# Common source selection for windows PC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [November 9, 2017, 10:54am UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/common-source-selection-for-windows-pc/1333 "2017-11-09T10:54:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![manu37](https://forum.duplicati.com/user_avatar/forum.duplicati.com/manu37/32/750_2.png) [@manu37](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/manu37)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 10:54am UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/common-source-selection-for-windows-pc/1333/1 "2017-11-09T10:54:08Z")
Hi there The question is a bit OT but…: What’s a reasonable source selection for a common Windows X PC? Should I backup the hidden AppData folder (which is \> 60GB)? Looking forward for a smart answer. best regards manu ---
**Author:** ![JonMikelV](https://forum.duplicati.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JonMikelV](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/JonMikelV)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/common-source-selection-for-windows-pc/1333/2 "2017-11-09T17:31:58Z")
It really depends on your needs and how you use your computer. For example, if you’re the only user and you know you only keep stuff in your My Documents folder, then really you only “need” to back up My Documents. The AppData folder contains a lot of temp files and misc. junk that Windows programs use when running. It’s mostly the kind of stuff that even if you had to do a restore you might now know what to do with it. Unfortunately, some programs keep useful info in there as well such as browser bookmarks or Thunderbird email files. If you’ve got the space / time, the EASIEST thing to do is include everything in that folder. But as it does have temp files in it you’ll find your back sets growing more than “necessary” since you’re backing up versions of temp files. There is an “Advanced options” `--exclude-files-attributes` parameter which can be used to automatically exclude things `temporary` or `system` files, but won’t catch ALL of them. Note that more recent Canary versions of Duplicati include a new `--default-filters` parameter as well as support for Windows registry based file/folder exclusions: > [@Common exclusions and inclusions from %APPDATA%](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/common-exclusions-and-inclusions-from-appdata/807/7): > > A user called @tygill already made this, and it is part of the latest canary: > [@Does Duplicati use Windows backup exclusion list?](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/does-duplicati-use-windows-backup-exclusion-list/1155/10): > > I have added this list to the default exclusion list: ---
**Author:** ![manu37](https://forum.duplicati.com/user_avatar/forum.duplicati.com/manu37/32/750_2.png) [@manu37](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/manu37)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 6:03pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/common-source-selection-for-windows-pc/1333/3 "2017-11-09T18:03:54Z")
Thanks JonMike Your answer is very useful and the future sound very promising. regards manu ---
**Author:** ![manu37](https://forum.duplicati.com/user_avatar/forum.duplicati.com/manu37/32/750_2.png) [@manu37](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/manu37)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 2:37pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/common-source-selection-for-windows-pc/1333/4 "2017-11-10T14:37:56Z")
I tried to add the `--exclude-files-attributes` option. But it seem it doesen’t stay persistant in the Dublicati GUI, either in the list or text form. ---
**Author:** ![kenkendk](https://forum.duplicati.com/user_avatar/forum.duplicati.com/kenkendk/32/5305_2.png) [@kenkendk](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/kenkendk)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 3:17pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/common-source-selection-for-windows-pc/1333/5 "2017-11-10T15:17:39Z")
On the source data page, you can check the boxes at the bottom. This will set the `--exclude-files-attributes` option behind the scenes.