How to Download FreeFileSync without Malware

Hi Everyone!

This is an offshoot of another thread so new question rule in the Forum, so I made new thread...

In this link to my prior thread: Need a new Backup & Storage program

See reccomendation by ignatzsonic.. Its so simple to save files!

ignatzatsonic said:

Back up personal data WITHOUT using Macrium, Norton, Acronis, or any similar product. No clone, no image. Nothing of the kind. Just an outright copy as if you had used the mouse and dragged the files to another drive. Do this either with the mouse periodically or with any of several programs designed for that purpose specifically (Syncback, Synctoy, Free File Sync, Second Copy, etc). If you have 300 GB of personal data, you will need 300 GB of space on your external drive.

Ok so far: 1. Got the new, External HDD
2. Did not use any of the included WD programs to avoid installing ad-ware, bloatware, etc PUPs
3. Now all I need to do is get my free copy of "FreeFileSync" (as others at Windows Seven Forum i.e Lady Fitzgerald et al) have reccomended that one too so its my program of choice right now unless someone proves another one is better to it...)

BUT

IN following the link to get FreeFileSync, I got problems!

First this was where I was linked to go to the MAIN FreeFileSync site:

FreeFileSync | Free backup software to synchronize files and synchronize folders on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X

Its their own site!

Then , I got problems.

I clicked on the Green Download Free File Sync 6.13! arrow and I was "re-directed" to another site : Download FreeFileSync

Not happy with that at all....

And that re-directed site has reviews (nice! thanks!)

Read this one, just done in December 2014 (I have to write a lot and say things like that because others pointed out some of my reviews, etc were 1 year old and maybe they changed the site--------not this time, this review was written in December 2014: )

Here it is in full

tdc December 10, 2014
Not the easiest backup tool (I definitely wouldn't recommend it for a novice user), but by far the most feature-packed one. Cons: - The installer tries to get you to install sponsored offers (crapware, which are possibly malicious), which sometimes has awkward wording in an attempt to trick you into installing the crapware. This further prevents me from recommending this software to a novice user. - You can only copy, there is no option to simply move files. (To do this you would need to copy from folder A to folder B, then have a blank folder C copy to folder B so everything in it is erased.) - You need to use Task Scheduler to schedule backup tasks, which comes with the inherent flaws and limitations of Task Scheduler.

Even though I try, I guess I'm the "novice" user he is referring to above!

Thanks everyone for reading this and trying to get me a file that is not full of added programs/toolbars/ads!
XP VM USER (got name from first posting)
---------------------------------------
Offtopic: By the way... something new came up while researching this problem!

This reviewer pointed out something I never considered!

Gestetner December 9, 2014
Fast and reliable. I used another program before but it cannot sync more than 100,000 files, this one can sync 500,000 files. I used it also for copying entire drives or partitions and this software is great for monitoring the progress AND for continuing aborted copy operations.

The small lapttop has already over 423,000 files on it!!! So says my Norton Internet Security when it does a file scan (or malwarebytes.com too)

Its NOT FULL!

So I never knew that there is a 500,000 limit on FreeFileSync!! The one I'm advised and plan to use!
I know I know.. ignatzatsonic recommended just copying, no "syncing" needed.. but syncing once I have ONE fully backup copy would save some time, as long as I periodically keep that full copy "up to date" when the computer is not needed for a few days....

Hi Golden! (from Australia!!)

Thanks Thanks for recommending me "SyncToy" I never knew of that one... Its a Microsoft product so I'm not worried about its site or malware, etc as much as 3rd party stuff

BUT!

I really write too long! But the reason I do is I LEFT OUT CRITICAL INFORMATION!

The purpose of this backup/sync is for my ONLY backup to laptop!

I do not want to lose the stuff in the laptop!

I do not want to ever have to recover stuff, but if I have to it has to be easy to do!

