Looking for a great external hard drive backup program

[firehawkocean]

Hello all,

I am running "windows backup and restore" on one of my external hard drives and WDsmartware (western digital software that came with my other external drive). WDsmartware eats up WAY to much resources. Would I be better off just using "windows backup and restore" for both drives? are there any free programs out there that are "better' than windows 7 "backup and restore"? thanks a lot.

 

[C-11]

If 'Windows Backup and Restore' is working, then I'd keep using it.

Doesn't hurt to try other programs.

I see many here that use Macrium free;
Image your system with free Macrium - Windows 7 Forums

BTY, I use 'Windows Backup and Restore' and Clonezilla Open-Source Image Backup - Windows 7 Forums

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Hello all,

I am running "windows backup and restore" on one of my external hard drives and WDsmartware (western digital software that came with my other external drive). WDsmartware eats up WAY to much resources. Would I be better off just using "windows backup and restore" for both drives? are there any free programs out there that are "better' than windows 7 "backup and restore"? thanks a lot.

Depends what you are trying to back up.

To back up your installed Windows system with an image, the standard recommendations are Macrium, Acronis, and EaseUS TODO. I think Paragon may have an imaging app too.

To back up your personal data without an image, the standard choices are SyncToy, Syncback, Second Copy, Karen's Replicator, Allway Sync, GFI Home Edition, and others.

I don't hear many glowing reviews of the software provided by hard drive manufacturers.

 

[mjf]

Hello all,

I am running "windows backup and restore" on one of my external hard drives and WDsmartware (western digital software that came with my other external drive). WDsmartware eats up WAY to much resources. Would I be better off just using "windows backup and restore" for both drives? are there any free programs out there that are "better' than windows 7 "backup and restore"? thanks a lot.

You need to remember that Windows 7 "Backup and Restore" involves 2 separate backup capabilities.
1) System Images - an image backup of everything; OS, installed programs,data...the works.
2) File/folder - Mainly personal information like documents, music, etc.

For 1) I use Windows and Macrium. Other choices are available but I think having 2 is good insurance.

For 2) I use Windows and good old drag & drop. There are a number of alternatives. Even one provided by MS free - SyncToy

I keep functions 1) and 2) totally separate. I never "let Windows choose" in the backup settings and make images when I want to.

You can do a search in the free programs list under search word "backup" for more choice.

Oh I have WD drives and personally wouldn't consider using WDSmartware.

 

[profdlp]

Good advice by everyone above.

I prefer to use an imaging program for my boot drive and my current favorite is the free version of Macrium Reflect. For data drives I have recently begun to use SyncToy 2.1. Once you set up the folder pairs between the two drives it is easy and painless.

 

[seavixen32]

I have a Hitachi external hard drive and gave up on their backup software after one attempt.

I agree with Prof that SyncToy is a great little backup utility and I don't think Windows 7's own backup utility does a bad job either.