Microsoft Sync Toy is so good

[Zak33]

:-)

I love Synctoy. It just.. works.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/down....aspx?id=15155

Creating a new pair of files to sync is easy.. and choosing what kind of Sync to do is easy.. and then it just works.

I use it for backing up files to a seperate hard drive
Then... months later when I want to back up again, it is very rapid at cross comparing the two drives and making the changes.

I prefer mine to delete the files on the back up drive that I have deleted on the main PC but that's a choice. Either way, it works so fast (once the main first sync is done)

Anyone else use it? It's simplicity and effective.

[SUMMONER]

It is a little too basic for my needs.

I like to use Cobian Backup for permanently attached drives (eg: NAS box/remote FTP server). It is a versatile set and forget solution, that will email me if there is trouble carrying out the automatic backups.

For backups that go onto external drives that are only attached occasionally I like to use Allway Sync, as it has the ability to identify the correct drive and can be set to backup automatically when it sees it. Its user interface is not the best, but it does get the job done and shows the differences and what has been backed up/ignored very well.

And for ad-hoc stuff I keep PathSync on a USB drive on my keychain, a super simple folder sync utility.

[shaithis]

I may take a look at Cobian ta.

I use SyncToy quite heavily but have had a number of occasions where it just stops syncing a folder pair, even though I use the most basic sync (echo left to right)....and then have to manually copy the files (in the case of my MP3 collection, that can take a while!) and re-setup the folder pair - which sucks

Also, don't like that when scheduled, it doesn't give much information in the scheduler output.

[bledd]

I prefer robocopy.


Super fast, easy to fire off from a run box or script for a scheduled task.

robocopy /mir "c:\source folder" "d:\destination folder"

Simple, effective!

Best part, it's built into Windows already.




Have a play around with it.

Here's a list of the commands, or you can type robocopy /? in a CMD Window and it will list them.

http://ss64.com/nt/robocopy.html

[GoNz0]

I gave up on sync toy and ended up after trying most mainstream stayed with http://www.freefilesync.org/
It does it all including real time and 2 way sync so it is ideal for updating my pictures and adobe cache from 2 computers to the NAS and back.

[Zak33]

you boys are proper users though.. I'm a total noob

[phoenix198]

I've been using SyncBack Free edition for some time. Flexible and reliable even if you do have to manually initiate each backup or synchronisation.

http://www.2brightsparks.com/freeware/freeware-hub.html

[SMeK]

I prefer robocopy.


Super fast, easy to fire off from a run box or script for a scheduled task.

robocopy /mir "c:\source folder" "d:\destination folder"

Simple, effective!

Best part, it's built into Windows already.




Have a play around with it.

Here's a list of the commands, or you can type robocopy /? in a CMD Window and it will list them.

http://ss64.com/nt/robocopy.html

I tried to get robocopy to work and just couldnt get it to work. Glad I found this thread gonna try out some of these commendations

[Ciber]

I've been using synctoy at home and at work for years. I like how simple and easy it is to use with no command line needed. It's done what I wanted with no problems.

Having had to install windows from an old back-up I'm looking at re-installing synctoy or similar and having to re-setup all the folder pairs. I fear that the folders already being partly synchronised will confuse a new install of synctoy. So I must delete one half of each pair and re-transfer all the files it seems.

The other thing about synctoy I'm pondering is that soon I will upgrade to windows 10. I don't know if there is something built in to win 10 I can use or if there is a version of synctoy for windows 10.

[Ciber]

I gave up on sync toy and ended up after trying most mainstream stayed with http://www.freefilesync.org/
It does it all including real time and 2 way sync so it is ideal for updating my pictures and adobe cache from 2 computers to the NAS and back.

I looks good but the installer wanted to install Wajam in the browser. You don't want that so beware!

[GoNz0]

Yes I know, never click next without checking

[iamlorro]

I've been using synctoy at home and at work for years. I like how simple and easy it is to use with no command line needed. It's done what I wanted with no problems.

The other thing about synctoy I'm pondering is that soon I will upgrade to windows 10. I don't know if there is something built in to win 10 I can use or if there is a version of synctoy for windows 10.

I have setup multiple synctoy installs (and jobs) for myself, family members and some work people who I do not trust do to things themselves..

Always thought that it might be 'better' to get robocopy, or some super duper powershell working instead, but never got round to it.