Looking for a backup program - DPChallenge Forums

06/17/2009 11:37:22 AM · #1

Does anyone know or use a backup program that will back up my files to 2 external hard drives automatically then only update back up files with newly saved files?

I'm getting tired of clicking and dragging folders and I want to take the manual work out of backing up files. I want the computer to do it for me each time I save a file.

06/17/2009 11:45:06 AM · #2

I ran across mention recently of an open source backup program that sounded good and saves the backup as ZIP files, so you don't need anything special to get into them. I will see if I can find it. I am sure I saw the mention of it on either Lifehacker or MaximumPC

06/17/2009 11:45:26 AM · #3

My dad had a program a while back that saved all his files to an external drive almost like a cloned drive and once it recognized that all the same files existed then it would only update the most recent saved files so that way it wasn't cloning the entire drive again, only those files. I'm looking for a program like that but all y search results are turning up everything I don't want.

Message edited by author 2009-06-17 11:47:50.

06/17/2009 11:46:31 AM · #4

Free as in "free beer" or free as in "free speech"?

06/17/2009 11:47:40 AM · #5

Or free as in "Free Willy" ?

Prof_Fate

06/17/2009 11:48:08 AM · #6

cobian backup might work for you, or microsoft's synctoy.

06/17/2009 11:48:41 AM · #7

either or, I'm just looking for now

Message edited by author 2009-06-17 11:57:47.

06/17/2009 11:56:35 AM · #8

That's what I thought.

06/17/2009 11:58:39 AM · #9

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

That's what I thought.

Well, was there something that you wanted me to look at?

Message edited by author 2009-06-17 11:59:07.

06/17/2009 12:19:20 PM · #10

As prof_fate said, I'd give MS SyncToy a go, it detects differences between folders and only backs up the changes.

06/17/2009 12:19:56 PM · #11

Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:

Well, was there something that you wanted me to look at?

I think the one that Prof. Fate mentioned, Cobian Backup, may have been the one I was looking for. It appears to save in ZIP compatible files and is open source.

06/17/2009 12:23:54 PM · #12

Yeah I don't want to save to compressed files. Although it's probable not a bad Idea but I still don't think I want to do that just yet.

06/17/2009 12:49:43 PM · #13

So, you just want a straight copy? I think most backup software saves in some archive file type. At least one that uses Zips means you can open it on any computer without proprietary software.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/17/2009 01:39:16 PM · #14

Come on someone.... There's a double-yanko here for the taking...

bjoern

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

06/17/2009 02:25:48 PM · #15

Basically you need rsync - that's a Linux/Unix program.

Googling for rsync and Windows, I came across //www.aboutmyip.com/AboutMyXApp/DeltaCopy.jsp which seems to make rsync usable with Windows. I use rsync extensively myself, but I have no clue about the DeltaCopy.

csolomon1

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/17/2009 02:32:35 PM · #16

As an I/T admin, we use scripting alot, robocopy, xxcopy and xcopy, but recently i downloaded one that is fairly user simple, ysync its free, simple to use, read through the instructions. I have my photography folders backup 3 times a week but I have alot of space then i review the logs and delete as needed but you can custimize it as you need

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/17/2009 02:32:51 PM · #17

If you looking for something simple with a bit of growing room and is free - Have a look at Personal Backup. Not quite as full featured as others out there but the interface is pretty simple and deals with networks, local & external drives no issue (can also do ftp backups but you prob don't care based on your requirements). Can do zip archives, deltas and prob what you want a direct image file for file....

Edit: Sprelling :-/

Message edited by author 2009-06-17 14:33:56.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

06/17/2009 04:56:08 PM · #18

The first question should be, what OS are you running? I'll ass-u-me that you are running WinXP, Vista, or Win7. If one of those three, then look no further than Synctoy 2.0. It is a free "Power toy" from Microsoft, and it does exactly what you want it to do. It can be scheduled through the task scheduler built into XP, Vista and Win7. Once you run it the first time, subsequent backups are fast, because it only transfers what's changed.

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

06/17/2009 05:22:25 PM · #19

Congratulations to

kirbic on claiming this thread's double-yanko!

dswann

Nikon D7000

06/17/2009 06:12:56 PM · #20

I have run a program for years called MirrorFolder. You tell it which folders to watch for changes and where to save the data, then after that it runs quetly in the background maintaining mirrored copies of your folders in real time (both additions and deletions). Files are not encrypted, so recovery does not require MirrorFolder for access. It can also be set up to back-up on a scheduled basis if desired. Highly recommended.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/17/2009 07:18:46 PM · #21

I'm running XP

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

06/17/2009 07:24:31 PM · #22

Originally posted by kirbic:

Seconded - Synctoy is a great little app and quite configurable.. and free!!

06/17/2009 08:10:30 PM · #23

Great thanks I will check it out tomorrow morning