Continue batch file from previous point - batch-file

Question

I am playing a alpha game which when crashes corrupts the saved game, so i created a batch file to back up my saved game.
#echo off
:A
REM deletes old backup
RMDIR /S /Q "backup location 1"
REM creates back up
xcopy "game location" "backup location 1" /e /i /q /r /y
REM adds time out for 300 seconds
timeout /t 300
REM deletes old backup
RMDIR /S /Q "backup location 2"
REM creates back up
xcopy "game location" "backup location 2" /e /i /q /r /y
REM adds time out for 300 seconds
timeout /t 300
REM Repeats
Goto A
This works just fine but it always stars on the first back up.
What I want to do is have it continue from the previous point of backing up.
I created the following test file
#echo off
set point=a
echo The variable is "%point%"
if %point%==c (goto :a)
if %point%==a (goto :b)
if %point%==b (goto :c)
:a
Echo A
set point=a
echo The variable is now "%point%"
pause
:b
Echo B
set point=b
echo The variable is now "%point%"
Pause
:c
Echo C
set point=c
echo The variable is now "%point%"
Pause
When the file is restarted the point variable is the same.
Is it possible to have the set point= save the variable to the file for the next time it is run?
Can you please explain any code suggested, I can use google to research it myself and probably will to get a better understanding. But if it is too complicated I may not know what I am looking at to google it.
Thank you for any help

Answer 1

In some versions of DOS you can use the /p argument on the set command to load contents of a file into the variable.
set /p point=<a.txt
Where a.txt contains the value you want to set the "point" variable to.

Answer 2

best way to "survive" for data is a file.
you can write a variable to a file with:
echo %variable%>filename.txt
and read it back with
set /p variable=<filename.txt
This works fine with a single line (for example one variable). This method can be extended for a few more lines. If you want to save many (or an unknown number of) lines, there are better methods.

Answer 3

Thank you for the replies. I have not looked at the /p but will do for a future script I have planned.
For the requirement of this script thank you indiv. For some reason having them in a time stamped folder eluded (even thou I have used them before).
To have the desired effect with just one file I changed
xcopy "game location" "backup location 1" /e /i /q /r /y
to
xcopy "game location" "backup location %date:/=-% %time::=-%\" /e /i /q /r /y
and had the one command repeat itself.
On a side not if using this method there will be an unlimited number of folders. is there a way to limit folders to a z amount and delete older ones?
I am happy deleting older backups, I am just curious for future projects