Backup/sync'g software recommendation for an external backup drive

[Bob98SR5]

Hi folks with vast sums of computer software knowledge,

We recently bought a 1TB external backup drive:
http://www.buy.com/prod/fantom-greendrive-1tb-usb-2-0-and-esata-external-hard-drive-2-year/q/loc/101/208503758.html

what i'd like to install/buy for this little gem is some sort of backup software that only syncs those files that have changed on my laptop since the previous day (or some other interval of time). i have not a clue what software is good for this.

note: i do NOT want to buy Ghost or any other HD imaging software. i really don't :)

any recommendations would be appreciated.

thanks,
bob

[slosurfer]

Bob, can't help you with your software question, but thanks for showing me that external drive. :thumbup: We are in desperate need of one (can't upload anymore of our photos from our camera because it's too full), and I think this one will fit the bill perfectly. :thumbup:

[YotaFun]

Bob,

What virus protection do you use?

Usually each Virus protection program has its own back-up program.
For instance I use Norton 360 and instead of using my 2GB of storage on there server (which would never cover the tons of stuff I have to back up) I use my external hard drive)

The downfall to using Norton however is that you can not access the back up files in the fashion of just opening the back up folder and looking around.
You actually have to do a restore through Norton to see the files again, so lets say you have your files backed up and your pc crashed and you had to start from scratch on it, well you would have to install Norton and then do a recover to get all your files back onto the pc.

I too am looking for a different program however because this way just doesn't sit right with me, but at least I know for now i can access the files I need.

Another program that you could use that will back up all the files and able to see them just as you would on your PC is Western Digital Anywhere Back Up.
I don't know if this particular program is available separately from western Digital (if you can't tell obviously i have WD drives) but it works well.

The only reason I am not using it right now is because I am trying to make a back up of my external hard drive since it has gotten full to my new larger external harddrie, but the kicker to the larger external harddrive is that its a network not usb and its having issues transferring anything more then 69MB worth of info....

I will keep an eye out on this thread and also while I am out on my seraches as well but Just thought I would put my .02 in...

[reggie 00]

Bob,

Try this: http://www.2brightsparks.com/freeware/freeware-hub.html

I personally use it, and we used it a lot when we set up computers.

It has options where it only syncs changed files.

I have it running on my mom's computer and another accountants computer, they have lots of large files that change on a constant basis, haven't heard anything from them since we put it on.

You can check out the paid version but i have found the free one to handle most people's basic needs.

[Cebby]

Another program that you could use that will back up all the files and able to see them just as you would on your PC is Western Digital Anywhere Back Up.
I don't know if this particular program is available separately from western Digital (if you can't tell obviously i have WD drives) but it works well.


I've had no luck with the WD software. I have a 2 Tb drive that I got fro xmas and have nevere gotten a complete sync. I've copied all my files over manually, but no luck with their software. Some of my files are quite large with long filenames (and nested deeply in subfolders) so I suspect some of that to be the issue.

[Bob98SR5]

Yota and Reggie,

Thanks for your replies. Reg, I'll check out your suggestion. That sounds exactly like what I need: just update what's been updated, not copy over the entire list of folders I want sync'd.

Bob

[Seanz0rz]

I believe M$ has an XP powertoy that syncs files. Google xp powertoys and look for their sync app. I'd do it but silly iPhone lacks copy paste. I've used it in the past and really liked it. Very easy to use and is instantly incorporated into the shell

[YotaFun]

Sorry in advance to OP



I've had no luck with the WD software. I have a 2 Tb drive that I got fro xmas and have nevere gotten a complete sync. I've copied all my files over manually, but no luck with their software. Some of my files are quite large with long filenames (and nested deeply in subfolders) so I suspect some of that to be the issue.


Is that 2TB drive a network drive by any chance.
See Stepdad's 1TB and my 500GB WD drives that hook up USB wise are fine.
But my 1TB Network Drive is such a PITA that I am about to take it and chuck it out the window.
It refuses to transfer anything more then 65-70MB worth of file...
I even took it apart and tried putting the drive in a caddy I had bought a while ago for another HDD and it just refuses to work....
I read that it was a firmware issue in the HDD network card, but WD wont announce anything on it...

