
Locate the folder where the deleted file was stored (on the network), right-click the folder, and then click Properties.
On the Previous Versions tab, double-click the most recent version of the folder that contains the file that you want to recover. A list of files that are stored in that previous version will appear.
Right-click the file that was accidentally deleted, and then click Copy.
Right-click the location where you want to place the file, and then click Paste.
Notes: When you copy a file, file permissions will be set to the default permissions for the directory where the copy of the file is placed.
When you recover a file that was accidentally deleted, you are copying a previous version. You will lose any changes made to the file after the last previous version was created.
To recover a deleted folder, go to a previous version of the parent folder to view and select the folder to copy.
Related Information
For more information about backing up and restoring data, see the following:
"" on the Microsoft TechNet Web site at .
"" on the Microsoft TechNet Web site at .
"" on the Microsoft TechNet Web site at .For more information about Shadow Copies of Shared Folders, see the following:
"" on the Microsoft TechNet Web site at .
"" on the Microsoft Web site at .
"" on the Microsoft Web site at .For more information about Backup technologies, see the following:
"" on the Microsoft Web site at .For more information about backing up and restoring Active Directory, see the following:
"" on the Microsoft Web site at .
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