What is a really good backup programme?

Tommy B

Tommy B

Tommy B

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If only life was as simple as having everything in one folder. Then you'd just be able to copy that folder to wherever and voilla, job done.

Fact is I've got lots of valuable files scattered across the HD and I'm looking for a program that I can setup to backup specific folders and do so at the click of a button. If there isn't I guess I could write one in VB but it would take ages.

Or, even better, is there one which essentially synchronizes appendable CD-RWs or Blu Ray BD-REs with the given folders?

Many thanks
 
Have you thought about taking images ?

I use Acronis and my first back up was a full one and now all I need to run is incremental ones to keep things backed up safely.

You can use the image explorer tool to browse your images should you need to and a restore cd is easy to create too.

No need to write your own really.
 
Tommy B said:
If only life was as simple as having everything in one folder. Then you'd just be able to copy that folder to wherever and voilla, job done.

Fact is I've got lots of valuable files scattered across the HD and I'm looking for a program that I can setup to backup specific folders and do so at the click of a button. If there isn't I guess I could write one in VB but it would take ages.

Or, even better, is there one which essentially synchronizes appendable CD-RWs or Blu Ray BD-REs with the given folders?

Many thanks
Click to expand...

Personally I would just take an image of the entire drive, but you want to back up folders. You could right a batch file and put it as a scheduled task that copies certain files to another HD in your machine.

I have never used it but you could try SyncToy? Not sure on the limitations/usability of the software, but I know it gets recommended here quite a bit.
 
Norton Ghost 12. Superb program, never ever had an issue with it. People knock it (probably without trying it) as it seems fashionable to knock Norton products.
 
SiHH said:
Have you thought about taking images ?

I use Acronis and my first back up was a full one and now all I need to run is incremental ones to keep things backed up safely.

You can use the image explorer tool to browse your images should you need to and a restore cd is easy to create too.

No need to write your own really.
Click to expand...

It looks and sounds really good but it is unbeleivably slow. I tried to do a full backup and it was spending about 20 seconds on 800kb files.
 
I created something, which i think does what you want.

It probably isn't up to the standard of synctoy or the other microsoft offerings...it should work on 64bit fine though.

It's just an exe so if you don't like it, you can just delete it.

When you open it go Tools -> Options and change the default options to what you want.

Download eSync
 
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Tommy B said:
It looks and sounds really good but it is unbeleivably slow. I tried to do a full backup and it was spending about 20 seconds on 800kb files.
Click to expand...

I managed an image of my entire drive in a little over and hour which wasnt an issue for me as I left it on going to work. My laptop has a crappy old processor and not much ram either..
 
Synctoy is brilliant. Simple, fast, effective and exactly what I wanted.

SiHH there may be something wrong with my HD but it was extremely slow.
 
Tommy B said:
Synctoy is brilliant. Simple, fast, effective and exactly what I wanted.

SiHH there may be something wrong with my HD but it was extremely slow.
Click to expand...

I like Synctoy but i have noticed errors with it - i.e not backing up everything It should. Im sure its a one off but I dont trust it now.

As for your HD - well it is worth defragging before taking a backup as it will definately speed things up.
 
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