Inexpensive software for synching backup

Frozen_up_north

I favour whole disk backups, not only do you have your data files saved, but you can recover from a malware infection, or a fouled up Windows update, etc.

My PC only takes around 8 mins for a full backup via USB 3.

I use Acronis, but free software will probably do a similar job.

debitcardmayhem

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

I favour whole disk backups, not only do you have your data files saved, but you can recover from a malware infection, or a fouled up Windows update, etc.

My PC only takes around 8 mins for a full backup via USB 3.

I use Acronis, but free software will probably do a similar job.

How big is the disk and how full ? is it SSD and is the USB3 disk an SSD too. how long does it take to restore and does it work after a full restore, I am sure you have tested it?
Any backup is only good if you have tested the restore.

BooJewels

Many thanks for all of the suggestions, it's appreciated. I'm just dealing with a family emergency, so my evening has been hijacked at bit, so will return to this when I have a bit more time tomorrow.

For what it's worth, I keep all my data in a separate root directory and only ever include that in my back ups, I don't include system or program files, although I have variously either changed the default location for settings files to be within my directory, or periodically back up settings files from their default locations elsewhere. I just have a few apps where my personal settings, like the workspace or scripts, presets etc are as important as the data itself and I include these periodically in my backup routine.

After a few computer upgrades or failed hard drives, this routine works well enough for me and the type of work I generate.

I'll look at the various suggestions tomorrow - so thank you, you've given me a good starting point.

debitcardmayhem wrote:

if the other half wants to be disorganised then the problem is theirs.

Unfortunately, it isn't that simple. If anything goes wrong, it will be me sorting it out - so the back up methodology is my idea and has to work in a practical manner for me and allow for the idiosyncrasies of his peculiar thinking. That thinking just paid dividends as we fought a legal battle, based on his data, but my control of keeping it safe was vital.

debitcardmayhem

BooJewels wrote: »

Many thanks for all of the suggestions, it's appreciated. I'm just dealing with a family emergency, so my evening has been hijacked at bit, so will return to this when I have a bit more time tomorrow.

For what it's worth, I keep all my data in a separate root directory and only ever include that in my back ups, I don't include system or program files, although I have variously either changed the default location for settings files to be within my directory, or periodically back up settings files from their default locations elsewhere. I just have a few apps where my personal settings, like the workspace or scripts, presets etc are as important as the data itself and I include these periodically in my backup routine.

After a few computer upgrades or failed hard drives, this routine works well enough for me and the type of work I generate.

I'll look at the various suggestions tomorrow - so thank you, you've given me a good starting point.


Unfortunately, it isn't that simple. If anything goes wrong, it will be me sorting it out - so the back up methodology is my idea and has to work in a practical manner for me and allow for the idiosyncrasies of his peculiar thinking. That thinking just paid dividends as we fought a legal battle, based on his data, but my control of keeping it safe was vital.

Welcome to my (real) world :cool:

victor2

I've used "Back up and Restore (Windows 7)" on a few Windows 10 machines - it's still available through Control Panel although I heard a rumour Microsoft intend to phase it out. It works well with external USB drives. Only problem is it doesn't automatically delete old files when running out of space.
I now use the free version of Cobian, which hasn't been updated for years, but still works on Windows 10 and does scheduled jobs, waking up my PC from hibernation, making full or differential backups as configured, to a NAS drive, and puts the PC back into hibernation when finished. The backups are ZIP files, so easy to access if you want to look through them for a specific file. Had a look at Macrium Reflect, but it uses some sort of proprietary storage system so you can only recover files with Macrium itself. Looks good otherwise.
I'm now looking at IDrive for a secure regular backup to the cloud. It gives 5GB of storage for free, but you need to pay an annual fee for more space. Can be encrypted with your own private AES 256-bit key for extra security. Nice features but I don't like paying for anything on a regular basis, although do accept you pretty much have to if you want secure off-site data backups!

glennevis

Nowadays I would forget home backup and use the cloud for important stuff (e.g. job hunting). I just take a backup image for system restoration in case a system disk fails.

Google cloud services are free to use with any (free) google email address. Millions of businesses work this way.
Plenty of info online about the features and benefits.


If you don't go for a cloud solution I hope at least one of your hard disk backups is off-site.

