Looking for a good freeware backup application that does this
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I like to do backups where I am completely in control, so I don't think that the standard model for backups would work. That said, I want to have copies of the latest files that I have updated or downloaded saved somewhere in case disaster strikes by my hard drive crashing or getting hit with ransomware. My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure. Of course, setting up which directories to look for would allow for the Windows directory, etc. to be skipped. So what this would mean is that I'd have an external drive with a bunch of directories that include all the files that had been tagged and copied over from all the backup executions. Whenever I would do a complete backup (i.e., on my own), i would be able to delete this, but if disaster were to strike between then, at least I would have copies somewhere such that I could piece together that and a standard backup and not lose anything. It seems to me that with ransomware, the key is to have the backups not connected to the system, as anything that is connected would get encrypted - and so this ideal backup application would allow for backups to be done to a given directory that would not have the other files. I don't know - maybe I just need to spend a lot of time researching this, but I don't like to just add applications willy-nilly as that tends to screw up the registry or worse, install cr@pware. I figure that I could roll my own in VC#, but I have a hunch that someone has had the same feeling as me about the ideal backup and has already developed this.
Hello, same problem arised for me. MS Backup not worthy because does not what i wanted - full control. So wrote my own, scans (Initiated by me) all files (omits specified dirs/files), compares them with the backuped (external), and if unequal, saves them. Backuped files NOT overwritten, saved by generation type. The program is NOT perfect- but it works since a long time. Always a little bit modified to meet new functions. Written in "FreePascal".
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I like to do backups where I am completely in control, so I don't think that the standard model for backups would work. That said, I want to have copies of the latest files that I have updated or downloaded saved somewhere in case disaster strikes by my hard drive crashing or getting hit with ransomware. My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure. Of course, setting up which directories to look for would allow for the Windows directory, etc. to be skipped. So what this would mean is that I'd have an external drive with a bunch of directories that include all the files that had been tagged and copied over from all the backup executions. Whenever I would do a complete backup (i.e., on my own), i would be able to delete this, but if disaster were to strike between then, at least I would have copies somewhere such that I could piece together that and a standard backup and not lose anything. It seems to me that with ransomware, the key is to have the backups not connected to the system, as anything that is connected would get encrypted - and so this ideal backup application would allow for backups to be done to a given directory that would not have the other files. I don't know - maybe I just need to spend a lot of time researching this, but I don't like to just add applications willy-nilly as that tends to screw up the registry or worse, install cr@pware. I figure that I could roll my own in VC#, but I have a hunch that someone has had the same feeling as me about the ideal backup and has already developed this.
I'm using Beyond Compare to back up at the moment to my NAS. It's directory sync mode works much like you describe except it works out what is out of date when you are ready to back up rather than tracking this in the background. Once it has finished comparing the two copies (I set it to compare size / modified date time) you can then mark folders you don't want to sync. Beyond Compare isn't free though ($30 for the standard version), but perhaps a similar folder comparison tool is out there for free.
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I like to do backups where I am completely in control, so I don't think that the standard model for backups would work. That said, I want to have copies of the latest files that I have updated or downloaded saved somewhere in case disaster strikes by my hard drive crashing or getting hit with ransomware. My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure. Of course, setting up which directories to look for would allow for the Windows directory, etc. to be skipped. So what this would mean is that I'd have an external drive with a bunch of directories that include all the files that had been tagged and copied over from all the backup executions. Whenever I would do a complete backup (i.e., on my own), i would be able to delete this, but if disaster were to strike between then, at least I would have copies somewhere such that I could piece together that and a standard backup and not lose anything. It seems to me that with ransomware, the key is to have the backups not connected to the system, as anything that is connected would get encrypted - and so this ideal backup application would allow for backups to be done to a given directory that would not have the other files. I don't know - maybe I just need to spend a lot of time researching this, but I don't like to just add applications willy-nilly as that tends to screw up the registry or worse, install cr@pware. I figure that I could roll my own in VC#, but I have a hunch that someone has had the same feeling as me about the ideal backup and has already developed this.
