Backup/Sync tool suggestions?
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Hasn't for me. It seemed good at first, but would take forever doing backups and fail most of the time (I admit my wi-fi wasn't that good though back when I was last using it). I also took a full disk image of a base installation of Windows with drivers and my configuration settings applied etc and on the one occasion I wanted to restore it (from the rescue boot CD) it kept bombing out with an out of memory error part way through the restoration. Currently I'm giving retrospect a go for backups and clonezilla for full images. Haven't tried the restoration in clonezilla yet though.
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The time has come when I no longer can just copy & paste my data to create a new backup. It takes too long (and Windows Explorer can't even do it :^) ). Ive tried things like TeraCopy, Microsoft SyncToy and some others but haven't felt ready to rely on them. I'm looking for something that can copy the contents of one drive to another, overwriting what has changed. I don't want anything that has to run in the background noting any changes. It should use timestamps, or have its own database (on the backup) from the first copy. (With logging/visible info) Its around 1TB of data from SATA to eSATA. I don't mind if its foss/free/commercial (as long as its not bloated X| or too pricey). Therefore I'm asking what have you used? Does it work good? (I've looked around a lot, but would prefer to know what I'm getting) Thanks for any suggestions :thumbsup:
//Johannes
Rob, peterchen thanks for your suggestions :) . I've taken a peek at both Acronis software, and RoboCopy. Acronis Home version seems a bit bloated and that I won't know exactly what its doing & how... RoboCopy is on the far other end being a CLI program. I wouldn't mind a program being based on it though... (I didn't find any popular GUI for it) Any other software we can bring to the table? Thanks!
//Johannes
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The time has come when I no longer can just copy & paste my data to create a new backup. It takes too long (and Windows Explorer can't even do it :^) ). Ive tried things like TeraCopy, Microsoft SyncToy and some others but haven't felt ready to rely on them. I'm looking for something that can copy the contents of one drive to another, overwriting what has changed. I don't want anything that has to run in the background noting any changes. It should use timestamps, or have its own database (on the backup) from the first copy. (With logging/visible info) Its around 1TB of data from SATA to eSATA. I don't mind if its foss/free/commercial (as long as its not bloated X| or too pricey). Therefore I'm asking what have you used? Does it work good? (I've looked around a lot, but would prefer to know what I'm getting) Thanks for any suggestions :thumbsup:
//Johannes
Linux and rsync.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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Linux and rsync.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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The time has come when I no longer can just copy & paste my data to create a new backup. It takes too long (and Windows Explorer can't even do it :^) ). Ive tried things like TeraCopy, Microsoft SyncToy and some others but haven't felt ready to rely on them. I'm looking for something that can copy the contents of one drive to another, overwriting what has changed. I don't want anything that has to run in the background noting any changes. It should use timestamps, or have its own database (on the backup) from the first copy. (With logging/visible info) Its around 1TB of data from SATA to eSATA. I don't mind if its foss/free/commercial (as long as its not bloated X| or too pricey). Therefore I'm asking what have you used? Does it work good? (I've looked around a lot, but would prefer to know what I'm getting) Thanks for any suggestions :thumbsup:
//Johannes
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The time has come when I no longer can just copy & paste my data to create a new backup. It takes too long (and Windows Explorer can't even do it :^) ). Ive tried things like TeraCopy, Microsoft SyncToy and some others but haven't felt ready to rely on them. I'm looking for something that can copy the contents of one drive to another, overwriting what has changed. I don't want anything that has to run in the background noting any changes. It should use timestamps, or have its own database (on the backup) from the first copy. (With logging/visible info) Its around 1TB of data from SATA to eSATA. I don't mind if its foss/free/commercial (as long as its not bloated X| or too pricey). Therefore I'm asking what have you used? Does it work good? (I've looked around a lot, but would prefer to know what I'm getting) Thanks for any suggestions :thumbsup:
//Johannes
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The time has come when I no longer can just copy & paste my data to create a new backup. It takes too long (and Windows Explorer can't even do it :^) ). Ive tried things like TeraCopy, Microsoft SyncToy and some others but haven't felt ready to rely on them. I'm looking for something that can copy the contents of one drive to another, overwriting what has changed. I don't want anything that has to run in the background noting any changes. It should use timestamps, or have its own database (on the backup) from the first copy. (With logging/visible info) Its around 1TB of data from SATA to eSATA. I don't mind if its foss/free/commercial (as long as its not bloated X| or too pricey). Therefore I'm asking what have you used? Does it work good? (I've looked around a lot, but would prefer to know what I'm getting) Thanks for any suggestions :thumbsup:
//Johannes
I have Cobian Backup.htm[^] running all the time on all machines I use, because it's so easy to set up multiple multi-directional back-ups and "live file" updates.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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Good grief - so you had labelled backups and you knew how to run the recovery procedure? Astounding work!
