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General discussionAny recommendations for backup/file sync software?(25 posts)solved(25 posts)solved
(25 posts)solved
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Posted March 01, 2016
Does anyone have any recommendations for some free backup/file sync software?

I recently changed my PC, and whilst my old one had just one hard drive, my new one has two (OS, drivers and browsers on SSD and everything else on the much larger HDD). My backups I keep on an external HDD.

Now, having restored my documents to my new PC's HDD, I'm looking for an easy way to sync those files and folders with my external HDD as and when I choose.

Previously I have used a piece of software called FreeFileSync but I've become conscious that over time they've added extra software to the installer so you have to be careful to actively deselect them to prevent the unwanted software being installed, a tactic that I dislike, so now I'm looking for alternatives. I know Microsoft have SyncToy, which I used prior to FreeFileSync, but SyncToy stopped working after a while (an issue others have had with no known solution) and that's why I changed to FreeFileSync.

I'm on Windows 10 if that makes any difference.
This question / problem has been solved by HypersomniacLiveimage
Posted March 01, 2016
Does Windows 10 still have Windows Briefcase? I use that to sync my files from one drive to a different internal drive so I have two copies of everything on different drives. For backing up games to external drives, I still use SyncToy, but I'm not on Windows 10 yet so can't help with that. I'm sorry to hear that ST may not work for me in the future (didn't know).
Posted March 01, 2016
Never mind, I see you're already using that.
Post edited March 01, 2016 by hedwards
Posted March 01, 2016
Which one do you want, file sync or file backup? I think I'd be able to answer your inquiry if you can specify which one you prefer.

http://www.for3tech.com/backup-vs-sync-whats-the-difference/
Post edited March 01, 2016 by zeroxxx
Posted March 01, 2016
Decades ago tar and a script for full or differential backups would do the job...
Posted March 01, 2016
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rtcvb32: Decades ago tar and a script for full or differential backups would do the job...
That works even now, though rsync is a better choice these days. It can even work over ssh!
Posted March 01, 2016
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rtcvb32: Decades ago tar and a script for full or differential backups would do the job...
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dtgreene: That works even now, though rsync is a better choice these days. It can even work over ssh!
Yeah... But it's unfortunate basic tools and commands are so foreign to everyone. A well written script can not only make a backup, it can set the date for the file you're saving to, compress it, encrypt it (fixed password or trans-formative based on date), and with SSH/SSL you can forward it to a server of your choice.

Best part is the tar tool is only like 170k, and compression and encryption tools are similarly sized (depending on operating system, runtimes, compilation, etc).

Unlike a backup program used today which is probably have huge amounts of bloat in it. Reminds me of printer drivers that are 250Mb... 250MB for a printer driver... Uggg...
Post edited March 01, 2016 by rtcvb32
Posted March 01, 2016
Clonezilla may be?
Posted March 01, 2016
Make a home network. Backup files using rdiff-backup and cron jobs
Posted March 01, 2016
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amrit9037: Clonezilla may be?
I've used Clonezilla before, but it's more useful for full backup or restoration, and less about preserving a single user's individual files; Course i last remember using it like 10 years ago too...
Posted March 01, 2016
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amrit9037: Clonezilla may be?
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rtcvb32: I've used Clonezilla before, but it's more useful for full backup or restoration, and less about preserving a single user's individual files; Course i last remember using it like 10 years ago too...
What a co-incidence.
I read about Clonezilla 10 years ago.
Never used it though.
Posted March 01, 2016
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amrit9037: What a co-incidence.
I read about Clonezilla 10 years ago.
Never used it though.
It's quite competent as a liveCD, so you don't have to rely on the OS or anything else to get it running. Alas it's recommended you use the same version to restore as when you backed it up, so once you rely on a particular version you're probably locked with that version.
Posted March 01, 2016
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rtcvb32: Unlike a backup program used today which is probably have huge amounts of bloat in it. Reminds me of printer drivers that are 250Mb... 250MB for a printer driver... Uggg...
Heh. You mean this (home printer drivers as an example)? Attchment related :)

Wtf HP, ca 100mb just for basic drivers? Jesus fuck
Attachments:
wtfhp.png (45 Kb)
Posted March 01, 2016
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dewtech: Heh. You mean this (home printer drivers as an example)? Attchment related :)

Wtf HP, ca 100mb just for basic drivers? Jesus fuck
They really should have basic drivers, and then additional utilities/plugins/tools/bloatware as separate. Actual basic drivers tend to be fairly small, at worst 2Mb, or in older times a few hundred k. (we are afterall just converting postscript output to a printer specific encoding/messages).

It seems they bloat up everything anymore. 'Required Internet CD' has a portion for actually setting up the router for the internet, and then installing some version of IE, then adding in an email client and other crap. I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted to install 7 different search bars to bloat up your browser of choice.

Actually thinking back, i remember after a boss installed drivers for a printer that he suddenly had a lot of malware (3-4 packages at once) that installed itself. Was a pain to track down and then finally remove. This was back in 2003.
Posted March 01, 2016
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korell: Does anyone have any recommendations for some free backup/file sync software?

I recently changed my PC, and whilst my old one had just one hard drive, my new one has two (OS, drivers and browsers on SSD and everything else on the much larger HDD). My backups I keep on an external HDD.

Now, having restored my documents to my new PC's HDD, I'm looking for an easy way to sync those files and folders with my external HDD as and when I choose.

Previously I have used a piece of software called FreeFileSync but I've become conscious that over time they've added extra software to the installer so you have to be careful to actively deselect them to prevent the unwanted software being installed, a tactic that I dislike, so now I'm looking for alternatives. I know Microsoft have SyncToy, which I used prior to FreeFileSync, but SyncToy stopped working after a while (an issue others have had with no known solution) and that's why I changed to FreeFileSync.

I'm on Windows 10 if that makes any difference.
To be honest I looked at this some time back. There are free ones out there, most are ok. I found however that for my backup needs, >3tb, what I do is this. I have two Iomega hot swap caddies in the machine, 2 SSDs are in there, one Win on Linus, and one 4tb HDD for data. At routine cycles, 2-3 months I slot another 4tb HDD in, copy the data drive just using Teracopy to the new drive, leave this overnight, then switch off and remove the back drive. This drive then goes in protective case and is either kept locally or away alternating.
Yes, it takes a while copying, but I found that Syntoy for instance started getting confused with the various drives, and what it had backed up etc. as my setup is odd. So my suggestion, just copy/paste on a routine, and then forget till next backup date.
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General discussionAny recommendations for backup/file sync software?(25 posts)solved(25 posts)solved
(25 posts)solved