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I'd roll my own.
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swampwiz wrote:
My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure.
SVN?
M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
Nelek wrote:
SVN?
Now there's an idea -- create a repo at c:\, include everything. I wonder if GitHub would complain about an 100GB repo? ;) Marc
Latest Article - Create a Dockerized Python Fiddle Web App Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802
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Nelek wrote:
SVN?
Now there's an idea -- create a repo at c:\, include everything. I wonder if GitHub would complain about an 100GB repo? ;) Marc
Latest Article - Create a Dockerized Python Fiddle Web App Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802
I am not sure if that would be that safe, but I was thinking on: - Local Home Server with SVN (or similar) in Intranet (but nowhere mapped as network drive) - Repository for data partition of laptops - Local periodic task changing IP to intranet in Laptops and doing a commit of all deltas in data partitions. When finished back to DHCP for internet connection. - Periodic backups of laptops in a second intranet network drive. Change IP, NET USE to connect, Do backup, NET USE delete, change IP back - Periodic backups of SVN and Leppies images within the Server from one drive / partition to another. - Sporadic backup of second drive of the server in external USB (normally unplugged) Device Not started trying yet :S
M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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I like to do backups where I am completely in control, so I don't think that the standard model for backups would work. That said, I want to have copies of the latest files that I have updated or downloaded saved somewhere in case disaster strikes by my hard drive crashing or getting hit with ransomware. My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure. Of course, setting up which directories to look for would allow for the Windows directory, etc. to be skipped. So what this would mean is that I'd have an external drive with a bunch of directories that include all the files that had been tagged and copied over from all the backup executions. Whenever I would do a complete backup (i.e., on my own), i would be able to delete this, but if disaster were to strike between then, at least I would have copies somewhere such that I could piece together that and a standard backup and not lose anything. It seems to me that with ransomware, the key is to have the backups not connected to the system, as anything that is connected would get encrypted - and so this ideal backup application would allow for backups to be done to a given directory that would not have the other files. I don't know - maybe I just need to spend a lot of time researching this, but I don't like to just add applications willy-nilly as that tends to screw up the registry or worse, install cr@pware. I figure that I could roll my own in VC#, but I have a hunch that someone has had the same feeling as me about the ideal backup and has already developed this.
"SyncBack Free" The paid version will do file versioning.
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I like to do backups where I am completely in control, so I don't think that the standard model for backups would work. That said, I want to have copies of the latest files that I have updated or downloaded saved somewhere in case disaster strikes by my hard drive crashing or getting hit with ransomware. My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure. Of course, setting up which directories to look for would allow for the Windows directory, etc. to be skipped. So what this would mean is that I'd have an external drive with a bunch of directories that include all the files that had been tagged and copied over from all the backup executions. Whenever I would do a complete backup (i.e., on my own), i would be able to delete this, but if disaster were to strike between then, at least I would have copies somewhere such that I could piece together that and a standard backup and not lose anything. It seems to me that with ransomware, the key is to have the backups not connected to the system, as anything that is connected would get encrypted - and so this ideal backup application would allow for backups to be done to a given directory that would not have the other files. I don't know - maybe I just need to spend a lot of time researching this, but I don't like to just add applications willy-nilly as that tends to screw up the registry or worse, install cr@pware. I figure that I could roll my own in VC#, but I have a hunch that someone has had the same feeling as me about the ideal backup and has already developed this.