Tom99

glennevis wrote: »

Nowadays I would forget home backup and use the cloud for important stuff (e.g. job hunting). I just take a backup image for system restoration in case a system disk fails.
Google cloud services are free to use with any (free) google email address. Millions of businesses work this way.
Plenty of info online about the features and benefits.
If you don't go for a cloud solution I hope at least one of your hard disk backups is off-site.

Yes I use Google Drive. The back-up is almost instantaneous as soon as you make a change to a file but presumably if a file became corrupt so will the copy on Google Drive?

BooJewels

glennevis wrote: »

Nowadays I would forget home backup and use the cloud for important stuff (e.g. job hunting). I just take a backup image for system restoration in case a system disk fails.

Backup isn't just about being able to restore drive contents in the whole, but also having copies to hand in case something gets loused up. I've periodically needed to go back to a copy of a file if I've worked on it further and made a mess etc. So I've no intention of forgetting 'home backup', it works well for me.

But - and it may not be rational, or factually correct - I have a real problem with the idea of an external organisation having copies of my files - especially Google. It insinuates itself into every aspect of your life and I don't feel inclined to let it have access to my personal stuff. They're the nosiest !!!!!!s on the planet.

If you don't go for a cloud solution I hope at least one of your hard disk backups is off-site.

However, you can be assured, I have a number of off-site contingencies in place.

Had a look at Macrium Reflect, but it uses some sort of proprietary storage system so you can only recover files with Macrium itself. Looks good otherwise.

This is the problem I have with a lot of backup systems and why I asked the question - they use a proprietary system to tie you in to using them perpetually - and if they stop developing the software or it becomes corrupt, you're stuffed. I like the idea - whether it suits other people or they approve or not - of just having backups that are mirrors of the original - not a big file that can be used to restore, but isn't very useful in isolation.

For example, I'm working at least one day a week at a family members house and they have a computer I can use, so I can plug in a USB stick and have access to some of my files in case I need to print them - which happened on Monday when I found I needed a paper copy of a document I hadn't taken with me.

Frozen_up_north

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

How big is the disk and how full ? is it SSD and is the USB3 disk an SSD too. how long does it take to restore and does it work after a full restore, I am sure you have tested it?
Any backup is only good if you have tested the restore.

Acronis is a robust piece of software and yes, I have in the past swapped back from Win 10 to 7 and vice versa without a problem.

My laptops and desktop are all SSD, the external backup drive is “spinning rust”. The 8 min full backup quoted was from a Dell desktop running Win 10 Pro with around 60GB of disk space used, the backup was encrypted. You can copy individual files from the backups, it’s not an “all or nothing” restore if you foul something up.

Acronis can be configured to limit the number of backups, for example to keep the first then limit the number to the last three. I only make full backups as the time it takes is only around the time it takes for a tea break.

I’ve used Acronis for a number of years, and not compared it to the free alternatives. The cost for the stand alone (non subscription) version is £35/£56/£70 for 1/3/5 computers.
https://www.acronis.com/en-gb/

There is a USA PC World review:
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3434607/acronis-true-image-2020-review.html

victor2

BooJewels wrote: »

...
But - and it may not be rational, or factually correct - I have a real problem with the idea of an external organisation having copies of my files - especially Google. It insinuates itself into every aspect of your life and I don't feel inclined to let it have access to my personal stuff. They're the nosiest !!!!!!s on the planet.
...
This is the problem I have with a lot of backup systems and why I asked the question - they use a proprietary system to tie you in to using them perpetually - and if they stop developing the software or it becomes corrupt, you're stuffed. I like the idea - whether it suits other people or they approve or not - of just having backups that are mirrors of the original - not a big file that can be used to restore, but isn't very useful in isolation...

Couldn't agree more.
I have two free Google drive accounts, in which I have copies of photographs, many of them scanned images of old fading pictures. As they are irreplaceable, and do not contain data which could readily be used for identity theft, I'm happy to leave them in Google's hands.
I have a system where all of my passwords for online accounts are different, but I have a way of recovering them if need be.
I would, by my nature, assume that any data stored in the cloud would get compromised at some point in its life, so having it encrypted in some way is just as essential as a means of recovering individual files, and not just through a synchronised system. My most common need to recover a file is when I've screwed up something like a spreadsheet and saved it. I then need to recover an earlier version from before I messed it up. My daily backup to a local NAS drive does that, but it isn't off-site.

That then makes you wonder how secure password protected ZIP files are or what other encryption would you use for cloud storage?