HDD/Folder/File Sync Software Recommendations. Thanks!

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JdotH

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Hi Experts,

So I have 2x 3TB Seagate HDD that I have not setup yet. I am going to use them for my storage.
I was going to RAID 1 Mirror them but then decided that my files would be safer if I just back up what I want from 1 drive to the other via software. This would eliminate raid controller errors, give me the option to quickly plug them into other computers if needed & most importantly would allow me to recover a corrupted file if I back up nightly. RAID 1 would simply duplicate the same corrupted file instantly & not afford me a roll back file/folder for recovery.

So.....is there a great free software that I can set up to automatically back up the files I want it to nightly? If there isnt a great free way, then what is my best option?

Thanks All :)
 
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J

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Thanks!

So could I simply have say 2 folders, Vault 1 & Vault 2, then schedule alternating back ups...Vault 1 on Monday...Vault 2 on Tuesday....Vault 1 on Wednesday.....?
The software will then overwrite the folder its backing up to every night correct?
 
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USAFRet

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It will only copy over anything new or changed since last time. There may be an option to overwrite everything each time, but I'm unsure.

Download it, try it. It's free.
 
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Only replacing new files sounds good.
Is there any advantage to partitioning the back up 3TB drive into 2 1.5TB drives for each "Vault" or should I just make two separate folders?
Actually....how would you set this up? Im not opposed to buying more drives but dont want to if I dont need to.
 
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USAFRet

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Separate folders is fine. No real difference that partitions. If that drive dies, all is toast either way.
But...all of this is in 'one' PC...all susceptible to a virus or other disaster.

For instance, I have stuff backed up internally on a different drive, and to a different PC.
Every 12 hours internally, and every 24 hours to the other machine (house server and movie box).

Actually, I'm in the middle of making an image of the whole boot SSD on the other PC as we speak.
 
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popatim

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Microsoft Synctoy 2.1 (a free download)
Robocopy (a command thats built into win7 but easy to use and schedule) Tutorial

Theres no advantage, in my opinion, into two partitions over two folders (vault1 & vault2)
The main disadvantage is that when that HDD dies you will lose both your vaults and be without any backup for a bit.

<edit> One thing, thou, is with two partition the files themselves would be in separate areas of the drive whereas with two folders they would be intermingled within the one partition. Perhaps this is a better idea. Should the heads crash in one area the other area may still be recoverable. While 1 backup is better than none, Ideally you want at least 2 so that you are never without a backup when a drive fails.
 
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I unfortunately dont have an external drive/pc set up. I move this pc often (on location work). So is this a good solution (one 3TB drive backed up to the other)? It seems better than using RAID 1 which is what I have been doing.

Also, what does creating a boot image of a SSD OS drive afford me?
If the drive fails then I wouldnt buy the same SSD....I would upgrade to a newer SSD and thus want to create a fresh install....right?
 
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USAFRet

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Yes, this will work just fine.

Falling into the RAID 1 trap is far too common. Yes, it mirrors. It also mirrors everything...;)
Good deal on your for looking for alternatives.
 
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J

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Thanks so much.
*I edited that post you just replied to...added a question about SSD boot imaging. Can you address that question as well. Thanks!
 
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Have you used SyncBack Free?
Of the 3 options (MS SyncToy 2.1; Robocopy; SyncBack Free) which is the easiest to use?

Thanks again btw!
 
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popatim

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A boot image is just an image of your boot drive.
You could use the image to replace the boot drive and then load the image in a lot less time that reinstalling windows and its bazillion updates...
If you have the space, its a good idea IMO. I do this myself.
 
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Wait...what?! Im confused.
So if you have a boot image and your OS Drive dies....you simply put that image on your new drive and dont need to reinstall?
...Could you reiterate boot image back up advantages.....and what one would do if their OS Drive died. I dont have a solution setup yet for this scenerio.
Thank you.
 
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USAFRet

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So...I'm currently testing new clone/backup software. Creating an image of the whole C SSD as it is at this moment.
This will live on another drive, and be redone as needed.

If my current SSD dies, I put in a new drive, and use the same software to port that 'image' to the new drive.

If you want to go whole hog, you designate a whole other drive for an actual, bootable clone. If you primary drive dies, just unplug it and change your boot order. You system exists exactly as it was the last time you made a clone.
 
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What software are you testing? Have you tried MS SyncToy 2.1?
What I dont get about the SSD Boot Image thing is....If I put the image on a new SSD doesnt it then also include the wrong drivers etc because they are oriented for the dead SSD?
 
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USAFRet

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Drives don't have 'drivers'. The rest of the system does. Motherboard, GPU, etc.
This is exactly like getting a new SSD, and cloning the drive from an old HDD to the new SSD.

The software I'm testing is Casper, from http://www.fssdev.com/
Not free, but highly recommended from a fellow Tom's member, and the 3-pack for $70 was a good value.

If it turns out to suck, I will hunt him down...;)

So far, it looks good, though. A full backup image of my current C SSD, across the LAN to another PC, 80GB in 41 mins.
 
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popatim

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While it gets good marks most of the time (Casper that is) it did not work well in restoring a bootable raid array in my testing so I shelved my copy.
It did restore all the files but the array was not bootable when it was done; but then just about anything can do that too so why buy it. LoL

For a non-raid setup I suspect it will be fine and easy to use.
 
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USAFRet

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Interesting. I don't have any RAID set up here (on purpose) but maybe in the future.
 
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popatim

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A drive image makes a complete copy of your harddrive as it is at that moment, and stores it all in a compressed file. {the image}
When you restore the image, you are restoring your drive (or a replacement drive) back when you made the image.

This is especially handy for testing because of how much faster the restore process is compared to windows install & updates.

What I suppose many others, is to install windows, drivers, & updates followed by my basic apps: antivirus, programs that I always install, favorite browser, etc. I call this the base install and this is what I make an image of. Its usually not very big and can be restored in an hour and all that you have to do is let it update, if there have been any updates since you created it, and you'll be all up to date. Install your current programs/games that arent part of your base and you're done.

I take this one step further myself. I keep a bootable HDD that just has my base on it. I call it my 'live base'. When there are alot of updates I reboot using my base hdd and let it update and then create a new image from that. This way my base image only needs a handful of updates at most should I actually ever need it.

The 'live base' comes in handy if I dont even have time to restore the base image. Since its already a bootable hdd all I have to do is boot to it and have a working pc.
 
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