Funny, I use BeyondCompare to do this for SOME portions of my hard drive. Specifically my midday backup. I also use a disk imaging tool (both online and offline): Acronis True Image but have been playing with AMOEI Backupper which works pretty well (have not tested full disk restores yet)
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I like to do backups where I am completely in control, so I don't think that the standard model for backups would work. That said, I want to have copies of the latest files that I have updated or downloaded saved somewhere in case disaster strikes by my hard drive crashing or getting hit with ransomware. My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure. Of course, setting up which directories to look for would allow for the Windows directory, etc. to be skipped. So what this would mean is that I'd have an external drive with a bunch of directories that include all the files that had been tagged and copied over from all the backup executions. Whenever I would do a complete backup (i.e., on my own), i would be able to delete this, but if disaster were to strike between then, at least I would have copies somewhere such that I could piece together that and a standard backup and not lose anything. It seems to me that with ransomware, the key is to have the backups not connected to the system, as anything that is connected would get encrypted - and so this ideal backup application would allow for backups to be done to a given directory that would not have the other files. I don't know - maybe I just need to spend a lot of time researching this, but I don't like to just add applications willy-nilly as that tends to screw up the registry or worse, install cr@pware. I figure that I could roll my own in VC#, but I have a hunch that someone has had the same feeling as me about the ideal backup and has already developed this.
This, of course, is precisely what Time Machine does on a Mac. An alternative is Dropbox: move all your working files into/under the Dropbox directory, and they will be automatically sync-ed to the cloud, as they change. If you disconnect from the internet, it remembers (or figures out) what to do when you reconnect. I do both: Dropbox for immediate and continuous backups, and two Time Machine drives I alternately connect once a week or so; one kept at work and one kept at home. Belt and two suspenders with geographic diversity. As far as freeware goes: you get what you pay for. $100/year for a 1 TB Dropbox is well worth it, IMHO (and I want to help keep them in business).
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I like to do backups where I am completely in control, so I don't think that the standard model for backups would work. That said, I want to have copies of the latest files that I have updated or downloaded saved somewhere in case disaster strikes by my hard drive crashing or getting hit with ransomware. My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure. Of course, setting up which directories to look for would allow for the Windows directory, etc. to be skipped. So what this would mean is that I'd have an external drive with a bunch of directories that include all the files that had been tagged and copied over from all the backup executions. Whenever I would do a complete backup (i.e., on my own), i would be able to delete this, but if disaster were to strike between then, at least I would have copies somewhere such that I could piece together that and a standard backup and not lose anything. It seems to me that with ransomware, the key is to have the backups not connected to the system, as anything that is connected would get encrypted - and so this ideal backup application would allow for backups to be done to a given directory that would not have the other files. I don't know - maybe I just need to spend a lot of time researching this, but I don't like to just add applications willy-nilly as that tends to screw up the registry or worse, install cr@pware. I figure that I could roll my own in VC#, but I have a hunch that someone has had the same feeling as me about the ideal backup and has already developed this.
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I like to do backups where I am completely in control, so I don't think that the standard model for backups would work. That said, I want to have copies of the latest files that I have updated or downloaded saved somewhere in case disaster strikes by my hard drive crashing or getting hit with ransomware. My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure. Of course, setting up which directories to look for would allow for the Windows directory, etc. to be skipped. So what this would mean is that I'd have an external drive with a bunch of directories that include all the files that had been tagged and copied over from all the backup executions. Whenever I would do a complete backup (i.e., on my own), i would be able to delete this, but if disaster were to strike between then, at least I would have copies somewhere such that I could piece together that and a standard backup and not lose anything. It seems to me that with ransomware, the key is to have the backups not connected to the system, as anything that is connected would get encrypted - and so this ideal backup application would allow for backups to be done to a given directory that would not have the other files. I don't know - maybe I just need to spend a lot of time researching this, but I don't like to just add applications willy-nilly as that tends to screw up the registry or worse, install cr@pware. I figure that I could roll my own in VC#, but I have a hunch that someone has had the same feeling as me about the ideal backup and has already developed this.
