Windows 7: how would i schedule multiple backups, on different drives

i want to have my normal backup, which is a backup of the user files on the d drive to my backup drive (drive X), now i also want to add another backup schedule, so i can backup my pictures specifically to a 4th hard drive, in this case drive drive H.



how would i add this 2nd backup on windows? is this possible? should i be looking for task manager? so far i have tried but cant find any options as access through Action Center Backup.

I think you would need Task Scheduler for that, if you want to do it on an automated schedule.

But "automated backups" can lead you into a false sense of security.

I'd avoid Windows Backup to make backups of any type, but that's personal preference.

well, i have always avoided windows backups, but since windows 7, i have finally seen something that is useful. so i have been using and its working good for me. But my backup drive is getting full, so i need to delete the backups and run again, happens alot. 1.5Tb is just not enough backup space for me. SO i want a dedicated backup of my pictures since this is becoming a regular thing. If i could just set up a nice backup for my pictures on my older external drive ill be happy enough to delete the backup and let it create another new one.

ill look into task scheduler then, but didnt know if this was possible.

any other ideas while im at it?

If you just want a separate backup of "My Pictures", you could easily do that with SyncToy (a free Microsoft download) or comparable programs.

Or probably with a Robocopy batch file. Robocopy is built into Windows.

Either of those methods is slicker than Windows built-in backup, assuming you are not trying to backup Windows itself (through an image).

Either would run with a single click after being configured. Not sure if they can be "scheduled", although some such programs can. I always prefer manual with a single click so I don't get complacent and merely assume it's working on a schedule.

yeah, i thought the new backup was superior to synctoy, so i ignored the synctoy, but after looking into task scheduler i think i will opt for synctoy. the reason is it looks a bit complicating to figure out the commands to configure backup through TS.

in task scheduler i ran; C:\Windows\System32\control.exe
with Add arguments; /name Microsoft.BackupAndRestore

i found that this does run backup, but thats all it does is open the backup onto the screen, and theres no way to configure it, so unless someone knows, ill do something else.

robocopy, ill look into that, i havent heard of it. if its built into windows, im going to check it right now.

ahh, looks like robocopy is a solution for copy and pasting, where copy and pasting dies on the first file write error. will this one be sure to copy every file copyable? thats what i really need. except ill probably opt for synctoy since i can task schedule that no problems.

Examine this one line batch file:

C:\windows\system32\robocopy D:\data I:\backups\data /E /MIR

You make the batch file and run it with a click from a shortcut.

That simple file would backup everything in D:\data to I:\backups\data, including empty directories. It would delete any file in I:\backups\data that may have earlier been deleted from D:\data--the /MIR stands for mirror, so the 2 directories would "mirror" each other.

Hate to throw you onto another track. Just wanted to mention that Allway Sync ( http://allwaysync.com/ ) lets you automatically sync at speciifed times, when changes are detected, before log-out, etc. etc. May be worthwhile to investigate.You find all the info on the help pages. It is a very professionally made program.

WHS:

Thanks for that. I see it is free for personal use.

I'm always interested in new backup programs.

Do you have any personal experience with it? Any known shortcomings?

I have played around with it and it does the job. But I am an imaging addict and use that route. However, imaging would not do what the OP has in mind - especially since he seems to have a space problem.