Running backups with nobody signed in
Service mode: one switch installs a Windows service, so jobs run machine-wide before anyone signs in, with the credentials you saved.
Normally the background agent runs under your Windows account, from the moment you sign in. A PC that waits at the sign-in screen overnight needs more. Service mode installs a Windows service that runs the schedules machine-wide, with nobody signed in. It is part of Pro.
Turn it on#
- Open Settings ▸ Schedule & power.
- Under Unattended, turn on Run scheduled backups even when nobody is signed in.
- Approve the Windows administrator prompt. Waiting for the administrator prompt… becomes Service running.
Setup offers the same as a tick box, Run scheduled backups even when nobody is signed in, unticked by default.
While service mode is on, Settings says Connected to the machine-wide service. Jobs and settings shown here are the service's.
What changes#
| What | Normal use | Service mode |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs the jobs | the agent under your account, while you are signed in | the GBM AI Windows service, from the moment Windows starts |
| Where jobs and settings live | %APPDATA%\GBM AI, for your Windows account | %ProgramData%\GBM AI, for the PC |
| Open files (VSS) | need the agent to run as administrator | always work: the service has the rights it needs |
| When I sign in to Windows | at each of your sign-ins | at each sign-in of the account that turned service mode on |
| Who can reach the agent | your Windows account | your Windows account, and the PC's administrators |
Only your Windows account, and the PC's administrators, can reach the agent. An administrator gets in only from a program run as administrator. On another Windows account on the same PC, GBM AI says This PC's backups are managed by another account: Only the Windows account that turned it on, and the PC's administrators, can open it: sign in to Windows as that account to see its backups. Home then shows only that card, and the icon in the notification area says the same, with Back up now, New backup…, Restore files… and Ask Genie… greyed out.
What comes along#
Switching carries everything across: your jobs, settings, schedules, run history, and the encrypted stores that hold job passwords, saved network credentials and S3 profiles. They are sealed for the PC, so a job to a NAS or a bucket runs before anyone signs in, with the credentials you saved. Switching back hands them back to your account, with any change you made meanwhile.
The service runs as Windows' own system account, not as you. A share that let you in with your Windows sign-in, and has no saved credential in GBM AI, refuses the service. Save its user and password under Settings ▸ Network & credentials before you switch service mode on.
Turn it off#
Turn the same switch off and approve the prompt. The service is removed, and scheduled backups run through your signed-in agent again: The service was removed. Scheduled backups run through your signed-in agent.
Troubleshooting#
E-SVC-002: The service change was cancelled at the administrator prompt. Try again and approve it.E-SVC-003: The Windows service could not be installed or removed. Look inservice-setup.log, in%ProgramData%\GBM AI\logs, and try again.- The backup service isn't running: click Start the service and approve the prompt. See The background agent is not running.
- Restart under Settings ▸ Advanced ▸ Background agent is hidden in service mode, because Windows runs the service.