Back up Software

[RonBin79]

I am looking for some SOFTWARE that will allow me to back up selected folders, e.g My Documents so I can retrieve individual docs by looking at the My Docs folder. I tried doing a full back up then went to find individual papers with no success. I have asked this question on the Backups forum but no one seems to have an answer.
Is there any software that will enable me to backup an individual folder and update documents in it rather than me having to go into the folder, find the doc concerned and then copy and poaste the new veresion?

Its all ab it complicated and hard to explain but if anyone as any suggestions (nice one's of course) I will be opleased to hear of them.

Regards,
RonBin79

 

[Barman58]

Take a look at synctoy from Microsoft, Simple, yet powerful, and totally free


Can be used with a PC and a USB stick, Set up folders on stick, configure synctoy on PC, each time you insert stick in PC run program and latest version is automatically placed in both locations

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

What do you mean calling me "no one"? I gave you an answer in your other post. FreeFileSync is similar to SyncToy but with a few more options.

 

[scr]

In addition to those already suggested here's another one that will do what you want:

SyncBack Free - freeware version of the ultimate data backup software

I've been using it for about a year and I'm very satisfied with it's features and operation.

 

[RonBin79]

Backup Software

Lady Fitzgerald, my apologies, I never received any notification of your reply, I am sorry. Thank you for all those suggestions. I downloaded Sync and read the instructions. I created the left pair as My Documents and the right one as My Pictures.

I am not sure where all these files will be stored or whether the Sync actions will have any effect on my files elsewhere. Are they all stored somewhere separate or do I have to create a special folder for them all.

Not being a computer buff, I am not sure really how it all goes together. Which of all those methods suggested on the forum earlier is the easiest one to understand and use please, bearing in mind you are dealing with an 81 year old silver surfer

Thanks again for your help and I look forward to your replies.

Regards,

ronbin79 (now 81

 

[Barman58]

RoNBin79 you need to create pairs of locations,

your above post would suggest you are synchronizing your documents and pictures folders, which would result in all your documents and all your pictures appearing in both locations

Is this what you want to do ?

it would be normal to create a folder somewhere, another drive or USB stick, and keep backup copies of the files in the original folder

 

[RonBin79]

Backup Software

Yes, that's exactly what I want to do, keep the originals in the My Documents folder on my desk top and the back up on a memory stick or on my external hard drive.

I couldn't see how to do that when I had a try just now so I cancelled the exercise as I was afraid of muckingk up all my files/pictures.

Cheers,

RonBin79

 

[Barman58]

Step by step for Synctoy would be ...

Insert stick into PC or ensure external drive is available [external drive is preferable to USB stick as they tend to be more reliable long term]

Create a folder with a suitable name on the external device [Either My Documents or perhaps My Documents Backup would be better]

In sync app, create the pair

Left side -

My Documents (the one on the internal drive)​

Right Side

My Documents Backup [ One the external ]​

Choose a suitable option

Synchronize will make sure that the latest version is always on the both locations [useful for USB sticks where a file may be edited away from your main system.

Echo or contribute are more suited to a backup system as the only changes happen from left to right, the contribute option can be either useful or confusing dependent on your point of view - as it never deletes anything it can save you from a long term accidental deletion of an original but needs to be treated with care as obsolete files will always be on the backup until manually culled

There is more help on choosing the option in the actual app

Finally give the pair a name

You can repeat this creation procedure for as many folders as you wish

Now when you wish to backup - select the pair name you created and press run, or select the all pairs option, ( if you are ever not sure the Preview option will perform all the compare and such actions but will not actually change anything

Hope this helps

 

[RonBin79]

Backuo Software.

Thank you very much Barman8, just what I needed. I will get to it right away and put it all on my external hard drive. Hopefully I will not need to bother you again.

Best wishes,

RonBin79

 

[Barman58]

It's no bother, we're here to help

 

[Golden]

Ron.

You might also find this tutorial useful as you sort out SyncToy

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/278866-synctoy-backup-user-data.html

 

[pcunite]

FileBackupEX is free.