best backup software for windows 7

[andrewjs18]

ah, ok.

I know what I was doing wrong. I was trying to send files to the root of a drive, thus is was showing everything. I created a few folders and set up some syncs.

is there a way to schedule this app to run and sync the folders if there's any changes made?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

is there a way to schedule this app to run and sync the folders if there's any changes made?

I assume you could schedule it through Task Scheduler to run at certain times.

I don't know if any other scheduling capability is built into the app.

However, I deliberately don't want to rely on any "automated" type of scheduling as I don't trust that stuff as a general proposition.

Instead, I've used the batch file capability within Free File Sync to set up 4 separate jobs. Each job runs on demand with a single mouse click.

You can see the jobs listed at the lower left of the image below. One for all data, another for most data, another for Firefox, and another for Thunderbird email.

I run each job with a single click from the tall column of applications you can see at the right. You can see each of the 4 jobs mentioned above listed in that column. That column springs open when I poke that "Apps" link you see right next to the clock. Works for me.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

ignatzatsonic did a good job of describing it. FreeFileSync works by syncing folder pairs; HDDs can be treated as folders. To be able to sync from Computer A to Computer B, first, Computer A has to able "see" all the HDDs and folders on Computer B and Computer B has to be able to "see" all the HDDs and folders on Computer A. For that to happen, the HDDs you want to sync from A to B have to have different drive letters. In other words, you can't do this if both HDDs you are syncing are D:. For example, you would have to have the HDD on Computer A named D: and the one on Computer B named E:

I do something similar between my desktop machine and my notebook but I use an intermediary HDD to actually transfer the data. Since I maintain a backup of the notebook on an external HDD any way, I first set up empty folders on the backup external HDD with the same names as the folders on the notebook I wanted to backup, making sure the folder pairs had the same folder names as the ones I was going to later sync with on my desktop. A simplified example is I wanted the folder named Doohickey and its contents to also be on my notebook. I made an empty folder named Doohickey on both the notebook's drive and the external drive. I then made and saved a configuration in the installation of FFS on the desktop computer that was set to Mirror and would sync the data from my desktop's Doohickey folder to the external drive's doohickey folder. Then I made and saved a second configuration in FFS in the notebook that was set to Mirror and would sync data from the external HDD's Doohicky folder to the notebook's doohickey folder.

For backing up the notebook's Doohickey folder, I made and saved yet another configuration in FFS on the notebook, again using Mirror to ensure data transfer was strictly one way and the source folder would remain unchanged, that would sync data from the notebook's Doohickey folder to the external HDD's Doohickey folder. I did the same in the desktop computer's FFS, still using Mirror, to sync the data in the external HDD's Doohickey's folder to the desktop's Doohickey folder.

It was actually much more complicated to set up in actual practice because of the number of folders actually involved but, once the configurations were set up and saved, it's extremely easy to use. I only use the notebook when I travel. Shortly before my trip, I dig out the notebook, do any necessary updates (there are usually a bunch), then connect the external HDD to my desktop to update the folders that are paired with folders on the desktop. I then connect the external HDD to the notebook and update the folders on the notebook that are paired with the folders on the external HDD. To make my life much simpler, while on the trip, I save any new files (mostly photos taken on the trip) and changed files to a single folder on the notebook. That folder gets backed up to the external HDD. When I get home, I connect the external HDD to my desktop and let FFS transfer the new and changed files from the external HDD to a matching folder on the desktop. I can later redistribute the files in that folder.

Have I thoroughly confused you?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...is there a way to schedule this app to run and sync the folders if there's any changes made?

Yes, there are directions in FFS on how to set it up with Windows task scheduler. I do that to automagically backup my Favorites folder and my calendar program's data overnight.

 

[dpwoodpecker]

To backup my data, I use a folder/file syncing program called FreeFileSync. I have it set to Mirror. It syncs folder pairs that one has predetermined; an entire disk can be considered to be a folder. It will only copy over new and changed files on the source disk to a destination disk and delete files on the destination disk that have been deleted on the source disk. I also have it set to put any files it deletes on the destination disk to a Versioning folder on another internal disk. Since only changed data is being dealt with, he process is so fast, I can do daily backups onto two different backup HDDs.