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Hasn't for me. It seemed good at first, but would take forever doing backups and fail most of the time (I admit my wi-fi wasn't that good though back when I was last using it). I also took a full disk image of a base installation of Windows with drivers and my configuration settings applied etc and on the one occasion I wanted to restore it (from the rescue boot CD) it kept bombing out with an out of memory error part way through the restoration. Currently I'm giving retrospect a go for backups and clonezilla for full images. Haven't tried the restoration in clonezilla yet though.
Dave Parker wrote:
(I admit my wi-fi wasn't that good though back when I was last using it).
I wouldn't trust my wifi router enough to back up over it. I've had no issues with wired network or usb drive connections - eSata should be equally safe.
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Dave Parker wrote:
(I admit my wi-fi wasn't that good though back when I was last using it).
I wouldn't trust my wifi router enough to back up over it. I've had no issues with wired network or usb drive connections - eSata should be equally safe.
I'm using powerline networking now and it seems to work a lot better (in general - haven't really used trueimage and I don't think the version I have is win 7 compatible anyway, which I've since moved to). Not aloud to drill holes in the wall of my apartment so can't stick in a gigabit ethernet.
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The time has come when I no longer can just copy & paste my data to create a new backup. It takes too long (and Windows Explorer can't even do it :^) ). Ive tried things like TeraCopy, Microsoft SyncToy and some others but haven't felt ready to rely on them. I'm looking for something that can copy the contents of one drive to another, overwriting what has changed. I don't want anything that has to run in the background noting any changes. It should use timestamps, or have its own database (on the backup) from the first copy. (With logging/visible info) Its around 1TB of data from SATA to eSATA. I don't mind if its foss/free/commercial (as long as its not bloated X| or too pricey). Therefore I'm asking what have you used? Does it work good? (I've looked around a lot, but would prefer to know what I'm getting) Thanks for any suggestions :thumbsup:
//Johannes
I use a command line version of WinZip in batch files that fire off nightly via scheduled tasks (if it doesn't happen automatically, chances are good that it just doesn't happen). I realize this is a shockingly low tech solution, but having gone through decades of tape / zip / jazz / etc. devices all with proprietary software & hardware, I hit upon this as the ultimate portable solution. Since Windows now natively supports the zip format, I can plug my usb drive into any Windows machine and recover my data with no special software required. Not terribly sexy, but an extremely simple, portable and reliable solution.
Christopher Duncan
www.PracticalUSA.com
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes
Copywriting Services -
The time has come when I no longer can just copy & paste my data to create a new backup. It takes too long (and Windows Explorer can't even do it :^) ). Ive tried things like TeraCopy, Microsoft SyncToy and some others but haven't felt ready to rely on them. I'm looking for something that can copy the contents of one drive to another, overwriting what has changed. I don't want anything that has to run in the background noting any changes. It should use timestamps, or have its own database (on the backup) from the first copy. (With logging/visible info) Its around 1TB of data from SATA to eSATA. I don't mind if its foss/free/commercial (as long as its not bloated X| or too pricey). Therefore I'm asking what have you used? Does it work good? (I've looked around a lot, but would prefer to know what I'm getting) Thanks for any suggestions :thumbsup:
//Johannes
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The time has come when I no longer can just copy & paste my data to create a new backup. It takes too long (and Windows Explorer can't even do it :^) ). Ive tried things like TeraCopy, Microsoft SyncToy and some others but haven't felt ready to rely on them. I'm looking for something that can copy the contents of one drive to another, overwriting what has changed. I don't want anything that has to run in the background noting any changes. It should use timestamps, or have its own database (on the backup) from the first copy. (With logging/visible info) Its around 1TB of data from SATA to eSATA. I don't mind if its foss/free/commercial (as long as its not bloated X| or too pricey). Therefore I'm asking what have you used? Does it work good? (I've looked around a lot, but would prefer to know what I'm getting) Thanks for any suggestions :thumbsup:
//Johannes
Based on a quick Google search, have a look at: Sync Tools (wade through a few) Top Results in Sychronization Software I used Cobian a few years ago and stopped (I don't remember why). Currently, I need something similar myself but I haven't looked at anything yet. Here are some that I will be taking a closer look at: DirSync Pro (free)
Unison (FOSS)
All Way Sync ($19.95, free for limited personal use)
FreeFileSync (FOSS)modified on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 3:50 PM
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The time has come when I no longer can just copy & paste my data to create a new backup. It takes too long (and Windows Explorer can't even do it :^) ). Ive tried things like TeraCopy, Microsoft SyncToy and some others but haven't felt ready to rely on them. I'm looking for something that can copy the contents of one drive to another, overwriting what has changed. I don't want anything that has to run in the background noting any changes. It should use timestamps, or have its own database (on the backup) from the first copy. (With logging/visible info) Its around 1TB of data from SATA to eSATA. I don't mind if its foss/free/commercial (as long as its not bloated X| or too pricey). Therefore I'm asking what have you used? Does it work good? (I've looked around a lot, but would prefer to know what I'm getting) Thanks for any suggestions :thumbsup:
//Johannes
I've used Allway Sync[^]. Did a good job. Free until a size limit is reached. Pretty cheap for the unlimited version.
