Use Dropbox to automatically backup your demos online

We've all been there. There comes an unexpected format and all your precious demos over the past few months have been lost forever. What if there was a simple solution that automatically backed up your demos online, as they are created, without you having to raise a finger or worry about a single thing? There is.

Dropbox is a free, file hosting service with a twist. Dropbox is a small program that runs on your PC and adds a folder named "My Dropbox" to My Documents. Any files added to My Dropbox will automatically be backed up online to your personal account that can hold up to 2GB worth of files. Any new files added to My Dropbox will automatically be uploaded instantly. Files are only reuploaded if they are modified.

Dropbox's main purpose is to keep multiple PCs in sync with all your important files. If you choose to install Dropbox on any other PC, it will ask for your account details. All previous files will then be synced to the new PC.

Files on your Dropbox account can also be accessed from the web interface on Dropbox.com. Dropbox also has an iPhone and iPod Touch app, as well as a client for Linux and Mac.

Click for a simple video explanation.

You can use Dropbox to automatically backup your ET demos without having to move your finger. As soon as a new demo is recorded, it is automatically backed online to your Dropbox account and synced with all PCs you have installed Dropbox on.

Dropbox does not allow you to backup external folders or files which are outside the "My Dropbox" folder. However, there is a simple way around this. You can create a directory symbolic link with an external folder. A symbolic link looks like a normal shortcut to a normal person. In simple terms, a shortcut is seen as a normal file to programs that know no better, whereas a symbolic link points directly to the original folder instead of the shortcut file. A more detailed explanation can be found here.

There is one small disadvantage when using symbolic links with Dropbox. Usually, files are uploaded instantly to Dropbox when they are added to the My Dropbox folder. However, when using symbolic links, folders and files are only updated whenever the My Dropbox program is started - i.e. when your PC starts up.

This is usually a disadvantage, however with ET this is more like an advantage. If demos are uploaded to Dropbox as soon as they are created, you might see a little lag in game. However this problem is instantly eliminated, seeing as files and folders set to symbolic links are only uploaded when your PC is started or when Dropbox is restarted.

• To begin with, download Dropbox from Dropbox.com. Once installed, you will be asked to create an account. Choose the Free basic subscription that allows 2GB of date storage. Continue with the installation as normal.
  
  
• Once Dropbox is installed, you need to create a symbolic link between your Demo folder and the My Dropbox folder. In order to do this, you need a program called Junction.
  
  
• Download Junction
  
  
• Extract the zip and open run.bat
  
  
• Copy and paste the following line into the command prompt. Edit the details as required.
  
  junction.exe "...My Dropbox\ETDemos" "...etpro\demos"
  
  Below shows an example of what the command should look like when edited.
  
  junction.exe "C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\My Documents\My Dropbox\ETDemos" "C:\Program Files\Wolfenstein - Enemy Territory\etpro\demos"
  
  
• And that's it! All new demos will automatically be added to the My Dropbox folder and automatically backed up online.

Note: Files are not duplicated into the My Dropbox folder. Only one file of each demo exists on your PC, so this method does not waste hard drive space by duplicating demos. In simple terms, it acts like a normal shortcut.

Eventually, you will require more than 2GB for all your demos. You can earn more storage space or buy more storage space.

You can earn an extra 3GB (5GB in total) worth of storage space by referring new members to Dropbox. To do this, Click this link. You can also earn an extra 250MB worth of storage space by simply completing the following steps.

You can even create another Dropbox account after you reach your storage limit.

Dropbox Pros with ET

• It's free.
  
• You can have up to 5.25GB worth of free storage space.
  
• Demos are only uploaded when your PC starts, or when Dropbox is started (because of symbolic links - see above).
  
• Bandwidth is automatically limited with Dropbox so you will not notice a difference in internet speed whilst files are being uploaded.
  
• Demo files are not duplicated - symbolic links act like shortcuts.
  
• Dropbox does not reupload demos/files if they have not changed. Only new or modified files are uploaded.
  
• And most importantly, your demos will also be safe online even if you have an unexpected format. Just install Dropbox again, enter your account details and your demos will be downloaded straight to your "My Dropbox" folder.

Dropbox Cons with ET

• You have to pay if you want more than 5.25GB of space

Notes:

You can also you this method for other games, such as CoD4. You can also use this method to back up any config changes, stat files, logs, ET screenshot folder etc.

If you like this tutorial, please use my referral url to sign up for Dropbox - click