Hi - I've recently changed computers, moving from XP to Windows 7, and it's quite a deep learning curve for me. Does FreeFileSync maintain the original time/date (and similarly pertinent associated info) of the files and folders when copying/syncing?

Sorry for such a basic question but I am still new at using these programs and had previously used SyncBack. In the backup I made the time/date of the folders was set as the backup time/date and not the originals. Maybe there was a setting that I didn't know to configure in SyncBack?

Jeannie, could you share the steps for setting up the versioning folder? Many thanks to everyone for all the help!

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...Hi - I've recently changed computers, moving from XP to Windows 7, and it's quite a deep learning curve for me. Does FreeFileSync maintain the original time/date (and similarly pertinent associated info) of the files and folders when copying/syncing?...

Yes.

...Sorry for such a basic question but I am still new at using these programs and had previously used SyncBack. In the backup I made the time/date of the folders was set as the backup time/date and not the originals. Maybe there was a setting that I didn't know to configure in SyncBack?...

I can't speak for SyncBack. The one time I looked at it, it appeared that I would have to buy the paid version to get what I wanted. I also found their directions very confusing (typical written by a geek for gee type directions). Overall, it didn't impress me.

...Is there a tutorial on how to set up FreeFileSync, including the versioning folder setting? Thank you for all the help!

Our own KADO did this video tutorial. It's very well done but I found it a bit hard to follow because of my ADHD (I find all video tutorials hard to follow although they often can clear up questions raised by written ones). I found a written tutorial when I first started using it but I can't find it know (I'm surprised I didn't keep it). It wasn't great but it did make following Kado's tutorial easier for me (let me hasten to say again the problem is mine, not Kado's).

I've been planning to write a tutorial on how to use FFS for backups, including the use of the versioning folder and making scheduled backups but, right now, I just have too many irons in the fire and am dealing with health issues (mostly severe allergies).

 

[SIW2]

If you want to back up files and folders, that is included in Aomei Backupper, along with imaging and cloning.

If you would prefer a separate program, Karen's replicator. http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp

 

[dpwoodpecker]

Thank you, Jeannie, for the quick reply and the video link. I'll check it out as soon as I finish installing core programs (and will put VLC on top of that list). Look forward to reading the tutorial when you get to doing it (totally understand about having full plate) and do hope you feel better soon!

 

[dpwoodpecker]

Thank you, SIW2...will also look into Aomei Backupper; please let me know if there's a tutorial for using this program as well.

 

[Golden]

If its tutorials you want, you can also try SyncToy:

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

 

[SIW2]

AOMEI Backupper is an imaging program. Primarily for imaging your partitions. It has more functions than any other free version- e.g. incremental/differential. Overall, it is the best free imaging program around. It doesn't support phone type storage, though they will be adding that soon. It also has file and folder backup. However that is for backup, not the same as syncing.

If you want a sync type program, Karen's Replicator is excellent, and a couple of others have been mentioned.

 

[dpwoodpecker]

Thank you for all the suggestions....please correct if I'm wrong:
AOMEI Backupper: image backup w/ files & folders backup, no sync
SyncToy: files & folders sync (does it do full backups?)
FreeFileSync: files & folders sync with versioning option
SyncBack (free version): as share earlier, I had trouble with copied folders not keeping origiinal dates/time; please help show if there is an option that I missed setting up.

Being inexperienced, I'd prefer to keep it simple but seems that I might have to use more than one programs for backup in addition to Macrium.

By the way, ignatzatsonic, would you mind showing me how you had set up the "Apps" link? That seems to be a useful setup to help me keep up with the daily and weekly backup. Greatly appreciate everyone's help!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

By the way, ignatzatsonic, would you mind showing me how you had set up the "Apps" link? That seems to be a useful setup to help me keep up with the daily and weekly backup. Greatly appreciate everyone's help!

I created a folder named “apps” on my data drive D at D:\computer\_toolbar shortcuts\apps, but I’d think you could put it anywhere. I used the underscore only because that forces the folder to appear as the first folder under D:\computer when viewed in Windows Explorer.

I then made a shortcut for each application that I wanted to put in the apps folder and placed each shortcut in D:\computer\_toolbar\apps. The FreeFileSync batch files are placed in that folder along with the other shortcuts.

See pic below.

I then right clicked the taskbar and chose “new toolbar”. You’re asked to choose a folder, so I navigated to D:\computer\_toolbar shortcuts\apps.

