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Thread: Back up software for lite users?

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    Back up software for lite users?

    I've recently bought a external HDD, mainly to make backup's of stuff on my system, well important stuff like photo's and my music collection as I really don't want to rip over 1200 CD's again

    The music is not a problem, I can just copy over the new folders as and when I get them. It's more the photo's I'm having trouble with, for example one of my photo folders is around 7gb in size and contians over 20,000 files (Yea, I take way to many photos of random stuff) What I would usually do after I have added new stuff to my folders is just copy and paste them on to the external HDD, but this means it has to copy every single file again and it's starting to take a long time to do. I only do this every few weeks or so to keep the backup's fairly up to date, I could add the new stuff to the HDD each time I put it on my main comp but that would mean twice as much work.

    So what I'm after is some backup software that's easy to use and does the job I'm after, something that already knows what files are on the external HDD and only copies over the new ones. Is there anything like that about?

    Thanks for any help

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    Re: Back up software for lite users?

    The built in Windows backup facility - I think you have to manually install it off the CD in XP - in win2K it was installed automatically.

    If you aren't using windows, then rsync will do that job effortlessly and painlessly.
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    Re: Back up software for lite users?

    I dont think NTBackup would take account of existing files. Robocopy will do it though

    What about one of the offsite backup services like Carbonite ?
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    Re: Back up software for lite users?

    Using an external drive (EHD) for photos is quite common and should not present any problems. On your question of some photos on the computer and some on the external disk. This will not present a problem and Organizer will keep track where each photo is. If the EHD is off line, you'll get the Disconnected icon on those pictures but the program will work fine otherwise.

    If you want to use the EHD as a backup medium, as many users do, then using Elements Backup/Restore commands will back up pictures and the Organizer, a MS Access database that holds your tags, slideshows, etc.

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    Re: Back up software for lite users?

    Quote Originally Posted by Moby-Dick View Post
    I dont think NTBackup would take account of existing files. Robocopy will do it though

    What about one of the offsite backup services like Carbonite ?
    Might if he chose incremental backup. Just looked up robocopy (and saw the references to XCOPY - ah, those were the days...)

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    Re: Back up software for lite users?

    robocopy is a fantastically powerfull tool - I've seen entire Data Migrations planned with it.
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    Re: Back up software for lite users?

    Quote Originally Posted by Moby-Dick View Post
    robocopy is a fantastically powerfull tool - I've seen entire Data Migrations planned with it.
    Indeed, for the several TB of data we needed to move when we purchased a couple of EMC NS502/501s we used Robocopy.

    However, we did a fair amount of testing to ensure all of the switches were correct

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    Re: Back up software for lite users?

    Thanks for the help guys

    I've never really looked into backup software before so it's all new to me at the moment.

    Sorry to be a pain Moby, what is meant by offsite backup services? I'm taking it to mean I would have to upload my files somewhere? That would take a long, long time

    I'll give Robocopy a looksie

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    Re: Back up software for lite users?

    I'm a little lost trying to find Robocopy, google keeps taking me to Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools pages. Do I need to download the whole kit to get Robocopy? Also I see quite a few links to GUI's for it, are these needed or does it come with one?

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    Re: Back up software for lite users?

    Robocopy is part of the resource kit - I keep a copy on a USB key. There's no GUI for it by default, but I prefer the command line to any of the GUIs I have found.

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    Re: Back up software for lite users?

    Quote Originally Posted by Splash View Post
    Robocopy is part of the resource kit - I keep a copy on a USB key. There's no GUI for it by default, but I prefer the command line to any of the GUIs I have found.

    The GUI I got did have the robocopy exe though, which was better than getting the whole reskit.

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    Re: Back up software for lite users?

    offsite backups would involve uploading ( intially ) your whole lot to the backup server , but the one I used does it in the back ground - it also only sends incrementals onces its synced , so you dont have to worry about it.

    Carbonite Online Backup: Easy. Completely Automatic. Secure for example
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    Re: Back up software for lite users?

    Quote Originally Posted by JohnK View Post
    The GUI I got did have the robocopy exe though, which was better than getting the whole reskit.
    Perhaps my wording wasn't clear - I keep the entire Reskit (not just the Robocopy executable) on my usb key - I can find use for most of the tools in there often enough for it to be worthwhile as part of my toolkit.

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    Member Trash Man's Avatar
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    Re: Back up software for lite users?

    Quote Originally Posted by Moby-Dick View Post
    offsite backups would involve uploading ( intially ) your whole lot to the backup server , but the one I used does it in the back ground - it also only sends incrementals onces its synced , so you dont have to worry about it.

    Carbonite Online Backup: Easy. Completely Automatic. Secure for example

    I like the idea of it but I bought the EHD to use as backup and to be honest uploading over 400gb of stuff ain't my idea of fun

    Back to Robocopy, do i need the whole Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit? Or is there a standalone version with a GUI available? I was kind of hoping to get something that's easy to setup and then just be able to backup at the push of a button.

    I found this ViceVersa Software: File Synchronization, File Replication, Windows Backup Software Anyone used it or have any comments on it? Looks ideal, although it's not free.
    Last edited by Trash Man; 25-01-2008 at 08:48 AM.

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