Backup of Windows 10.

[Bearpaddocks]

Anyone know how to backup certain folders from a Windows 10 laptop to an external drive automatically? But do it even though the drive rarely gets plugged in?

Also, is there a way to make a FULL (a bit like Apple time machine) system backup of EVERYTHING to said drive in addition?

 

Feel free to let me know ideas or suggestions or software that is proven safe.

 

 

Also, moderators, if this is in the wrong area, I'm sorry.

[DigitalGoat]

2 minutes ago, Bearpaddocks said:

Anyone know how to backup certain folders from a Windows 10 laptop to an external drive automatically? But do it even though the drive rarely gets plugged in?

Also, is there a way to make a FULL (a bit like Apple time machine) system backup of EVERYTHING to said drive in addition?

 

Feel free to let me know ideas or suggestions or software that is proven safe.

 

 

Also, moderators, if this is in the wrong area, I'm sorry.

Macrium Reflect Free is suitable for backing up (imaging) entire partitions, disks ,other similar products are available. The paid version has more versatile backup options. Or you could use a robocopy script (robocopy is included with Windows) and customise it to suit your needs, there are some good guides on how to use robocopy for backups if you google the subject.

These are just some sample ideas to get you started.

[LWM723]

Try DSynchronize it's free and portable.

[Bearpaddocks]

8 hours ago, DigitalGoat said:

Macrium Reflect Free is suitable for backing up (imaging) entire partitions, disks ,other similar products are available. The paid version has more versatile backup options. Or you could use a robocopy script (robocopy is included with Windows) and customise it to suit your needs, there are some good guides on how to use robocopy for backups if you google the subject.

These are just some sample ideas to get you started.

Do any of these solutions require having any knowledge of coding? Because I have absolutely ZERO knowledge of coding. I'm a hardware person.

 

8 hours ago, LWM723 said:

Try DSynchronize it's free and portable.

Does this still support Windows 10? Because it looks like it's from the Win2000 days.

 

I'm sorry if I forgot to mention it, but: I want it to make a copy of everything from the folder, but never delete the old items while not replacing the ones that I delete from my computer.

[Kilrah]

Freefilesync, syncback free/se

[DigitalGoat]

28 minutes ago, Bearpaddocks said:

I'm sorry if I forgot to mention it, but: I want it to make a copy of everything from the folder, but never delete the old items while not replacing the ones that I delete from my computer.

Robocopy can do what you want, it doesn't require programming knowledge but uses switches which are very well documented. The online guides tend to provide example scripts to for example backup a folder, but only add new or changed files, and delete any from the backup that are no longer in the source folder etc.

Other solutions mentioned in this post may be easier to use, Robocopy is just one example.

Edited January 11, 2021 by DigitalGoat
Additional thoughts

[LWM723]

DSynchronize will do what you want, easy to use UI, no coding involved.
http://www.dimio.altervista.org/eng/

[Sir Asvald]

1 hour ago, Bearpaddocks said:

Anyone know how to backup certain folders from a Windows 10 laptop to an external drive automatically? But do it even though the drive rarely gets plugged in?

Also, is there a way to make a FULL (a bit like Apple time machine) system backup of EVERYTHING to said drive in addition?

 

Feel free to let me know ideas or suggestions or software that is proven safe.

 

 

Also, moderators, if this is in the wrong area, I'm sorry.

There is a backup feature in the control panel that can let you backup everything:

 

 

[Bearpaddocks]

Thanks everyone who posted ideas!

I'll be checking them out tomorrow because it's almost midnight.

If yours' is a help, thank you, and I'll let you know.

[Sir Asvald]

3 minutes ago, Bearpaddocks said:

Thanks everyone who posted ideas!

I'll be checking them out tomorrow because it's almost midnight.

If yours' is a help, thank you, and I'll let you know.

You're welcome! please make sure you quote us so we know you've replied!  

[NineEyeRon]

If you don’t mind paying then use OneDrive. From my experience it’s far better than local backups.

 

I still have cold storage if all my older data using my old hard drives but anything new is stored in the cloud.

[LogicalDrm]

-> Moved to Programs, Apps and Websites

[Bearpaddocks]

6 hours ago, LogicalDrm said:

-> Moved to Programs, Apps and Websites

Thank you. I'm sorry, I didn't know if it would fall under there or not.

[Bearpaddocks]

16 hours ago, LWM723 said:

Try DSynchronize it's free and portable.

My laptop is not allowing me to download DSync from their website, do you know another way to get it?

[Bearpaddocks]

15 hours ago, DigitalGoat said:

Robocopy can do what you want, it doesn't require programming knowledge but uses switches which are very well documented. The online guides tend to provide example scripts to for example backup a folder, but only add new or changed files, and delete any from the backup that are no longer in the source folder etc.

Other solutions mentioned in this post may be easier to use, Robocopy is just one example.

Robocopy is not wanting to open. Is there a special way of doing it? Do I need to (for example) run it as Admin?

[Bearpaddocks]

14 hours ago, Sir Asvald said:

There is a backup feature in the control panel that can let you backup everything

Nice suggestion. First one to successfully open, haven't used yet, will be using when I get a new drive. (Next few days hopefully)