SyncToy has reviews! (I only took two from 2014)

Jeff6289 posted in Storage Forum

SyncToy vs RoboCopy vs ?
Win 2008 Server. I ran SyncToy for a couple years when I had an XP Pro (32 bit) workstation, and it seemed to work fine until... ...found some corruption in older files. Don't know if SyncToy did it or not, but after looking around the internet, saw some other reports about SyncToy reliability,...
12 · Mar 24, 2014

Pimiento
Bren8806 posted in Windows Forum
SyncToy issues

Hi All. We have pretty much all users running on synctoy 2.0 Desktop and Notebook. Issue is that when the sync toy fails we don't know about it until it is too late. Just had an EGM loose a file he created on Monday however his profile became corrupt so we reloaded it and found that the files he...

Please explain how I can trust it.... if it corrupts my one and only backup files!!!

Thanks, (trying to get this out to you so you can read it and reply, sorry for grammar/spelling errors)

Hi Golden!

Thanks again for replying!

I see two parts to your reply..

Part I:

Golden said:

I've never come across those sorts of errors before. I suggest you run a test of SyncToy, then validate the results to ensure it works correctly for you.

I'm beginning to see I'm really a total (below) novice in my ability to recover any HD from a crash/loss of data virus loss etc. I've never successfully done it... and others mention that just "copying" a HDD 100% does not mean that it will boot back again alive after total loss of data on the original drive.

I have therefore, as a novice, no idea what a "run a test of SyncToy, then validate the results to ensure it works correcty for you." would entail?

Does this mean I test it after copying the entire HD from the laptop, then erase 100% of the lapttop to see if it restores it again? What if it doesn't?? It not only doesn't work for me... I will have LOST ALL DATA AND PROGRAMS ! (sorry to shout) just upset where these conversations are leading,

Either I use a program that automatically does this... which others point out can corrupt the data at any point... or else just copy it by hand, file by file.. (remember I said something about having 423,000 files to hand copy?? What do I do? Spend rest of life copying each day's work????? (that is my attempt at humor there in this dire situation)...

Thanks for any advice for Part I.


Part II: I researched robocopy briefly...

I don't understand how it copies... does it copy everything? Or just the files I point it to?

I need the MBR etc registry, etc file structures copied perfectly, so in the event of a loss of the laptop HD, I can totally 100% guarantee restoration of the computer data and programs (!) from the robocopy on an external drive ....

I don't see any information, on how robocopy would accomplish a "restoration" of the HD... am I confusing things again??

Thanks for any advice for Part II.

Hi Lady Fitzgerald!

Apologies for writing so much !

I appreciate your patience!

Yes I'm a Dummy... (must have a whole self of dummies /idiots books... still don't help me....
Simple answer! change the .disable from the .exe

But I am afraid to do such things all by self.. seems like nice Idea, but if I ever thought of it I'd be afraid it would mess something else up somewhere else..

YES! I know exactly what you are talking about as my malware/Norton removes all such programs to quarintine, therefore when and if I lose my HDD, I'd lose all those programs or have to go and suffer through all the errors too! in installing them again.

Please (everyone who is reading) DO not make mistake that I willy-nilly install programs.. I am very very slow and cautious... I read each page entirely all agreements every line!!

BUT they still sneak stuff in! and it messes computer up so badly I have to pay MONEY (sigh) yes money to people to fix it who tell me stay away from freeware... I can't handle it!

So you see my reluctance comes from hard earned and lost money wasted on trying to get "something" for nothing....

Ok sorry I wrote too much

Thanks again Lady Fitzgerald

(you can ignore the following message---its just to bring Golden up to date, you know my story already, but I wanted to give you first response before posting their reply!)

Hi again Golden!

Thanks for your advice!

I'd like you to help me get and use Macrium! It is highly recommended...

But please read my "complaints" about the free download of Macrium and potential for damage to my "unsaved" computer due to "PUP"s "Potentially Unwanted Programs" (see Post #32 and elsewhere) along with spyware/adware etc etc..

This is the link to the Forum conversation on "Macrium etc Free Software---How to avoid CNET Virus/Adware/Malware programs here at:

Macrium etc Free Software--How to avoid CNET Virus/Adware/malware prog

Apologies for the fact I do write a lot... I have a lot to say...

You can answer here or in the other posting site... both are open/unsolved...

Thanks for any advice Golden!