Simple Windows backup software?

I'm looking for some simple backup software that:

1. can mirror my files from one NTFS filesystem to another (an external drive)
2. does an incremental backup (I don't need to recopy 1.5 TB of files every time I want to backup)
3. can copy files which are in use (probably using the Shadow Copy service)
4. will verify the files (at least with a quick CRC check) once the copy is complete
5. (preferably) is free or open-source software

When I used Linux as my primary OS, I had something similar set up using rsync. Ideally, I could find something like that which plays nicely with NTFS.
(rsync under Cygwin didn't seem to work well with NTFS; I used it for a while but started running into all sorts of strange permission errors.)

I don't really want drive imaging software. I like to be able to go into the backup and recover individual files quickly if necessary.

Scheduling is not necessary; I run backups on demand once or twice a week and the backup hard drives are kept offline all other times.

I've looked at a number of backup programs, but most that I've found fail at least one of the requirements above.

Do any of you have any suggestions that might help? What works for you?

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks very much.

The two major free ones are Paragon and Macrium Reflex. They are discussed often in this forum and arguments develope over which is best.

For the features you are looking for, you may need to go with a paid software. (regardless what brand you choose)


Have you looked into Acronis 2010?

ATM they have a special for $29.99USD Regular $49.99
Complete hard disk recovery solution, backup, drive copy, clone and image computer software



It can do Incremential, Differential, or Full (Idividual partitions or entire disc)
Archive validation, Task Scheduling, Cloning and more.

They also offer a trial of the software if you want to try it 1st.
But I'm sure most every company offers a trial of their paid versions as well.

WD has a fast solution in their downloads section that will both create and restore images, mount and open them as a second C drive in Windows Explorer and also has a clone option.

Use the image option and still have plenty of room left on the external drive depending how big that is. It goes much faster and can mounted for adding more files into the image! Cloning a drive takes quite a bit longer. Macrium's Reflect while having a free version there as well failed to restore an image of a second drive made at the time with an invalid date?

With Vista again present on the new build the latest image of that was restored more then once using Acronis True Image having also bought the retail version of that one. For the free WD version of it, WD Support

(Note I just ended up dumping Paragon here for the constant prompt to backup annoyance. That lacks other options as well.)

Have a look at Syncback [IMG]file:///C:/Users/Jerry/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.png[/IMG]http://www.2brightsparks.com/freeware/ look for
SyncBack Freeware V3.2.20.0 it might work for your needs

Jerry

The built-in utility that is most similar to rsync in Windows is called robocopy. It only copies files that have changed since the last copy and it can mirror up deletions as well with the /MIR switch. The /dst takes into account daylight savings time.

Here are some sample lines that you could put in a batch file

Code:

robocopy C:\users\user1\music E:\Backups\mymusic /mir /dst
robocopy C:\users\user1\downloads E:\Backups\mydownloads /mir /dst

If you would like a GUI interface with the same functionality, look at Karen's File Replicator. Karen's Replicator


So for my server at home, I have 2 internal hard drives. Every 6 hours, I sync drive 1 to drive 2 with robocopy. Then, I keep 2 external hard drives and run periodic robocopy backups to these drives about once every week or two and I generally keep at least 1 if not both of them offsite. For my desktop, I just use imaging software (Acronis, Macrium or EaseUSToDo Backup) about once 4-6 weeks and take a quick image of my C drive (SSD) to my D drive (mechanical), in case I need to recover from something catastrophic.

Once you have Acronis on and go through the options you will see how that works. The images here show fast that works with the image made of the second OS drive here and easily mounted to edit more in or remove things from.