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I used to use XCopy and .BAT file being ran from a schedule. However, some files get locked and XCopy will skip them or hang on them.
I started using Coibian Backup, (freeware), and it's perfect for what I need. You can set different folders for backing up, and create multiple backup settings, so you can have different configs backup different sets of files. For instance, I backup my emails and project files more often than other files that don't change as often.
Easy to use, and setup. You can run it from schedules, or manually run it.
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Digital data is fragile and unreliable. A billion bits can vanish as quickly as one.
The plus side of digital data is that backups are potentially very easy. But in practice we have to deal with byzantine backup systems that are frustratingly counterintuitive and awkward.
What I'd like doesn't exist yet, but it would check the folder trees I selected (when I'm not using the computer) and back up any changes to another location on the Internet. I wouldn't even know it's there.
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Something like version control system built into the filesystem. Configurable to select a different location than system drive.
Windows 8 has a Time Machine backup, just like those Apple folks have had for years.
Q. Hey man! have you sorted out the finite soup machine?
A. Why yes, it's celery or tomato.
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If its not a UEFI system, I use Ghost. Even the 2 YO version I have came with a bootable CD that could be used to make/restore bare-iron backups to an external USB harddrive. Include the boot track and you'll have everything needed for a bare-iron restore. Not quite one-click to get started, but once started, no more interaction until its finished.
For my new UEFI laptop, it won't boot from the Norton CD-ROM, so I'm stuck using the built-in stuff Lenovo provided. It is much more one-click, but I don't know if it made a truely bare-iron backup.
I don't trust backup apps that run under the main OS -- too big a possibility they won't catch everything.
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.
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I've started using clonezilla, but I couldn't see any mention of UEFI booting.
It's Free so there's nothing to stop you giving it a try.
Q. Hey man! have you sorted out the finite soup machine?
A. Why yes, it's celery or tomato.
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Unfortunately most backup programs simply don't work for me. So, I wrote a script based on robocopy. It's available at : https://github.com/latusrepo/backupjca[^]
The down side is that you have to close all programs (e.g. Outlook) before running it.
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I've used batch files to back-up for years. From the days of DOS and through all versions of Windows. With modern BIOSes (hot-swappable drives) and Windows (Scheduling), it couldn't be made any cheaper, any better or any easier. And the software (XCopy) is FREE! The really important stuff is encoded and then copied to a "GoogleDrive".
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IMHO, anything that requires the user to do something on a regular basis in order to keep his/her system backed up will fail as a result of the something not being done shortly before the backup becomes essential! Continuous backup of changing data and documents is the only real answer. I tried Carbonite, which works but turned out to be horrendously (unusably) slow when I had a crash which required that a GB or two of data be restored. I now use AVG's little-known LiveKive application, which I find marvellous. Once everything that you specify is saved (which happens relatively quickly), it seems as if versions of your files are stored every time you save them to disk. Restoring is also reasonably fast. It is possible to restore any (date and time) version of any live file, and versions of deleted files are also retained. I have no connection with AVG other than that of being a long-time satisfied user.
Peter R. Fletcher
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C-P-User-3 wrote: -- Plug in a USB cable
-- Pop up the app
-- Click once
-- Go to work
-- Come home, spare disk goes in the closet
Easy with a NAS.
Mine does two things:
1 - "Pull" backup from several computers every night
2 - Plug in a USB drive, press the button and wait while it backs itself up to the external disk.
Talking about closets, my NAS enclosures are in a closet far, far away from the PCs - less likely to be noticed and be tempting for burglers.
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I run a Windows Home Server 2011 machine with a 3TB drive that automatically performs monthly, weekly, daily and incremental backups of two of my PCs at home - mine and my wife's. I was running an older version (2003 I think) and successfully did a complete restore of my C: drive a couple of times. Upgraded to 2011 recently - I "think" it's working OK  but I haven't had to do a restore yet.
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Opinions on these drives are welcome. They are both $45 and both 1 TB. I have had very good luck with both Seagate and Western Digital for years. My gut instinct is to jump on the deal, as this provides precisely what I need for the moment. Combined with the scripts offered here, this looks like the way to go.
Does anyone own either of these drives ?
Western Digital's Drive[^]
Seagate's Drive[^]
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