Prestomatic—the “apps” toolbar appears on the taskbar and shows those 20 shortcuts. Each shortcut will open the app on demand.

 

[dbtmellis]

Ive always used the Windows Backup Utility, to my USB External Hdd. I have never had a problem.

If you "accidentally" delete a file, you can go back and retrieve it. Or you can replace your whole system.

It has saved my data lots of times

 

[dpwoodpecker]

Please help....I've clicked on the link Jeanie had given for FreeFileSync and the report from VirusTotal shows possible malware - are these false positives (that is, there might be options to add toolbars etc that I can opt out)? Does anyone have a safe link to download the software, preferably just the .exe (without a downloader program)?

View attachment Antivirus scan for FreeFileSync - aa90bbbe649c9065593bc2522d4e3a5eaf32e9d444acb075121020c486f550.pdf
View attachment Antivirus scan addt'l info for FFS - aa90bbbe649c9065593bc2522d4e3a5eaf32e9d444acb075121020c486f.pdf

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Please help....I've clicked on the link Jeanie had given for FreeFileSync and the report from VirusTotal shows possible malware - are these false positives (that is, there might be options to add toolbars etc that I can opt out)? Does anyone have a safe link to download the software, preferably just the .exe (without a downloader program)?

View attachment 322053
View attachment 322054

The possible malware is a PUP—Potentially Unwanted Program—called Open Candy. All Open Candy does is offer crapware, such as the Ask Toolbar, Google Toolbar, Google Chrome, etc. when running the FFS installer. It doesn't install itself and will run only when the installer runs. It's a nuisance but not dangerous. Just pay attention when installing FFS and watch for any offers to install anything other than FFS; just uncheck them if it does. I also rename FFS's installation file after installing FFS by adding .disable to the end of the file name so it won't trigger a hit on AV and antimalware programs and can't start itself (although the latter is highly unlikely). I've never had a problem from it.

 

[dpwoodpecker]

Thank you, ignatzatsonic, for the toolbar instructions and Jeannie for further guidance on installing FFS...and the great tip to rename the FFS installation .exe file to .disable afterwards....I'm off to try these items and checkout programs others have suggested, since I've not had much luck with Windows Backup utility...I can make the backup images but the OS refuse to recognize the images in order to use them to restore. Much appreciation for all the help given!

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Thank you, ignatzatsonic, for the toolbar instructions and Jeannie for further guidance on installing FFS...and the great tip to rename the FFS installation .exe file to .disable afterwards....I'm off to try these items and checkout programs others have suggested, since I've not had much luck with Windows Backup utility...I can make the backup images but the OS refuse to recognize the images in order to use them to restore. Much appreciation for all the help given!

Macrium Reflect Free (here is a good tutorial on how to use Macrium Reflect) is excellent for imaging the OS and Wolfgang wrote an excellent tutorial for it.

 

[dpwoodpecker]

Just wanted to share that I’ve just tried FreeFileSync and it is really fast. However, it didn’t retain the original subfolders’ time/date stamps when I set up a custom sync to copy original files and folders within folder “CommWork” from left (G to right (D folder with same name, which was newly created and empty. Where did I miss to specify such information is retained? I’ve zipped the FFS gui file to attach here:

View attachment SyncSettings- HDD to SSD.zip

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Just wanted to share that I’ve just tried FreeFileSync and it is really fast. However, it didn’t retain the original subfolders’ time/date stamps when I set up a custom sync to copy original files and folders within folder “CommWork” from left (G to right (D folder with same name, which was newly created and empty. Where did I miss to specify such information is retained? I’ve zipped the FFS gui file to attach here:

View attachment 322208

I want to make sure I'm following you.

Here is a picture of my FFS destination folder tree on my E drive. It's a sync of the original source folder tree on my D drive; synced from D to E.

What you see is the Explorer tree and the details of the properties page of the "rock and roll" folder. Note the date of June 22, 2011; 12:35:17 PM.

I just checked. That is the same exact day and time as the rock and roll folder on the D (source) drive.

I ran Free File Sync within the last 2 hours, but the folder still has a 2011 date.

I didn't do anything special to get those dates and times to agree as best I recall. I think it's the default.

Are you saying that your properties page for a folder shows a different date/time on the source than on the destination? Or are you reading the dates/times from somewhere else?