What backup software do you use?

Louisepp

At the moment I'm using 2nd Copy, but I'm not really happy with it.

Got a new external HD and looking for new backup software to well....backup :j

I only need something simple. something that will backup my documents and settings really. Something that I can just ask to 'backup now' seeing I have to plug the drive in, it's no good having one that will set itself off automatically.

Any ideas what to use?

Bossyboots

I simply use XP's own backup to an external drive. I have mine set to do it at the same time every day when I know the computer will be on. You can simply set the schedule yourself so it could be weekly or whatever you want and you also set the time and what you want backed up. You can set multiple backups so that it will back up just your documents say every day and then all of your documents and settings on, for example, Sunday morning.

When I bought an external HDD for work to back up onto, it came with software to use but in fact it simply does what XP does so instead of installing it on every machine, they just back up in exactly the same way as I do at home.

Louisepp

It's been a long time since I used windows own backup software, but I can't quite remember why

I vaguely remember it backing it up in one sort of file all together loike. I couldn't just extract what I needed when it came to restoring something. I had to restore the lot? There again, I may have remembered incorrectly, or perhaps I never sussed it out properly in the first place.

I do want to be able to just pick a file out though. If I've lost a document that's important, I want to just restore that one doc. Will windows xp backup do that?

IvanOpinion

I use Dantz backup (came free with one of my external drives). Never had to restore yet so don't know how easy/difficult that will be

ivan

pennineman

Try Karen's Replicator. I use it to back up files and documents to an external hard drive. Works very well. Find it at:-

http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp

nelly_2

non...............

Godders

If I ever have to do a bulk copy (which is effectively what your backup does) I tend to use Robocopy, it's free and can be set to only copies the files that have changed since last time.

It can also be set to retry files a certain number of times after a user set delay, log the output, remove files from the destination that are not in the source (deletions) and if you want to schedule it just use the scheduled tasks built into Windows.

Not very user friendly though I'm afraid and it's part of a much bigger resource kit

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=9d467a69-57ff-4ae7-96ee-b18c4790cffd&displaylang=en

Deemy

At the moment - Norton Ghost

Have used others in the past such as Dantz (bloody complicated), and others , but Ghost seems to do whats needed without too much fuss.

savingforoz

Am using Acronis True Image.

Louisepp

Thanks! I'll have a look into these.

Much obliged!

dunholme

I use a free program called SyncBack by 2brightsparks. Have been using it for a year or so and had no problems with it and it is really easy to set-up and use. It says it can be used to back-up, restore, and synchronize files and directories, whether they be on a local drive, a network drive, an FTP server, a ZIP archive, or on removable media.

You can download it from:
http://www.2brightsparks.com/

Hope it helps?