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External hard drive updater...does such a thing exist??

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PAUL7331
PAUL7331 Posts: 300 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
in Techie Stuff
Ok Ive just purchased a 320gb External maxtor hard drive. The thing is, as I download music/videos will I physically have to keep dragging over the files to the hard drive everytime I connect it to my PC or is there any software which (when I connect to my PC) Will automatically update and store on to the hard drive for me??

Hope this makes sense! :confused:
«1

Comments

  • superscaper
    superscaper Posts: 13,369 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Am I understanding this correctly, you don't necessarily want something that will automatically sync a copy of a folder (ie the external drive would act as a backup), you want something that would automatically transfer the files (in say a specified folder) to the external drive while presumably deleting the originals off your internal drive?
    "She is quite the oddball. Did you notice how she didn't even get excited when she saw this original ZX-81?"
    Moss
  • joshm_2
    joshm_2 Posts: 453 Forumite
    Take a look at Micro$oft's Synctoy. It's free to use (provided your copy of Windoze is genuine).
  • PAUL7331
    PAUL7331 Posts: 300 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    superscaper wrote: »
    Am I understanding this correctly, you don't necessarily want something that will automatically sync a copy of a folder (ie the external drive would act as a backup), you want something that would automatically transfer the files (in say a specified folder) to the external drive while presumably deleting the originals off your internal drive?

    Ok, say when Ive downloaded another song on to my PC'S D drive. When I then connect my external disk drive I want that song I recently downloaded to be added to the hard disc drive too WITHOUT deleting it from my PC'S D drive.

    You with me? Sorry if I sound confusing!!
  • espresso
    espresso Posts: 16,448 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    SyncBack V3.2.14 is freewear available here.
    :doh: Blue text on this forum usually signifies hyperlinks, so click on them!..:wall:
  • superscaper
    superscaper Posts: 13,369 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    PAUL7331 wrote: »
    Ok, say when Ive downloaded another song on to my PC'S D drive. When I then connect my external disk drive I want that song I recently downloaded to be added to the hard disc drive too WITHOUT deleting it from my PC'S D drive.

    You with me? Sorry if I sound confusing!!

    Ok so it is basically a backup, that makes it easier. Use joshm's suggestion. Also there are many other sync/backup programs that should work automatically. You just tell it you want to sync a particular folder on your D drive with the external drive and it should update the external drive whenever you connect it.
    "She is quite the oddball. Did you notice how she didn't even get excited when she saw this original ZX-81?"
    Moss
  • gavinp
    gavinp Posts: 469 Forumite
    As previously mentioned, Synctoy keeps directories identical on different disks:

    http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/prophoto/synctoy.mspx

    Thanks

    Gavin
  • Woby_Tide
    Woby_Tide Posts: 5,344 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    ezbackitup does something similar too
  • PAUL7331
    PAUL7331 Posts: 300 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Brilliant, thanks guys for your help. Im going to try a free program later and see how I go on.
  • Omertron
    Omertron Posts: 574 Forumite
    espresso wrote: »
    SyncBack V3.2.14 is freewear available here.
    Actually it's trialware (time limited software).
    However, it's really good, but I'd have to say Microsoft's SyncToy is better because it's free.

    Have you checked Maxtor's site for some free software? I've just bought a Western Digital drive and it comes with their free software for synchronising the drive and my laptop.
    - = I also recognise the Robins and beep for them = -
  • albertross_2
    albertross_2 Posts: 8,932 Forumite
    xcopy c:\ g:\ /s/e/d/h/c will do it as well

    assuming the drive is g
    Ever get the feeling you are wasting your time? :rolleyes:
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