Take a look at CrashPlan. Their client app is free to download and use on local drives without needing to subscribe to their cloud backup. You tell it what directories/files to monitor, and any changes to files in those locations get backed up at what ever intervals you want (every 5,10,15 mins, whatever). You can create multiple backup sets that backup different sets of files at different intervals to different destinations if needed as well. You can also tell it how long to keep file versions, so you can roll any file back to a any previous backed-up version. You can tell it to keep versions for a month, or year or forever. You can also set whether it keeps deleted files in the backup set or not as well. I use it and it works rather well. I have a backup set that backs up locally to a NAS drive at daily interval, and another set that does backup to their cloud service at a 15minute interval. I've had to restore small groups of files and it's as easy as browsing the backup file structure in their software, selecting what version (day) you want to restore and where you want the file restored to (specific location or original location). Since I pay for the cloud backup, the software is full featured, and I do know that it lets you use it locally for free without the subscription, but I can't speak to whether all the fine/detailed settings are available for free or if some options are locked out, you'd have to check that. But at least you can try it without loosing anything, and decide if you like it. (I'm not affiliated with CrashPlan, just a happy customer).
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I like to do backups where I am completely in control, so I don't think that the standard model for backups would work. That said, I want to have copies of the latest files that I have updated or downloaded saved somewhere in case disaster strikes by my hard drive crashing or getting hit with ransomware. My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure. Of course, setting up which directories to look for would allow for the Windows directory, etc. to be skipped. So what this would mean is that I'd have an external drive with a bunch of directories that include all the files that had been tagged and copied over from all the backup executions. Whenever I would do a complete backup (i.e., on my own), i would be able to delete this, but if disaster were to strike between then, at least I would have copies somewhere such that I could piece together that and a standard backup and not lose anything. It seems to me that with ransomware, the key is to have the backups not connected to the system, as anything that is connected would get encrypted - and so this ideal backup application would allow for backups to be done to a given directory that would not have the other files. I don't know - maybe I just need to spend a lot of time researching this, but I don't like to just add applications willy-nilly as that tends to screw up the registry or worse, install cr@pware. I figure that I could roll my own in VC#, but I have a hunch that someone has had the same feeling as me about the ideal backup and has already developed this.
Veeam offers a FREE fully-functional Endpoint Backup manager for Windows OR Linux that essentially maintains a snapshot of the entire disk (including non-OS partitions) via block-level synchronization. That means the first backup will take a long time but all subsequent backups take only as long as required for changes that have occurred. The free version of Veeam can perform a full restore to different hardware in the event of disaster but, amazingly, even offers a method to create a deployable VM to spin up on a cloud server. The only downside (in the free version) is that you will need a local NAS or DAS to hold the backups. Even so, my opinion is that Veeam is the absolute best backup software I have ever seen in my 30 years of experience, free or otherwise! Free Windows Backup for Endpoints, Servers, Desktops - Veeam Agent for Windows[^]
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I like to do backups where I am completely in control, so I don't think that the standard model for backups would work. That said, I want to have copies of the latest files that I have updated or downloaded saved somewhere in case disaster strikes by my hard drive crashing or getting hit with ransomware. My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure. Of course, setting up which directories to look for would allow for the Windows directory, etc. to be skipped. So what this would mean is that I'd have an external drive with a bunch of directories that include all the files that had been tagged and copied over from all the backup executions. Whenever I would do a complete backup (i.e., on my own), i would be able to delete this, but if disaster were to strike between then, at least I would have copies somewhere such that I could piece together that and a standard backup and not lose anything. It seems to me that with ransomware, the key is to have the backups not connected to the system, as anything that is connected would get encrypted - and so this ideal backup application would allow for backups to be done to a given directory that would not have the other files. I don't know - maybe I just need to spend a lot of time researching this, but I don't like to just add applications willy-nilly as that tends to screw up the registry or worse, install cr@pware. I figure that I could roll my own in VC#, but I have a hunch that someone has had the same feeling as me about the ideal backup and has already developed this.
You could use bacula+webacula. It won't give you checkboxlists when backing up, but you can get them when it's restore time. Good luck setting it up though. I admit it's "a bit" tangled. On a linux backup server you could use the "hard link+rsync" method; works great. That won't give you any checkboxes, but you will get incremental backup. Also from windows machines :) Both these solutions protect your already backed up data from all kinds of viruses, and bacula will let you use USB hard drives as if they were backup tapes (very offline).
