Learning, need clarification

[David]

Ref: 
http://gnucash.1415818.n4.nabble.com/GnuCash-could-not-obtain-the-lock-file-td4675956.html

I wanted to reply or ask a question concerning the above thread, but since I
am squeaky new here I thought I should start my own thread.

I run Quicken and Gnucash while I am learning how to use Gnu and usually
have them both open at same time.  This morning I made a mistake in the
Category Window of Quicken and the only way not to commit the mistake to the
database was to restart the computer. [I was deleting a parent category by
mistake and the red X is disabled on the form]  

Next time I opened Gnu I got the referenced Failed Lock message.  I chose
Quit.  Went into my folder Documents > Gnucash > DavidAnn folder and found
the file name with the largest file size and double clicked it to open. 
Everything was fine in the file.  

I then used the Close Book routine so that my Account Tab reflects balances
from 1/1/2015.

I started reading the help file trying to discover the file formats for Gnu. 
I do not what I searched for at the moment, but I saw a topic listed "backup
and restore".  I read that article and it said something about using XML
data files, for a version earlier than the one I am using and that anything
past that cut off used one of three different SQL database files.  I can not
remember what they were exactly, one was SQL Lite, another MySQL and forget
the third choice.  I am running 2.6.5 so I assume I am using one of the SQL
formats/programs.  I can not find in my Programs in Control Panel any
Database installed. [new computer, have not got around to installing the
Microsoft C# IDE and most likely will not]

Later on before posting this I went back to help and typed in Backup and
Restore into search box and got one hit.  But I do not think it says exactly
what the first article said, because I can not find the sentence that talks
about before and after a version what format the database file is written in
in that topic.

1.  Is the database used by Gnu built into the program?

2.  Am I using a Sql database? 

3.  If so, How?  If not, what am I using?

4.  In Quicken you can backup your data file to external drive. A few
moments ago I opened my Gnu folder, copied the largest file to my desk top,
opened it to verify it is the correct most current file.  Then I deleted the
147 files in my Documents > Gnucash > DavidAnn file.  Then I cut the file
off desktop and pasted it back into the now empty folder, verified it worked
and was correct, closed it down and then copied it onto a thumb drive and my
external hard drove in appropriate folder.   

Is there an easier way to back up a data file to external drive?

Thank you for reading and offering advice.








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