How do I create a backup where I can access the files individually?

Ok so here is the deal. I like to have full control over everything. I like things to be simple, but still have complete functionality.

I recently purchased a new external hard drive. It is a plug and play seagate expansion. I like how Windows Backup saves all of the files that you have modified since the last backup automatically at a certain time that you designate. However when you go into the backup file, they are all zip files and have things all split up if they are big, and I have some big files. Is there a free backup software that functions like the Windows 7 Backup program but is more like an automatic copy and paste thing, or can I get Windows Backup to function as follows. For example, I want it to automatically copy and paste the files that have changed since the last time over to the external hard drive, and I want them to remain the way they are. I don't want them in the zip files, I want to be able to access a single file the same way I normally would. I don't want to have to remember all the files I've changed throughout the day and copy them over myself. So it's basically an exact copy of my Library that updates automatically when I plug the hard drive in or at a scheduled time.

Thanks.

Here is a small part of a batch file I use. It uses the Xcopy command to do what I think you want to do.

cls
@echo off
@echo **************** BACKING UP TO F: DRIVE ****************************
@echo MY DOCUMENTS TO F: DRIVE ...

@xcopy "d:\My Documents\*.*" "X:\My Documents\" /D /Y /s
(Do the same for any other folders you would like to back up.)
@echo ...

@pause.

X: is my external drive -- no surprise there :)

Unless I completely missed your intent, I think it or something close to it will do what you want. You might want to change the /D switch to /M to make it copy only those files with the archive bit set. See Xcopy /? for the difference.

If this seems a bit DOSish, it is. That is where I started using this technique years ago.

Good Luck!

smann said:

Ok so here is the deal. I like to have full control over everything. I like things to be simple, but still have complete functionality.

I recently purchased a new external hard drive. It is a plug and play seagate expansion. I like how Windows Backup saves all of the files that you have modified since the last backup automatically at a certain time that you designate. However when you go into the backup file, they are all zip files and have things all split up if they are big, and I have some big files. Is there a free backup software that functions like the Windows 7 Backup program but is more like an automatic copy and paste thing, or can I get Windows Backup to function as follows. For example, I want it to automatically copy and paste the files that have changed since the last time over to the external hard drive, and I want them to remain the way they are. I don't want them in the zip files, I want to be able to access a single file the same way I normally would. I don't want to have to remember all the files I've changed throughout the day and copy them over myself. So it's basically an exact copy of my Library that updates automatically when I plug the hard drive in or at a scheduled time.

Thanks.

Thanks everyone!

I read up on all the programs suggested and downloaded Karen's Replicator and SyncToy to test drive. I like the overall design of SyncToy more (kind of feels like it comes basic in Windows 7), just had to go in to the task scheduler to make it automatic everyday. The only thing I didn't like was the little SyncToy data files it creates in every connected folder but that's no big deal. But all of the responses were helpful!