Backup

[Vandorlot]

What is some decent backup software that is either free or a cheapish one time payment.

[Electronics Wizardy]

what os?

 

What do you want to backup?

 

What backup destination?

 

What type of backups?

[Lady Fitzgerald]

To simplify backups, I strongly recommend putting the OS and programs on their own drive or partition and data on separate drives or partitions.

 

For backing up Windows (OS and programs only), I recommend imaging with Macrium Reflect Free. An image is the digital equivalent of a photo negative. The same as a photo negative can be used to make a print, an image can be used to restore the OS and programs to the state they were at when the image was made.

 

For backing up data only, I recommend using a folder/file syncing program, such as FreeFileSync (my personal choice) and SyncToy, in mirror mode. In mirror mode, Folder/file syncing programs work by comparing a source drive with a destination drive, then copying folders and files on the source drive that are not on the destination drive to the destination drive and deleting folders and files on the destination drive that are no longer on the source drive. This gives you what is essentially an exact copy of the source drive. An added feature, called versioning, can direct deleted folders and files from the destination drive to a folder or drive dedicated for the purpose. This protects against accidental deletions.

 

All backups should be stored on external drives that are kept powered down, disconnected from the computer, and stored awway from the computer except when updating the backups.

[Vandorlot]

1 minute ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

what os?

 

What do you want to backup?

 

What backup destination?

 

What type of backups?

Windows 10 home 64 bit

Everything except game libraries.

A hard drive partition made by windows.

I don't know. I just want to be able to restore from the backup with software quickly, and also I want it to overwrite the oldest backup when space is needed.

[Electronics Wizardy]

4 minutes ago, Vandorlot said:

Windows 10 home 64 bit

Everything except game libraries.

A hard drive partition made by windows.

I don't know. I just want to be able to restore from the backup with software quickly, and also I want it to overwrite the oldest backup when space is needed.

then must use the built in backup in windows. Go into control panel and use windows 7 backup and restore.

[Vandorlot]

2 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

then must use the built in backup in windows. Go into control panel and use windows 7 backup and restore.

It doesnt work very well. I tried it and it never does any backups.

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, Vandorlot said:

It doesnt work very well. I tried it and it never does any backups.

what error do you get? it should work fine here.

[Vandorlot]

1 minute ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

what error do you get? it should work fine here.

It never backs up anything

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, Vandorlot said:

It never backs up anything

and...

 

Does it give an error? Does it let you start?

[Vandorlot]

2 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

and...

 

Does it give an error? Does it let you start?

I can back it up manually but it wont automatically back up.

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, Vandorlot said:

I can back it up manually but it wont automatically back up.

what are the setting of the schedule? Screenshot?

[Vandorlot]

16 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

what are the setting of the schedule? Screenshot?

daily

[Vandorlot]

31 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

what are the setting of the schedule? Screenshot?

Nevermind I got it working. I was using backup in windows 10 settings. I thought it was the same thing but its not. Thanks.

Edit: I got it working in the windows 7 backup program.

[Vandorlot]

1 hour ago, Lady Fitzgerald said:

To simplify backups, I strongly recommend putting the OS and programs on their own drive or partition and data on separate drives or partitions.

 

For backing up Windows (OS and programs only), I recommend imaging with Macrium Reflect Free. An image is the digital equivalent of a photo negative. The same as a photo negative can be used to make a print, an image can be used to restore the OS and programs to the state they were at when the image was made.

 

For backing up data only, I recommend using a folder/file syncing program, such as FreeFileSync (my personal choice) and SyncToy, in mirror mode. In mirror mode, Folder/file syncing programs work by comparing a source drive with a destination drive, then copying folders and files on the source drive that are not on the destination drive to the destination drive and deleting folders and files on the destination drive that are no longer on the source drive. This gives you what is essentially an exact copy of the source drive. An added feature, called versioning, can direct deleted folders and files from the destination drive to a folder or drive dedicated for the purpose. This protects against accidental deletions.

 

All backups should be stored on external drives that are kept powered down, disconnected from the computer, and stored awway from the computer except when updating the backups.

Ill look into it. Thanks.