Backup Software

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ronw

1222 posts

Uber Geek

#142639 19-Mar-2014 13:32

I am interested in what others are using for Windows backup software. There seems to be a plethora of different software out there that I just start to test something then find its gone to the wall.
I need something that can backup files in an accessible format. I don't want to have to rely on a piece of software to recover files. Have looked at Symantec Ghost but that's is only fine for imaging, tried GeniBackup Pro V( but not sure that is going to be around very long as them seem to only want to keep Timeline going and finally Acronis which is once again an image product.
What are others using that they know is good.

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Sideface

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#1008984 19-Mar-2014 14:05

Do you want to back up "everything" - emails, settings etc - or do you just want to back up files in folders.
If the latter, Vice Versa Pro is excellent - been using it for 10 years.
I have 15-20TB of files that I store in triplicate on 3 different NAS servers - Vice Versa makes this painless, but is not fully automated. (I don't trust "fully automated"

)
(There are optional add-ons available to automate it - these are not free)

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ronw

1222 posts

Uber Geek

#1008997 19-Mar-2014 14:12

Prefer to just choose folder etc each time so that might be worth investigating. Will go find our about it now. I tend to use ghost for image stuff its good but for ordinary backups want something different.
Thanks for heads up

Nokia 7 Plus
Nexus 6P 32Gb
Nexus 6 Phone
Nexus 5 Phone
Nexus 7 2013 Tablet
Samsung TAB A 8"
Samsung TAB A 10"

& many Windows laptops, Desktops etc

davidcole

6029 posts

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#1009543 20-Mar-2014 08:03

I use acronis for system backup (baremetal restore) and crashplan for data. Crashplan is mixed local folder backups, local 2nd machine and cloud.

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SumnerBoy

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#1009546 20-Mar-2014 08:10

Yep another one for CrashPlan. I have a central home server running Ubuntu 12.04 which has Crashplan running and backing up to the cloud. Then each of my PCs, laptops etc have Crashplan running and backing up to the home server. This way I can backup multiple machines using a single Crashplan license. Works like a charm and is very reliable. Also have an external USB HDD which takes another copy of everything, again using Crashplan.

Very easy to configure and use piece of software.

Mattmannz

471 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1009548 20-Mar-2014 08:20

I have been using FBackup with good results. They have a freeware licence as well which can be attractive.

Dynamic

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#1012064 24-Mar-2014 21:07

If you want to 'back up' in an accessible format and would have a shot with a simple batch file, consider the command line utility ROBOCOPY which is built into Windows Vista and newer versions. The files on your computer will be replicated to a USB Hard Drive or a Thumb Drive in a reasonably efficient way.

A batch file stored (in the root folder of the destination drive) for the backup could go something like....

md .\%COMPUTERNAME%
cd .\%COMPUTERNAME%
md .\%USERNAME%
cd .\%USERNAME%
robocopy %userprofile%\Documents .\Documents /mir
robocopy %userprofile%\Pictures .\Pictures /mir
robocopy %userprofile%\Desktop .\Desktop /mir

CAUTION - the above is designed to run from the DESTINATION drive (i.e. your USB HDD or Thumb Drive that you will be using for backup). If you run it from your C drive you will make a mess.

This would make a folder names after the computer, then a subfolder with the current logged on username. It would then copy the content of the current logged on user's Documents folder to a new subfolder, then Pictures, then Desktop, and you can add as many lines as you like. You could instead just grab the whole %userprofile% folder structure (including a whole lot of crap).

The beauty of Robocopy is that the first time it runs, it copies everything you specify. The second time it runs, it compares the source and destination folders and just copies the changes... so its fast. Watch the use of the /MIR command line switch though. If you delete a document on the computer and then run the above batch file, the same file on the backup gets removed as well.

Using the %USERNAME% and %computername% means the same script can be used on multiple computers.

I usually get a bit fancier and have several copies on the destination drive for version control. i.e. Backup1, Backup2, Backup3 folders and have the batch file rename these in a revolving set so the destination drive has more than one complete set of my files.

Note the above is not a complete solution and is intended for someone who can work confidently with batch files or who would like to take the time to experiment.

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