Which backup software please?

[runedog]

Which software would you recommend and why for a single PC; Casper or Shadow Desktop? Also, which 4TB External hard drive again, would you recommend?

Many thanks for your input.
Graham

 

[fireberd]

I use Macrium Reflect (paid version) for all my backups. Macrium has a free verion. Macrium is a UK company.

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

First, you are to be commended for wanting to backup your computer. Too many people wait until a hard drive or other failure destroys their data, then come running here wanting to know how to recover it (which often can't be recovered).

I use both Macrium Reflect Free (do not download from the homepage; this page is safer to download from. Here is a good tutorial on how to use Macrium Reflect.) and FreeFileSync.

If your computer has the OS and programs on a separate drive or partition (like mine does), imaging with Macrium Reflect or a similar program is the best way to backup your OS and programs. Imaging is best for backing up an OS and programs located on a separate partition or drive because the image can be used to restore the OS and programs to the original drive (you can't just copy them from one drive to another and have them still work). However imaging is not the most efficient way to backup large amounts of data because all of the data has to be included in the image each time you backup. Some imaging programs allow for a different kind of imaging that allows only new and changed data only to be backed up with supplemental images but those kinds of images are not as reliable as making full images and one usually has to use a paid for program to make them.

A Folder/File syncing program, once set up, will initially copy your data folders and files to a second HDD, then, after that, will copy over only new files, replace changed files, and delete deleted files from the source HDD to the second HDD. The process is much, much faster than imaging.

 

[runedog]

Many thanks for your replies. Anymore replies would be most welcome.

Graham

 

[kado897]

A number of our members are now using AOMEI Backupper instead of or as well as the Free Macrium as it allows incremental and differential images.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Which software would you recommend and why for a single PC

Backing up what?

If I wanted to backup my personal data, I wouldn't rely on an imaging program at all. I'd use a file by file program like Synctoy, Free File Sync, Second Copy, etc.

I would use imaging to back up the operating system. Probably Macrium. I wouldn't use incrementals.

4 TB drives? Seagate, WD, and Hitachi are pretty much the choices. I'd try to confirm which had 1 TB platters. Other than that, I'd shop based on price and warranty terms. You'll find plenty of complaints about any of them. Just hope you have decent luck and be prepared to exchange it. If noise level is a concern, add that to your list of considerations.

 

[kado897]

You need to be careful with incrementals. Differentials are safer but not as safe as the full backup. Differentials can be useful in filling the gap between regular full images. I fully agree that data should be separated from the system and backed up using a file and folder backup. I use FreeFileSync for that.

 

[runedog]

Thank you again for the new replies: ignatzatsonic, what backup software do you recommend then please?

Graham

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I've been using Free File Sync for the last year or so. No issues. A bit of a learning curve, but any app you choose will have a curve of some sort. You can get it from Sourceforge.net:

FreeFileSync | Free Security & Utilities software downloads at SourceForge.net

 

[Tommy Boy]

4TB deive is not a wise choice if it is plenned for daily use. I'd rather have two 2TB drives or four 1TB drives. well you know, larger drive gets bigger chance of going wrong than normal size hard drives.
For backup, I choose to use free tools, like partitionguru free and free file sync. I don't think it's worthwhile to pay for backup tool.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

4TB deive is not a wise choice if it is plenned for daily use. I'd rather have two 2TB drives or four 1TB drives. well you know, larger drive gets bigger chance of going wrong than normal size hard drives.
For backup, I choose to use free tools, like partitionguru free and free file sync. I don't think it's worthwhile to pay for backup tool.

Larger drives are no more likely to fail than smaller ones. Smaller ones take up more space than larger ones with the same total storage. As far as distributing the storage to minimize loss of data to just what was on the failed drive goes, it would be much better to have duplicate backups on multiple drives. That way, if one fails, you still have ALL your data on another drive or more.

I use free software when it meets my needs but not all my needs can be met with free software. I've yet to find any free software than can fully replace Adobe Acrobat Standard or M$ Office for me. I prefer Macrium Reflect Pro over the free version because it has features I find or have found to be very useful to me. Considering it has a lifetime license, it was a bargain.

 

[runedog]

I totally agree LF, any drive of any capacity can go belly-up at any time.

Thanks again for your input.
Graham