Question: Backing Up to Portable Drive

05/24/2007 07:10:25 PM · #1

I want to back up my files to my portable hard drive (HP Personal Media Drive). It came with Sonic MyPC software. When it goes to back up it wants to create a backup file with extension .qic What I'd like, though, is for the backup to move individual files so I'd be able to view them if I need to. If I only have a .qic file then I can't see stuff. Also, in the future I want to be able to back up new/changed files. There is an option with .qic but I don't know how to do it for the way above.

Any ideas?

05/24/2007 07:13:17 PM · #2

QIC files are pretty much what windows has used for a long time as a standard file backup format.

However you should be able to just copy files to the drive. You probably want something that automatically backs up particular folders. Lots of software can, not sure about what came with it though.

05/24/2007 07:15:23 PM · #3

Yea, I've thought about just copying over, but then I'd have to copy over everything each time, wouldn't I? Or, I suppose it would say "that files exists, replace it?" and I could say "Yes to all"....??

How do you do it?

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

05/24/2007 07:21:44 PM · #4

1 - When backing up my system to reformat - I just copy the following folders in in C:\Documents and Settings\MyUsername\ FOLDERS: Desktop, Documents, Shared.

2 - If you have a big enough backup drive you can techincaly copy everything. Goto C:\ CTRL + A goto backup drive and paste.

Its kind of a waste to backup programs and what not unless your gonna image the entire drive, plus it takes a long time depending.

The majority of my files are gonna be inside my documents or C:\Documents and Settings\MyUsername\Documents and everything else is in folders on the desktop. Remember my documents contains my pictures, my music (itunes and windows media users).

Message edited by author 2007-05-24 19:22:54.

Tycho

Nikon D70

05/24/2007 07:22:08 PM · #5

Originally posted by ButterflySis:

If your OS is either XP or Vista, you may find SyncToy very helpful.

05/24/2007 07:23:38 PM · #6

Try the synctoy i never used it for a non portable device but he is right probly quite useful and easy. Not to mention free.

Message edited by author 2007-05-24 19:23:46.

05/24/2007 07:32:08 PM · #7

Thanks. I tried to download it but it need .NET and apparently I don't have it.

I'm copying and pasting for now, I guess.

Thanks for your help.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/24/2007 07:41:48 PM · #8

Originally posted by ButterflySis:

Thanks. I tried to download it but it need .NET and apparently I don't have it.

I'm copying and pasting for now, I guess.

Thanks for your help.

As long as u have some sort of high speed just get .net 1.1 or 2 or both whatever it needs. Its free just got to install it.

If you have all your windows updates done then youd have them.... someone hasnt been doing their updates!

Message edited by author 2007-05-24 19:42:15.

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

05/24/2007 08:14:45 PM · #9

Originally posted by ButterflySis:

Use robocopy. Google for it, download it, it's free1. I have a little batch file sitting on the desktop. I double-click it and it syncs everything I'm interested in. All it is doing is running these commands which you could type by hand if you were so inclined:

robocopy d:\digital-photos\raws j:\digital-photos\raws /E
robocopy z:\Mail j:\fbsd-backup\home\Mail /E
robocopy z:\dpchallenge j:\fbsd-backup\home\dpchallenge /E

J: is my portable. It only copies newer/additional files. You can also tell it to mirror exactly, including replicating deletes. A zillion options.