useful help for freefilesync?

I want to update file changes in hard drive A folder to the target folder in hard drive B. Only the new items or changes, not everything. So I choose compare and it will not show me all the files in both drive A and drive B. If I choose to synch using "update" when it is done it will NOT show me all the files in both folders so I can tell if it worked right or not.

the only way to compare folders to see if new files were put in the backup folder is to use windows explorer and open both folders in both drives and visually inspect whether or not the changes were made.

I am trying to use this program but I do not understand how the compare works.

For example, if I do a Sync/Update and then Compare the folders, they should be identical. I then create a 1kb text file on the left folder, do a compare - how do I just see that file?

msongs said:

I want to update file changes in hard drive A folder to the target folder in hard drive B. Only the new items or changes, not everything. So I choose compare .....

Why? The no-nonsense file comparison interface is one of the many reasons why I like FreeFileSync so much.

For your question, the key point is not the comparison part. It is the MODE of backup you want. From what you wrote I'm quite sure you're like the majority of us, ie: after the backup you want your backup folders to have exactly the same files and folders as your original folders. In that case, what you want is the MIRROR mode.

Just make sure you choose the mirror mode BEFORE you press the compare button.

To set the mode, click the green cog button (just next to the Synchronize button).

edit: Apology. Just noticed that it's an old post. But what I wrote may still be useful to the new question raised.

I realized it was an old post when I revived it but I figured it would be better to post my question here rather than to create a new post or pm Kado who seems very knowledgeable about this program.

I think my confusion, which prompted me to raise the previous question, was due to the fact that I did an overnight copy of a large folder (using Windows itself) and then when I did the compare with FFS it was showing me tons of files. After my post I realized why. I used a cut instead of a copy.

During the Windows copy I was skipping files that Windows prompted too long a filename error, so my folder still existing but only with the error files. Since I still had a left folder, I forgot I did a "cut" instead and assumed there should not be that many differences.

Thanks for replying.