Steve Tahan Savannah River Site Aiken, SC
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I have Cobian Backup.htm[^] running all the time on all machines I use, because it's so easy to set up multiple multi-directional back-ups and "live file" updates.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
Cobian's latest version works pretty clean - my only frustration is that it doesn't neatly label backups. My solution was to write a .VBS script that alters the simple 'backup.*' to 'ccyymmdd_backup.*' (I know, you can use macros, but it's not as simple to process - for my other requirements.) For functionality's sake, I set it to keep 15 generations - after the rename, it sorts by name and deletes each file beyond the 15th one listed). Works well - on XP, 7, Win2k3, and Win2k8. FYI, I'd previously used Comodo (didn't work well on 2k8), and fBackup (not as clean). Pair Cobian with a couple of USB External drives, set up duplicate entries (do the same backup to EACH drive each day, and ignore failures), and just swap out the drives daily - you'll always have an offsite copy. :)
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The time has come when I no longer can just copy & paste my data to create a new backup. It takes too long (and Windows Explorer can't even do it :^) ). Ive tried things like TeraCopy, Microsoft SyncToy and some others but haven't felt ready to rely on them. I'm looking for something that can copy the contents of one drive to another, overwriting what has changed. I don't want anything that has to run in the background noting any changes. It should use timestamps, or have its own database (on the backup) from the first copy. (With logging/visible info) Its around 1TB of data from SATA to eSATA. I don't mind if its foss/free/commercial (as long as its not bloated X| or too pricey). Therefore I'm asking what have you used? Does it work good? (I've looked around a lot, but would prefer to know what I'm getting) Thanks for any suggestions :thumbsup:
//Johannes
I've been using NovaStore Novabackup. It has never failed on me yet, fairly simple to use.
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My bad. I'm (only) on the Windows platform... Hmm, what do I do if I don't find anything :~
//Johannes
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The time has come when I no longer can just copy & paste my data to create a new backup. It takes too long (and Windows Explorer can't even do it :^) ). Ive tried things like TeraCopy, Microsoft SyncToy and some others but haven't felt ready to rely on them. I'm looking for something that can copy the contents of one drive to another, overwriting what has changed. I don't want anything that has to run in the background noting any changes. It should use timestamps, or have its own database (on the backup) from the first copy. (With logging/visible info) Its around 1TB of data from SATA to eSATA. I don't mind if its foss/free/commercial (as long as its not bloated X| or too pricey). Therefore I'm asking what have you used? Does it work good? (I've looked around a lot, but would prefer to know what I'm getting) Thanks for any suggestions :thumbsup:
//Johannes
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I have been using GoodSync (http://www.goodsync.com/) for about a year, and I'm very happy with it. I use it with a thumb drive to sync my laptop with my desktop -- one of its really nice features is that it will sync both ways (so if I forget and change something in one place it won't overwrite the changes but will sync them back to the other place). If there's a conflict (something changed in both places) it warns me and does nothing until I choose which direction should win. It's pretty cheap for what it does -- you need one license for each machine you run it on, but they were running a deal where I got the second license for very cheap. I recommend it highly.