The Western digital software does the same thing as the one that Reggie Suggested as well, it will back up all that you have now and then only add to what you have added to the folders you are backing up or if you have modified any file in the folders you are backing up.

[Cebby]

Not a network drive, just the 2 Tb (actually 1 Tb + mirrored) - straight USB.

Not only does the WD software not work (brings teh suck) - it's also too invasive. It makes my system crawl when it's analyzing files.

[L33T35T Tacoma]

I personally have used SyncToy from Microsoft. Its FREEWARE and kicks ass. VERY simple and to the point, yet very customizable too.

Try it!

[Bob98SR5]

jason,

im gonna give this brightsoft first. if not satisfied, i'll try synctoy. thanks for the rec.

otherwise, how have you been? are you still in the reserves?

[neliconcept]

hmm curious about this as well, I have a blackx from thermaltake, its a hot swappable drive bay for 3.5" and I have about 7 500gb drives, i back up two per system so I have two in two different locations along with the files on the computer and inside the other externals I have.

but its such a freaking long time to backup and copy over what is already there.

[L33T35T Tacoma]

I have only 4 months left!!

As for SyncToy, its really simple. Basically you create a Left and Right folder. You can do 1 of 3 things with said Left and Right folders.

Synchronize- If you have all your documents on your computer (Left), and say you have a laptop or personal hard drive that you work off also (Right). Once the two are hooked together, you can Synchronize and if you updated, added, deleted, renamed or moved any files anywhere within the Left and Right folders, it will reflect on the other side, no matter which side was changed. You can think of this as having 2 "Master" folders and no slave folder

Echo - Changes made on Left folder will reflect in right folder, but changes to right folder will not effect the Left folder. Any files deleted on the left will be removed from the Right. This is pretty much a Master and Slave system, where you would never work on files on the backup hard drive.

Contribute - Files changed on Left will be updated to Right, but if something is deleted on Left, it will not delete on Right.

How I use it:
I have my "My Documents" folder as my left folder and on my 1 TB ext hard drive, I have a "My Documents" folder as my Right Folder. I have it on synchronize, so I can take the hard drive anywhere, do anything with the files, and next time I sync, everything will be changed on my laptop.

It works beautifully.

NOTE, I am using Windows XP. YMMV. In order for this to be seamless, I have Outlook Express store my email in an Email folder within My Documents. This can be changed through the Tools>Options>Maintenance Tab>Store folder. Note where the CURRENT store folder is. You will need to find this in order to retrieve it later. Make a BACKUP of it NOW. If this is done incorrectly, you can lose all your emails. I recommend making a new EMPTY store folder where you want it, change the store folder, and reopening outlook to a blank email box. Now close outlook and copy your email files (Inbox.dbx, Outbox.dbx, folders.avx, etc) over from your old store folder. Should work well.

Also, with TweakUI, another Powertoy for XP, you can change your Internet Explorer Favorites folder to be within your My Documents folder. Make sure IE is closed, and make a copy of your My Favorites folder in your My Documents folder. Using TweakUI, go to My Computer>Special Drives. Select the My Favorites option and change the folder to the new one within your "My Documents" folder. This makes a reformat seamless also. Just copy the whole My Documents folder and go.

Wow this was a lot more info than I had planned for, lol

[DHC6twinotter]

That's some good info. I've been wondering about this as well. :thumbup:

[slosurfer]

Bob, any updates on this? We're probably ordering one of the hard drives today.

[L33T35T Tacoma]

I thought this thread looked familiar, then I saw my replies :D

I use SyncToy almost every day now. There is a way you can run it as a command line and schedule it, so it'll run every night at say 3 in the morning.

[Bob98SR5]

chris,

synctoys rocks. its idiot proof and im an idiot :hillbill:

[slosurfer]

:laugh: Thanks! I was actually talking about the harddrive you got, but I'm guessing that it's working good if your synctoys is working good. :)