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I like to do backups where I am completely in control, so I don't think that the standard model for backups would work. That said, I want to have copies of the latest files that I have updated or downloaded saved somewhere in case disaster strikes by my hard drive crashing or getting hit with ransomware. My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure. Of course, setting up which directories to look for would allow for the Windows directory, etc. to be skipped. So what this would mean is that I'd have an external drive with a bunch of directories that include all the files that had been tagged and copied over from all the backup executions. Whenever I would do a complete backup (i.e., on my own), i would be able to delete this, but if disaster were to strike between then, at least I would have copies somewhere such that I could piece together that and a standard backup and not lose anything. It seems to me that with ransomware, the key is to have the backups not connected to the system, as anything that is connected would get encrypted - and so this ideal backup application would allow for backups to be done to a given directory that would not have the other files. I don't know - maybe I just need to spend a lot of time researching this, but I don't like to just add applications willy-nilly as that tends to screw up the registry or worse, install cr@pware. I figure that I could roll my own in VC#, but I have a hunch that someone has had the same feeling as me about the ideal backup and has already developed this.
I tried to contribute what I thought was a good answer but the moderator apparently deleted it. So much for trying to be helpful.
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I like to do backups where I am completely in control, so I don't think that the standard model for backups would work. That said, I want to have copies of the latest files that I have updated or downloaded saved somewhere in case disaster strikes by my hard drive crashing or getting hit with ransomware. My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure. Of course, setting up which directories to look for would allow for the Windows directory, etc. to be skipped. So what this would mean is that I'd have an external drive with a bunch of directories that include all the files that had been tagged and copied over from all the backup executions. Whenever I would do a complete backup (i.e., on my own), i would be able to delete this, but if disaster were to strike between then, at least I would have copies somewhere such that I could piece together that and a standard backup and not lose anything. It seems to me that with ransomware, the key is to have the backups not connected to the system, as anything that is connected would get encrypted - and so this ideal backup application would allow for backups to be done to a given directory that would not have the other files. I don't know - maybe I just need to spend a lot of time researching this, but I don't like to just add applications willy-nilly as that tends to screw up the registry or worse, install cr@pware. I figure that I could roll my own in VC#, but I have a hunch that someone has had the same feeling as me about the ideal backup and has already developed this.
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I like to do backups where I am completely in control, so I don't think that the standard model for backups would work. That said, I want to have copies of the latest files that I have updated or downloaded saved somewhere in case disaster strikes by my hard drive crashing or getting hit with ransomware. My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure. Of course, setting up which directories to look for would allow for the Windows directory, etc. to be skipped. So what this would mean is that I'd have an external drive with a bunch of directories that include all the files that had been tagged and copied over from all the backup executions. Whenever I would do a complete backup (i.e., on my own), i would be able to delete this, but if disaster were to strike between then, at least I would have copies somewhere such that I could piece together that and a standard backup and not lose anything. It seems to me that with ransomware, the key is to have the backups not connected to the system, as anything that is connected would get encrypted - and so this ideal backup application would allow for backups to be done to a given directory that would not have the other files. I don't know - maybe I just need to spend a lot of time researching this, but I don't like to just add applications willy-nilly as that tends to screw up the registry or worse, install cr@pware. I figure that I could roll my own in VC#, but I have a hunch that someone has had the same feeling as me about the ideal backup and has already developed this.
I rolled my own which caters for my needs. Maybe it can work for you as well. [FileSync](https://www.codeproject.com/Messages/4988748/FileSync.aspx)
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I like to do backups where I am completely in control, so I don't think that the standard model for backups would work. That said, I want to have copies of the latest files that I have updated or downloaded saved somewhere in case disaster strikes by my hard drive crashing or getting hit with ransomware. My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure. Of course, setting up which directories to look for would allow for the Windows directory, etc. to be skipped. So what this would mean is that I'd have an external drive with a bunch of directories that include all the files that had been tagged and copied over from all the backup executions. Whenever I would do a complete backup (i.e., on my own), i would be able to delete this, but if disaster were to strike between then, at least I would have copies somewhere such that I could piece together that and a standard backup and not lose anything. It seems to me that with ransomware, the key is to have the backups not connected to the system, as anything that is connected would get encrypted - and so this ideal backup application would allow for backups to be done to a given directory that would not have the other files. I don't know - maybe I just need to spend a lot of time researching this, but I don't like to just add applications willy-nilly as that tends to screw up the registry or worse, install cr@pware. I figure that I could roll my own in VC#, but I have a hunch that someone has had the same feeling as me about the ideal backup and has already developed this.
