Backup laptop with only 1 partition to desktop across network

[dkperez]

I have a desktop system running Windows 7 Professional 64-bit that I back up nightly. Periodically, I remove one of my backups (there are two sets), and move it off site. So, the desktop is pretty well covered.

My wife has a new laptop running Windows 7 Home. There's only 1 hard drive, and only 1 partition on that. She wants me to make sure all her data is backed up regularly. NOT just the data she "knows" about - her Word documents and whatever that are in a folder she creates, but also all the "OTHER" stuff like Outlook address book, contacts, browser bookmarks, etc. Essentially, all the OTHER stuff that gets created in the Users folder tree and elsewhere.......

I use Syncback, so I put that on her system, and it works sort-of, throwing 2000 errors because of files and folders it can't copy. Some of the errors are in the Users folder tree, so I'm guessing there are files open there and other problems.

She doesn't want to deal with external drives and "all that foolishness". So, what's a good method of getting her system backed up across the network to my desktop so her "stuff" can be included in my nightly backups?

 

[seavixen32]

Not sure whether this will help, but you might want to use Windows 7's Robocopy to create a backup procedure for your wife's files.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/187346-robocopy-create-backup-script.html

 

[whs]

I got my wife external disks and image her laptops to those. That is painless and easy and the images can be scheduled. We use free Macrium for imaging.

 

[dkperez]

I understand the external is a viable option. Unfortunately, as I said in the OP, my wife does not wish to "mess with" external disks... She'd just like her laptop backed up on a regular basis, to someplace from which her data (including all the "data" she doesn't know is being created by her applications) can be restored in the event of a problem...

So, I've installed Syncback. I'm looking for a better alternative...

Robocopy might be fine for the "data" folder she creates, but it appears to be WAY too limited to handle all the OTHER stuff that gets created... For example, if she downloads an ebook, she doesn't know or care where it gets stored. But she wants it backed up. If she creates an email address or contact in Outlook, she wants it backed up. And on and on. So, I'm looking for something that'll actually back up as much of the O/S as possible, along with all her "known" stuff...

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Alternatives to Syncback include:

Synctoy
Second Copy
Karen's Replicator
Folder Clone
GFI Backup Home Edition
Synchromagic
Allway Sync

Most of those are free.

I don't use a home network, so I can't say for sure which of those support a network device as a storage destination. I'm virtually certain Second Copy supports network drives.

You will probably need to ID the location of all of that stuff she doesn't really pay attention to (bookmarks, address book, etc) and then manually include those folders in the backup routine of whatever app you choose.

 

[kado897]

FreeFileSync is capable of backing up to the network. You can set up a scheduled job and there is a real time backup option (which I haven't tried yet). FreeFileSync | Free Security & Utilities software downloads at SourceForge.net