Managing MSBACKUP Sets in MS-DOS 6.22

In MS-DOS 6.22, backup sets generated by Microsoft Backup are managed directly through the MSBACKUP utility itself (and its Windows counterpart, MWBACKUP). Rather than using a separate external executable, MS-DOS integrates backup set configuration and catalog maintenance directly into the MSBACKUP interface. This article explains how the MSBACKUP utility handles backup sets, setup files, and catalogs, as well as how to maintain or rebuild them.

The MSBACKUP Interface

The MSBACKUP.EXE command launches a full-screen, menu-driven program that replaced the older MS-DOS BACKUP and RESTORE commands. When working within MS-DOS 6.22, all administrative actions for backup sets—including creating, verifying, restoring, and cataloging files—are consolidated inside this single utility.

Backup Sets, Setup Files, and Catalogs

MSBACKUP manages backup sets using two primary file types:

  • Setup Files (.SET): These files store user-defined backup configurations, such as selected directories, target drives, backup types (Full, Incremental, or Differential), and operational flags. The default configuration is stored in DEFAULT.SET. Users can create and save custom setup files to automate different backup routines.
  • Catalog Files (.CAT): Every time MSBACKUP executes a routine, it generates a catalog that indexes the backed-up files, their directory hierarchy, file sizes, and attributes. The catalog is written both to the target backup media (such as floppy disks) and to the local hard drive inside the MSBACKUP directory.

Managing Catalogs Within MSBACKUP

To manage existing backup sets, launch MSBACKUP from the command line and navigate to either the Restore or Compare menus. From these screens, you can access the catalog management tools:

  1. Select Catalog: Allows you to load a specific backup set by choosing its unique catalog name from the hard drive or backup media.
  2. Retrieve Catalog: If a catalog file is missing from your local system, this function reads the final disk or media of a backup set and copies the catalog back to your hard drive.
  3. Rebuild Catalog: If the original catalog file is corrupted or lost entirely, the Rebuild command scans the entire series of backup media sequentially to reconstruct the master catalog.
  4. Delete Catalog: Removes obsolete backup set indexes from the hard drive to free up space and declutter the restore menu.

Through these integrated tools, MSBACKUP provides full administrative control over all backup archives without requiring secondary disk utilities.