Looking for Backup Software

Hi,

I'm looking for recommendations for software to actively mirror an internal drive to my external hard drive when plugged in, but all software solutions seem to create an image rather than copy individual files documents. I want to be able to unplug my external hard drive and have up to date files and folders from my desktop with me if I'm away or using another computer.

I'm also looking for (ideally) the same piece of software, or another software that will also clone my main internal drive to another internal drive, so in the case I need to restore my operating systems and applications I can do that easily.

Do software exist that will perform both functions automatically? I'm new to this and have been manually doing backups for years, figure I'd like to automate it because it's getting tedious.

Here's a condensed version of what I'm looking to do:

E:\ (4TB internal media drive) -> backup files and folders to 4TB external drive F:\ to have up to date backups and access to individual files and folders (not an image).

C:\ (OS and apps) -> actively backup an image to internal drive D:\ if I need to restore the computer.

Here is a diagram to help illustrate what I'm trying to do:
Scorge120_Backup-Solution_Diagram.jpg - Google Drive


Thanks for taking a look.

Zach

"...C:\ (OS and apps) -> actively backup an image to internal drive D:\..."
"...clone my main internal drive to another internal drive..." While programs such as Macrium Reflect can do such cloning, to have two "hot" [by hot I mean ready-to-go/ready-to-use] Windows existing internally requires having a boot load manager, correct?

"...Do software exist that will perform both functions automatically?..."
I take it this particular internal HD will be taken offline when a backup is not being made? Having two online hard-drives with OS can be problematic if certain malware or viri hits.
"...E:\ (4TB internal media drive) -> backup files and folders to 4TB external drive F:\ to have up to date backups and access to individual files and folders (not an image)..." Here too, if your external data HD is always online, consider what could happen if malware or viri or ransomware hits. Especially ransomware.

I've only been making full image backups of my OS and data partitions using Acronis True Image in the past, presently with both Macrium Reflect and Image for Windows. I do not know which of the three will do what you want; let's see if others in the know will weigh in.

Scorge120 said:

Out of the three which do you prefer, or why did you switch to Macrium?

After trying the free versions, I noticed that MR and IfW seemed to me to be a little easier to navigate and use.

You already have a good start because your are keeping your system files (OS and programs0 on one drive and your data on another drive.

Many of us here prefer Macrium Reflect Free for making images of the C: drive (I personally use the paid version). Images are like a photo negative which you can use to restore your C: drive to an earlier state or to replace the drive, same as a photo negative is used to make a print. While Macrium Reflect can be set up to automatically make backup images, Same as RolandJS, I do not recommend it since it would require having your backup drive connected at all times which can expose your backups to malware, user error, etc. It's much safer to keep your backup drive disconnected except when you are updating your backups, preferably after running antivirus and antimalware scans on your computer. Imaging doesn't take long when your are only imaging your system files so not having it done automatically shouldn't be much of an inconvenience.

While imaging is needed for backing up system files, it's too time and space consuming to use for backing up data files. A folder/file syncing program, such as FreeFileSync is, after the initial backup, is much faster. When set to Mirror, it works by comparing your source drive and your backup drive, then copying new and changed files from the source drive to the backup drive and deleting files on the backup drive as needed so what you end up with is an exact copy of the source drive on the backup drive. FreeFileSync also has a feature called Versioning that, if you want, will send deleted files to a versioning folder or drive. That will provide protection from accidentally deleted files or allow your to recover earlier versions of files. Since only changed, new, and deleted files are involved, updating backups can be fairly fast. The same as with imaging, even though it is possible to schedule backups, it is not recommended that you do so for the same reason as for images.

I also recommend maintaining two backup drives, one kept onsite for convenience and one kept offsite should the unthinkable happen and both the computer and onsite backup are lost, such as from fire, flood, theft, etc. Both backups should be updated frequently.