Windows 7: Best way to backup folders.

bizza2012 · 14 Jul 2012

Hi Guys,
Basically i have a hdd with 3 folders on it. I have copied these 3 to an external.
On a friday i would connect the external and then copy the 3 folders over again replacing everything on there. This meant i always had an up to date backup.

As you can see this isn't very efficient and very time consuming.

Will any programs be able to scan the original folders and any new files or changes send them to the external.

So i don't have to do a complete copy and replace of everything all the time.

Is this possible?

Thanks

Golden · 14 Jul 2012

Hi and welcome,

There are a few ways to do this:

Using a ROBOCOPY script:
ROBOCOPY - Create Backup Script

Using something like SyncToy to keep your folders synchronised.

Regards,
Golden

bizza2012 · 14 Jul 2012

SyncToy looks good.

So just let it do a complete backup of everything first and then i can just use the Synchronize button in the future.

Which is faster? SyncToy or Robocopy?

Golden · 14 Jul 2012

Hi,

They are both Microsoft based so I don't think there is much difference, if any at all. They both essentially use the same underlying copy command.

Regards,
Golden

ignatzatsonic · 14 Jul 2012

Others:

FolderClone

GFI Backup Home Edition

Karen's Replicator

Second Copy

They all work pretty much the same way and would differ mostly in a few features and how the interface looks.

You can include or exclude files and folders by location, file extension, etc. Wild card use is typically supported.

The first backup can take hours, but later backups typically take a minute or so, unless you have an awful lot of new files since the most recent backup.

kado897 · 14 Jul 2012

And another. FreeFileSync. The link is in my sig.

Windows 7: Best way to backup folders.

Best way to backup folders. problems?