Backing up specific folders daily

[kade119]

I am following WHS sticky to back up my entire system as an Image file monthly but would like to hear some recommended software or methods of backing up a couple specific folders daily or at least every 2 days..

thanks

 

[kado897]

Hi kade119,

Are you backing up to an external hard disk or to a DVD?

If you are backing up to a hard disk I would use the windows file backup. If it is to a DVD it might be simpler just to copy the files occasionally.

 

[Golden]

Hi Kade,

There a couple of options to backup specific folders. AS Kado mentioned, Windows backup is the obvious choice.

There are also some good free 3rd party software options you might consider. I use 2:

GFI Backup Home Edition - requires a registration
Microsoft SyncToy

Regards,
Golden

 

[SledgeDG]

You could always set up a bat/cmd to pack and copy certain folders with, say 7-zip. That combined with the task scheduler should do just nicely.
If you were looking for an alternate solution that is

-DG

 

[z3r010]

Cobian backup is great for scheduled backing up of certain folders (we use it for backing our servers up) and it's free

Cobian Backup

 

[Golden]

Cobian backup is great for scheduled backing up of certain folders (we use it for backing our servers up) and it's free

Cobian Backup

Oh. I see its multi-threaded too.....looks very interesting, might just check it out more.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I use Second Copy. It's been around over 10 years and is highly developed with very very few issues. Great interface, easily understood, highly configurable.

30 bucks with a 30 day free trial.

Others are Synchback, GFI Backup Home Edition, and Karen's Replicator.

 

[whs]

I image my data partition with Macrium whenever there are any significant changes. But that would probably be an overkill for just a couple of folders - unless you want to put them into a seperate partition and use Macrium which you already have. Would not need to install another program.

To schedule Macrium images, right click on the XML Definition File and go to "Schedule". There you have a lot of options.

 

[gogreen]

I use Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download for imaging my entire hard disk and Free backup software - SyncBack Freeware - free data backup software Syncback for saving critical data files and syncing them to another computer.

Both programs work great and are free.

 

[kade119]

wow, great responses - after reviewing some of the software

I decided to use windows built-in backup and macrium

Windows does a backup of my entire system
and Macrium makes an image file of my system, also with Macrium i scheduled a daily backup of a few specific folders "clients" and a few others.

Thanks to everyone who posted.

 

[gogreen]

Windows can also create an image of your entire hard disk.

 

[whs]

Windows can also create an image of your entire hard disk.

Did you ever use it - like making an image every 3 days (whilst keeping the previous images) and then also recover from it?

 

[severedsolo]

If your willing to pay, then Acronis does a pretty good job of doing File backups. By default it will automatically back up your entire Documents folder, but you can change that easily.

 

[kado897]

You are welcome kade. That is the same setup I use.

 

[avoiderrors]

The purpose of and image backup is to restore the OS and programs you have installed in your computer. so if your computer crashes, you can restore you OS and programs all at once instead of one by one. so there is no need for a monthly Image back up. you only create 1 or 2 image backups a year, not monthly.

An image of your Operating System and programs only. Not you system

The reason for not creating an image of your entire sytem is because some people have too many or high resolution images or Videos and it can take a lot of CD's or DVD's.

it is not recommended to do a system image backup for files and folders or personal data. for that you can use Windows file back up or better yet, SyncToy. I personally use SyncToy for my personal folder Backups.

Just to be clear. Image backups are for OS and programs.
Windows file back ups and synctoy are for file and foldes.

if you have any questions feel free to post them and ill be more than glad to help you

 

[whs]

Hear, hear, somebody makes images to CDs. Who gave you that idea. Images are far too big for CDs or DVDs. You use a good TB external disk and then there is no problem. I always image my data partitions. That is the safest way and I can retrieve files back from weeks ago. If you use a sync program, those files may have disappeared long time ago.

And Windows file backup is another story - the day it works.