ZBack: Lightweight File Backup and Sync Utility for Technicians and Power Users
What Is It?
ZBack is a portable Windows utility designed for simple file backup, replication, and synchronization tasks. It’s not meant to replace enterprise-grade backup systems, but for quick setups, manual jobs, or scripting environments — it fits perfectly. There’s no installer, no services, no daemons. Just a compact executable with a simple interface and strong scripting support.
Ideal for sysadmins who want to copy profiles, sync folders between machines, or back up specific directories on demand — without bloat, telemetry, or hidden logic.
Capabilities
| Feature | Description |
| One-Way and Two-Way Sync | Supports full mirroring or bidirectional file sync |
| Manual or Scheduled Jobs | Can be triggered on demand or via Windows Task Scheduler |
| Portable Application | No installation required — runs directly from EXE |
| Incremental Backup | Only new or changed files are copied after the initial run |
| Network and USB Support | Works with UNC paths, mapped drives, and removable media |
| File Filtering | Include/exclude by extension, size, or date |
| Logging and Reports | Generates logs for each session with summary info |
Deployment Notes
– Windows-only: Designed for Windows 7 and newer.
– No GUI automation: Config files and job profiles must be set manually.
– No encryption/compression: It’s focused on fast file copies, not secure storage.
– Works well in scripts: CLI switches allow full automation for backups/syncs.
– Use with Task Scheduler: Ideal for overnight or event-driven backup jobs.
Installation Guide
1. Download the Executable
– From official site: https://tomaszpawlak.github.io/zback/
2. Extract Anywhere
– No installer needed — unzip and run zback.exe.
3. Configure Job
– Set source and destination paths, sync mode, and file filters.
4. Save Job Profile
– Save as .zbc file for repeatable use.
5. Automate (Optional)
– Call ZBack with job file from command line or scheduler:
zback.exe /run:daily_backup.zbc
6. Review Logs
– After each run, check the log tab or exported report for status.
Usage Scenarios
– Syncing a user’s Documents folder to an external drive before OS reinstallation.
– Creating mirror backups of shared network folders in small offices.
– Running file-level backups on legacy machines with no admin rights or install options.
– Copying data between USB drives and NAS devices during audits.
– Building task-scheduled syncs in portable lab or classroom environments.