Software to back up 2TB hard drive to another 2TB hard drive?

[jimster99]

I have a 2TB hard drive which I back up to another 2TB hard drive using the Windows "copy" function (I don't need to copy system files, operating systems or anything like that - just music and photographs, etc).

However this is driving me mad, because if there are any problems I have to recopy the entire hard drive (either that, or figure out what's already been copied, which would take hours).

Is there a good program which can just do a batch copy of everything on one hard drive to another, and if there are any problems, only copy files which haven't already been copied? I've tried googling and lots of RAID style or "drive clone" programs pop up - but I just need a simple, free, batch copy program. There must be one, surely?

Thanks!

 

[ebbote59]

There is a simple program Easeus, free download, that will clone one disk to another, then you can delete what ever you don't want.

 

[jimster99]

I have a 2TB hard drive used for storage which I back up to another 2TB hard drive using the Windows "copy" function (I don't need to copy system files, operating systems or anything complicated - just folders containing documents, music and photographs, etc).

However this process is driving me mad, because if there are any problems during the copying process (as there often are) I have to restart the whole thing (either that, or figure out what's already been copied, which would take hours).

Is there a good program which can just do a batch copy of selected files from one hard drive to another, and if there are any problems, only copy files which haven't already been copied? I've tried googling and lots of RAID style or "drive clone" programs pop up - but I just need a simple, free, batch copy program. There must be one, surely?

Thanks!

 

[jimster99]

There is a simple program Easeus, free download, that will clone one disk to another, then you can delete what ever you don't want.

Thanks - I'm giving it a go now.

 

[jimster99]

Actually, Easeus doesn't quite do what I want. It creates a backup file which can be restored, when what I want is a program which will simply copy a huge number of files to another location - I know Windows can do this with the "copy and paste" function, but it's flakey and if it crashes halfway through you have to restart (or manually figure out which files have already been copied, which takes too long when you have a lot!). Any other suggestions?

 

[ebbote59]

Actually, Easeus doesn't quite do what I want. It creates a backup file which can be restored, when what I want is a program which will simply copy a huge number of files to another location - I know Windows can do this with the "copy and paste" function, but it's flakey and if it crashes halfway through you have to restart (or manually figure out which files have already been copied, which takes too long when you have a lot!). Any other suggestions?

Easeus clones the drive exactly, not a backup file. I have used it to clone my laptop HD to an ssd and it booted right up, exact copy bootsector and all.

 

[jimster99]

Easeus clones the drive exactly, not a backup file. I have used it to clone my laptop HD to an ssd and it booted right up, exact copy bootsector and all.

Indeed - but a clone is not what I need either. I need to copy a large number of files from two different hard drives (but not the entire hard drive) onto a single back up hard drive, and therefore cloning won't work.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

http://download.cnet.com/EaseUS-Disk-Copy-Home-Edition/3000-2242_4-10867157.html

 

[storm1969]

XXCopy does a great job. Use it for my backups.

 

[eXistenZ]

How about Synkron?

synkron (sourceforge)

 

[Mauricio de Cunto]

teracopy works very well...

 

[Hawkeye22]

Why not just use something like SyncToy or Bvckup? There is also an older version of bvckup that is free, but missing some features of the paid version.

 

[Mauricio de Cunto]

Why not just use something like SyncToy or Bvckup? There is also an older version of bvckup that is free, but missing some features of the paid version.

I don't know SyncToy and Bvckup yet. I'm using Teracopy for years and you can create multiple copy or move sessions, pause each one, All the process in faster than original copy command. I think you will like it. It's a good alternative.

 

[USAFRet]

Easeus clones the drive exactly, not a backup file. I have used it to clone my laptop HD to an ssd and it booted right up, exact copy bootsector and all.

Indeed - but a clone is not what I need either. I need to copy a large number of files from two different hard drives (but not the entire hard drive) onto a single back up hard drive, and therefore cloning won't work.

SyncBack Free.
Point it at source and target folders, give it a schedule, done.

 

[Alabalcho]

I am using Microsoft' Robocopy. There is also a GUI frontend for it, but I prefer simple scheduled batch file.

 

[Daniel Omiyi]

Easeus clones the drive exactly, not a backup file. I have used it to clone my laptop HD to an ssd and it booted right up, exact copy bootsector and all.

Indeed - but a clone is not what I need either. I need to copy a large number of files from two different hard drives (but not the entire hard drive) onto a single back up hard drive, and therefore cloning won't work.

SyncBack Free.
Point it at source and target folders, give it a schedule, done.

USAFRet!!!!!!! Thank you for a shining answer to jimster99's awesome question. I am using the program "Sync Back Free."

Success? Yes and no! This is where my question lies...

Question. The folders...are being copied from my first portable drive (1TB), to my second portable drive (2TB)...JUST THE FOLDERS! No content (Movie, Music, Pictures) are being carried...I used the (Mirror) option in the program.

How do i fix that?

 

[USAFRet]

USAFRet!!!!!!! Thank you for a shining answer to jimster99's awesome question. I am using the program "Sync Back Free."

Success? Yes and no! This is where my question lies...

Question. The folders...are being copied from my first portable drive (1TB), to my second portable drive (2TB)...JUST THE FOLDERS! No content (Movie, Music, Pictures) are being carried...I used the (Mirror) option in the program.

How do i fix that?

That is strange. Not sure of a 'fix', because I have no idea what may be wrong with it.