I learned a very hard lesson about backups earlier this year. I had a massive plumbing leak at my house while I was out of town that wiped out all of my computers & external drives. I thought that I had backups covered because I had everything important on multiple drives but for some unknown reason I hadn't thought about the possibility of all of them being wiped out at once (that kind of thing happens to other people & not me). I would consider some kind of cloud backup so that you don't run into the same problem. I use both Google Drive & MS OneDrive for free but I think that I'm limited to 15 & 30 GB respectively unless I buy additional space (& I think that I'm grandfathered in to the larger free sizes so new members might be restricted to ~5-10 GB). Both of them are integrated into Windows Explorer so that you just have to store files/directories in the location on your hard drive that is designated for cloud synchronization. This might not work for you if you don't want everything stored in the sync location. You could however have your automated backup system move these files/directories from their original location to the sync location so that they are also automatically stored in the cloud. Of course if both the original locations & the sync location are stored on your local drive then you would then be taking up twice the space on that drive. You could possibly work around this to some extent by having the cloud sync location stored on an external drive so that you get both cloud & external drive backup at the same time without taking up twice the space on your local drive. The caveat to this is that I'm not sure how well the cloud sync engines deal with temporarily unavailable drives (i.e. when you unplug your external HD).
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This, of course, is precisely what Time Machine does on a Mac. An alternative is Dropbox: move all your working files into/under the Dropbox directory, and they will be automatically sync-ed to the cloud, as they change. If you disconnect from the internet, it remembers (or figures out) what to do when you reconnect. I do both: Dropbox for immediate and continuous backups, and two Time Machine drives I alternately connect once a week or so; one kept at work and one kept at home. Belt and two suspenders with geographic diversity. As far as freeware goes: you get what you pay for. $100/year for a 1 TB Dropbox is well worth it, IMHO (and I want to help keep them in business).
What about these nasty ransom-ware viruses? If a virus encrypts your files then DropBox will overwrite all the good copies with the encrypted copies, right? Dror
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I like to do backups where I am completely in control, so I don't think that the standard model for backups would work. That said, I want to have copies of the latest files that I have updated or downloaded saved somewhere in case disaster strikes by my hard drive crashing or getting hit with ransomware. My idea of this backup application would be something that runs in the background and keeps track of any new files that are created, or of existing files that have been modified, and keeps a list, so that when I am ready to run a backup, it gives me a ListControl with checkboxes that allows the user to select/deselect, and then simply copies the checked files to some backup repository, perhaps with the existing directory structure. Of course, setting up which directories to look for would allow for the Windows directory, etc. to be skipped. So what this would mean is that I'd have an external drive with a bunch of directories that include all the files that had been tagged and copied over from all the backup executions. Whenever I would do a complete backup (i.e., on my own), i would be able to delete this, but if disaster were to strike between then, at least I would have copies somewhere such that I could piece together that and a standard backup and not lose anything. It seems to me that with ransomware, the key is to have the backups not connected to the system, as anything that is connected would get encrypted - and so this ideal backup application would allow for backups to be done to a given directory that would not have the other files. I don't know - maybe I just need to spend a lot of time researching this, but I don't like to just add applications willy-nilly as that tends to screw up the registry or worse, install cr@pware. I figure that I could roll my own in VC#, but I have a hunch that someone has had the same feeling as me about the ideal backup and has already developed this.
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What about these nasty ransom-ware viruses? If a virus encrypts your files then DropBox will overwrite all the good copies with the encrypted copies, right? Dror
Dropbox keeps a 30-day history. And you can pay for a forever history.