Backup Software

[hannay]

I was going to buy a Maxtor OneTouch II external HDD, but then thought about buying a cheaper External HDD and using some free backup software that works in the same way as the Onetouch software (without the button on the drive though)

Can anyone point me in the right direction of some free backup software, that is simple to use.

Thanks

[Chris Locke]

Whats your backup strategy? Just copying over changed files, mirroring the complete disk, etc. Is your machine left on overnight for the backup to take place, or will it have to backup while you're using the machine?

[Rollocop]

Norton Ghost's very simple to use!

[fabbers]

If you're using XP or 2000 then you've already got ntbackup

[Chris Locke]

Bit overkill for small regular backups though, as it only works on a partition level. Depends on your needs. For example, I'd want to regulary backup my website files and VB code - I wouldn't want to backup the whole partition each time. In this instance, WinZip works fine - backup of files on another drive. Easy to recover from, etc, etc. Absolutely useless to backup large movies though - it really depends on what data you want to backup, and how often.

[kjmacphee]

You could try the free version of Syncback (at the bottom of this page (http://www.2brightsparks.com/downloads.html)). Does everything I need it to in terms of keeping backups of certain directories on my external HDD.

[fabbers]

You could try the free version of Syncback (at the bottom of this page (http://www.2brightsparks.com/downloads.html)). Does everything I need it to in terms of keeping backups of certain directories on my external HDD.

Or there's the excellent and free Synctoy from Micro$oft for XP http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e0fc1154-c975-4814-9649-cce41af06eb7&DisplayLang=en

[hannay]

I really want it to copy certain data folders which contain images, music etc, not fussed about the whole of the partition. I have 20gig if photos i'd be gutted to lose!

[Brogan]

If you're going to back up your data to a separate HDD, why do you need backup software?
Just drag and drop.

I back up my 200GB data drive once a week - takes about 20-30 minutes to drag and drop the contents of the drive to a separate HDD.

[hannay]

If you're going to back up your data to a separate HDD, why do you need backup software?
Just drag and drop.

I back up my 200GB data drive once a week - takes about 20-30 minutes to drag and drop the contents of the drive to a separate HDD.

because i'd prefer an automated process, like the one touch backup that maxtor do. :)

[Chris Locke]

SyncToy (posted above by fabbers) is your man then - it mirrors directories, and can be driven by command-line, so can be run by Windows' scheduled tasks.

[movaado]

I'd just use Windows own backup tool, its very simple to use and ties in nicely with the scheduling service under windows

Its what I use at work :)

[simonbenn]

I use nero Backitup as it understands DVD backups nicely. You can set it up in a way that even makes it parent friendly. Which is probably the best way of testing most software....

[kjmacphee]

Syncback (previously posted) allows you to set up Windows scheduled tasks through the GUI.