back up software alternatives to use with my external hdd....options??

Dustman wrote in post #11571743
Also why would they not include such a function buildt into the Operating Systems when you buy them?

They have Windows Backup, it's been a part of Windows for a long time. You didn't like it, or didn't know about it?

i back up offsite with backblaze.com it works awesome after the first backup - almost 400 gigs for me.

To sync pics without a hassle on different external drives I use Free File Sync almost on a daily basis.

To backup any set of files or folders I use EASEUS ToDo Backup. To backup a whole partition I use Paragon Drive Backup or EASEUS Partition Master. Some version or other of these is always available for free.

I use Acronis True Image for the C: image, SyncBack free for data backup.

Windows 7 has a built in scheduled backup of data files, to any location which you specify including external (USB or network access) harddrives. Additionally, there is an ability to make a virtual copy of your boot harddrive with O/S, application programs, and data files all going into the system copy, so that if you later have a crash of your C: drive you can install a new harddrive and restore the entire system copy from the external harddrive and be instantly back in action on the new C: drive as if nothing had happened.

Wilt wrote in post #11608692
Windows 7 has a built in scheduled backup of data files, to any location which you specify including external (USB or network access) harddrives. Additionally, there is an ability to make a virtual copy of your boot harddrive with O/S, application programs, and data files all going into the system copy, so that if you later have a crash of your C: drive you can install a new harddrive and restore the entire system copy from the external harddrive and be instantly back in action on the new C: drive as if nothing had happened.

WOW!....well since I last posted on this thread of mine, i said I tried synctoy & loved it, after a week, not so much. It seems when I am using the Echo feature, which only copies my files from a specified location on y computer to any other location of my choosing, I notcied, it had errors, and was also not copying every single files & also missing deletes I made!! Unexceptable!

I really like the sound of what you just posted. Do you have a link that can walk me throught his process?? Or if it is not a lot of steps, amybe you can post a list of 1 through 10 of exactly what i need to do, for this complete C drive back up using my OS

Thanks so much for your time. I appreciate everyones input

Dustman wrote in post #11610153
I really like the sound of what you just posted. Do you have a link that can walk me throught his process?? Or if it is not a lot of steps, amybe you can post a list of 1 through 10 of exactly what i need to do, for this complete C drive back up using my OS

Start
...Control Panel
......Backup your computer
.........Change settings (to set data backup to which drive and at what schedule)
.........Create a system image (in left column) (to virtual copy C drive to another location)

Wilt wrote in post #11608692
Windows 7 has a built in scheduled backup of data files, to any location which you specify including external (USB or network access) harddrives. Additionally, there is an ability to make a virtual copy of your boot harddrive with O/S, application programs, and data files all going into the system copy, so that if you later have a crash of your C: drive you can install a new harddrive and restore the entire system copy from the external harddrive and be instantly back in action on the new C: drive as if nothing had happened.

With Windows 7, what do you do if the computer refuses to boot up?

With True Image, you have a bootable Rescue CD, with a copy of TI and the bare bones of Linux on it, enough to support a restore C: operation.

agedbriar wrote in post #11612293
With Windows 7, what do you do if the computer refuses to boot up?

With True Image, you have a bootable Rescue CD, with a copy of TI and the bare bones of Linux on it, enough to support a restore C: operation.

I forget how, but I was able to Restore the C: using the System Image which I had written to an external harddrive.

I am a IT consultant...we use Robocopy command line tool at our work...very strong and has a lot of options to play with...for example /xo -> excludes copy of older files /xn ->excludes copy of newer files and /z copies in restartable mode -> i.e. the copy restarts from the point it stopped last time, etc...it even creates a detailed log file

Well, I am using the good old copy and paste. lol.

Should I be using one of these back up programs instead? Can someone recommend me a basic backup program that is good and easy to use? I wanted to try Second Copy and Synctoy, but I cant use those programs in mac OSX.

Ricku wrote in post #11615680
Well, I am using the good old copy and paste. lol.

Should I be using one of these back up programs instead? Can someone recommend me a basic backup program that is good and easy to use? I wanted to try Second Copy and Synctoy, but I cant use those programs in mac OSX.

why not just try time machine to an external hd?

Mac? You can use the Time Machine (comes with every Mac), but SuperDuper, a low cost shareware (around $20.00), does an outstanding job backing anything you want, even "smart updates."

I just ignore the WD backup software and use SuperDuper

Thanks for the suggestions. I have looked at Time Machine before, but i dont like that it wont let me pick a specific folder to backup. It backs up my ENTIRE harddrive, which is very unnecessary for me.

I just want a program that keeps track of changes in my photo folders and the lightroom catalog, and back them up to external hardrive.

I use backblaze.com cause backups don't really help when your house burns down, but I also back up on external in the house. Offsite is much more important.