Backup and restore question; again!

tonyvella · 07 Jun 2015

About two years ago I swore off Windows B&R because I couldn't find a way of telling the program to backup only changed files after the initial complete backup rather than the entire 20 folders I selected. I am thinking of giving B&R one more chance but first I shall ask the old question again:

After the initial complete backup (it took a bloody hour), can I tell the program to backup only files that were changed since the last backup? If not, I'll have to consider a third-party software and suggestions by members here would be welcomed.

Thanks in advance for all help.

LittleSomething · 08 Jun 2015

Windows says it will back up changed and new files if you set up a schedule backup.

Backup and restore question; again!-1.jpg

I don' know. I don't like Windows backup so I use third-party software.

ignatzatsonic · 08 Jun 2015

tonyvella said:

About two years ago I swore off Windows B&R because I couldn't find a way of telling the program to backup only changed files after the initial complete backup rather than the entire 20 folders I selected...................I'll have to consider a third-party software and suggestions by members here would be welcomed.

As far as I know Windows B and R hasn't changed. It's as wonderful or terrible as you thought it was 2 years ago.

Alternatives:

If you want to "back up" entire partitions, including Windows: Macrium Reflect and Aomei Backupper are the most often recommended on this forum.

Most would tell you to use a separate program to backup personal data. Choices would include Syncback, Second Copy, FreeFileSync, Karen's Replicator, FBackup, and FolderClone. I use FreeFileSync.

Is your data on its own partition, not C? That can simplify things if you are willing to do it.

RolandJS · 08 Jun 2015

adding to the excellent list and advice given by the previous poster:
Acronis True Image [can be geekish!]
Macrium Reflect, whether free or fee
...and I second the motion about not using Windows' built-in Backup/Restore; problematic during backup, problematic during attempts at restore.

tonyvella · 08 Jun 2015

Thanks ignatzatonic for your reply.

All my data files are in the usual folders/libraries on C. I have an external hard drive which I use with SyncToy after having set up all the "folder-pairs" by hand, and that seems to work just fine.

I read somewhere on this forum that one should always have two backups on two separate and different external destinations so I was looking for a second. I have a 32 GB SD card in my laptop and I thought I would use it for Windows B&R but, although the job did eventually get done, the long time it took rather got on my nerves and I started looking for some other way for doing the job; hence my question.

I suppose I could create another set of folder-pairs in SyncToy with a different destination - the SD card - but I wasn't sure if that would work out. Perhaps I will try and if anything goes wrong I shall d/l FreeFileSync from somewhere.

ignatzatsonic · 08 Jun 2015

tonyvella said:

I read somewhere on this forum that one should always have two backups on two separate and different external destinations so I was looking for a second............I suppose I could create another set of folder-pairs in SyncToy with a different destination - the SD card - but I wasn't sure if that would work out.

Yeah, I'd say backups to 2 different destinations is sound.

My Windows installation isn't critical---if it failed and my Macrium image backup of it failed, I'd easily survive. I'd just have to spend the hours necessary to reinstall and reconfigure. So I personally don't use 2 different imaging programs to backup Windows. Just Macrium, and I keep the most recent 2 monthly images.

Data IS critical, so I back up multiple ways:

1: Primary backup to a second entirely separate internal drive, using FreeFileSync, at least daily. This backs up 100% of my data.

2: Backup of my most critical data files to a USB flash drive by simple drag and drop copy. Once a month. Maybe I should do this more often. They don't amount to over 11 GB right now. Mostly pictures, Word files, and Excel files. Pretty much everything I have other than video, mp3s, images of C, and downloaded programs----all of which could be replaced or not missed.

3: Backup of ALL data, but by simple drag and drop copy to a separate internal drive mounted in an external dock. I use an older retired drive that at one time held my OS before I switched to an SSD. I do this quarterly. Maybe I should do this more often.

4: Backup of ALL data to the same drive mentioned in step 1, but using simple drag and drop copy rather than FreeFileSync. I do this quarterly, but not on the same quarterly schedule that I use in step 3.

I haven't lost anything yet.

I'm taking a risk in that I don't have anything backed up offsite and that continually nags at me. I could be screwed in a total fire loss or a thorough theft. I categorically refuse to use cloud storage.

You just have to come to a conclusion about what's of value and the time and money you are willing to spend to protect it.