Backing up with Karen's Replicator

No, it is not a dodgy toy, nor an artificial life form that has come through the star gate.

Karen's Replicator is a very easy to use and very efficient file copying program designed for backing up large amounts of data.

It is part of a range of tools available from the authors website: http://www.karenware.c​om/powertools/ptreplic​ator.asp

I am running it right now to back up to an external disc over an e-SATA connection, and run it on a regular basis to maintain an internal back up.

The program is very easy to use, with a simple GUI, yet offers a high level of functionality.

To copy files you first create a job to run.
You select the source and destination folders (in my case I simply use whole drives), then apply a variety of filters and conditions to the files that will be copied.
For example I have it set to copy everything, but only if it is not on the destination drive, or if the file on the source is different to the file on the destination. You can even select what is different about the file, for example size, or date modified.
You can even have files deleted from the source also deleted from the destination, something I would be hesitant to do.

Once you have created the job there exists an option to have it run only when you want it to, or on a schedule.
If you select the schedule option Karen's Replicator sits and works quietly in the back ground.

Full logging is also supplied once the job has been run.


I run it under Vista with out any problems, and have never noticed any kind of performance hit (although I do have a quad core with lots of ram).

I run 2 separate discs internally just for my photos, and 2 external discs for remote back up.
So I have created 3 jobs to run, so it is simply a matter of selecting the job I want, and clicking on the run job button.
Karen's Replicator does the rest and I go to more important things like surfing POTN

Moppie wrote in post #5807248
No, it is not a dodgy toy, nor an artificial life form that has come through the star gate.

Are you sure? My star gate warning system is giving me "unsafe toy" and "unidentified non-organic specimen" warnings. BOTH.

how does it get on copying open files? for example the profile you're logged in as?

joeseph wrote in post #5807513
how does it get on copying open files? for example the profile you're logged in as?

Have not tried it, I tend to do something else while it is copying, (the advantage of having all my games, other software etc, on a separate drive) just to reduce any chance of file corruption.

oh well, it was worth a shot... :-]


6/28/2008 7:58:43 PM: Error: Could Not Open Source File (Error 32 - The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.): C:\Documents and Settings\duncan\NTUSER​.DAT

6/28/2008 7:58:46 PM: Error: Could Not Open Source File (Error 32 - The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.): C:\Documents and Settings\duncan\ntuser​.dat.LOG

6/28/2008 8:03:10 PM: Error: Could Not Read Source File (Error 33 - The process cannot access the file because another process has locked a portion of the file.): C:\Documents and Settings\duncan\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook​\Outlook.pst

6/28/2008 8:03:13 PM: Error: Could Not Open Source File (Error 32 - The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.): C:\Documents and Settings\duncan\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows​\UsrClass.dat

6/28/2008 8:03:16 PM: Error: Could Not Open Source File (Error 32 - The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.): C:\Documents and Settings\duncan\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows​\UsrClass.dat.LOG
6/28/2008 8:24:50 PM: Finished Job: Backup duncan profile

(simple answer is Karen's replicator is great for files not in use...)

joeseph wrote in post #5807733
(simple answer is Karen's replicator is great for files not in use...)

Important to know.

Of course if it did copy a file that was in use, the file in your back up would then be different from the file in your source

There might be a utility out there that would allow copying a file that is open or in use, but I have never heard of one.

BTW Karens tools are really useful & stable. I've used them for a long time without problem. They're usually Free too ...... can't beat that.