Previous iTunes Library - how to "force" a backup

Hi there
Running iTunes 11.4 on Windows 7 64 bit
With the Previous iTunes Library folder I notice iTunes seems to make Library backups at "random". Is there a way I can force it to do a library backup whenever I want?
Am asking as this morning opened iTunes and there was no music in it. From searching here I found the fix, that is, to copy and past a library from "Previous iTunes Library" folder to the main iTunes folder. The fix worked a treat but the only thing was the most library file was back in May of this year (2014). Henve my question.
I'd like to make this file once a month or so, is there a way to do it so if ? Is there any rhyme or reason as to when iTunes actually does it?
Many thanks
Andrew

The backups are made during any iTunes update that makes a change to the database structure, e.g. to support a new feature. You can make a manual copy of the .itl file any time that iTunes isn't running. See Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy for a comprehensive approach to backing up the entire library.
tt2

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