Good backup software

[Scottonpc]

I have used Windows backup and Puresync but they are not very good for me. With Puresync I get errors and windows backup takes ages and I do not want to clone.

 

I just want to backup files and maybe programs. What do you use and would you recommend it?

[Samdb]

If you want to backup your files manually you could always go with a cloud service such as Dropbox, Google Drive or Copy.

[ANIMAL_ORIGIN]

I use Cobian Backup. It's actually very good. The only thing I dislike about it is that it runs on schedule, not the instant a file is changed on your main drive.

[YellowDragon]

Windows 8 File History works quite well as it makes a copy of any new document you create, no shadow clone copy of the OS or anything, it just copys anything in you libraries such as Document, Music, Etc

[Scottonpc]

I have Windows 7 

[Dragontail]

Bittorent sync, easy and free

 

http://labs.bittorrent.com/experiments/sync.html

[Scottonpc]

I do not want to backup on a cloud, I prefer backing up on an external HDD

[neon]

Synctoy is what you want https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=15155 it is perfect for an external local drive and has several options for different types of sync, Sync, Echo or Contribute (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SyncToy), it's as fast as normal copying and is error free in my experience, it's not automatic (ie you have to click a button to get it to start sync), which IMO is good for a drive that may not be plugged in all the time.

It's for files not so much for programs, a disk image is best for them.

[Dragontail]

I do not want to backup on a cloud, I prefer backing up on an external HDD

Well if even read what Bittorrent sync is, then you would have replied like that. To put it short it is a free software that syncs to diffrent computers using the Bittorrent protocol. It syncs automated and if you change a file from one computer it changes them all, use it to backup several files from my freenas to a w2k8r2 server, Love it.

 

It has even the neat feature of syncing offsite which is really nice.

 

Its like making your own cloud!

[Scottonpc]

Synctoy is what you want https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=15155 it is perfect for an external local drive and has several options for different types of sync, Sync, Echo or Contribute (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SyncToy), it's as fast as normal copying and is error free in my experience, it's not automatic (ie you have to click a button to get it to start sync), which IMO is good for a drive that may not be plugged in all the time.

It's for files not so much for programs, a disk image is best for them.

This looks good, I will try it out thanks