Backup and sync software

wizard · 3 Oct 2019 at 11:04

Not sure if this is the right forum.

Looking for software (purchased / free) to backup certain files / folders. I want to backup (say Confidential folder with files) from D Drive to another drive (F Drive). What I need is a software that can back up the whole Confidential folder to start with and then back up only changed files. In other words, need software that can sync both the folders automatically at regular times.

Donnie Fisher · 3 Oct 2019 at 12:57

I've used SyncFolders which would do what your describing and was free. It also has a scheduler which I found to be reliable as well.

Note: In general you need to be careful about how you setup a sync though.

For example, I had sync where I would copy a folder from an SSD to an HDD each day. I did my work on the SSD, and the HDD was the backup copy. It would look at the 2 folders and copy only the changes. Worked great. Then one day I was faffing around with the backup HDD, and deleted some files on the HDD thinking that the next time it synced, the original files from the SSD would copy back over and the backup would fill in again ... it actually didn't work that way.

The program saw that I had deleted the HDD files and applied that same deletion to the SSD - because it was looking for changes in each folder and syncing both to each other. Ending in me losing both copies of the files. Nightmare ( especially considering it was my friends recent wedding pictures ... oops ! ). A very long process of disk scanning got me the files back, but its something I'm going to be much more careful about in the future.

So just be careful about your setup.

UnworthyBean · 3 Oct 2019 at 13:04

I've always used SyncBack, there is a free version which should be more than adequate and has plenty of customisation to sort out what you need.

Glanza · 3 Oct 2019 at 13:06

Rsync

bremen1874 · 3 Oct 2019 at 13:08

Or Robocopy with the /MIR switch. You can call it a scheduled task.

wizard · 3 Oct 2019 at 16:33

Thanks guys. Will have a go.

The1nonly1 · 3 Oct 2019 at 18:57

FreeFileSync is what I use.

bledd · 4 Oct 2019 at 02:13

Veeam Endpoint Free. Way better.

MassiveJim · 4 Oct 2019 at 02:56

Another vote for Syncback here.
Been using it for years without issue, it's got loads of useful features.
I have the se version now which was about £30 iirc

wonko · 4 Oct 2019 at 08:07

+1 for syncback from me - I like the way it gives you a preview of files to be copied/deleted which gives you a chance to spot anything that's gone awry on the source before it propagates to a backup.

wizard · 5 Oct 2019 at 18:38

MassiveJim said:
Another vote for Syncback here.
Been using it for years without issue, it's got loads of useful features.
I have the se version now which was about £30 iirc

Thanks Guys. Syncback is the way to go - will have to decide between SE and Pro versions

warren_1979 · 17 Oct 2019 at 13:46

Freefilesync.

Minstadave · 8 Dec 2019 at 17:15

Sorry to bump an older thread.

How do you set up realtime folder syncing in Freefilesync's app? It's asking for a batch file.