Good simple backup software for removable drives?

[bhurley]

I'm not a big fan of using disk images for backup (e.g. Rescue and Recovery), because in my experience restoring from an image onto a new disk after an old one fails often leads to problems, so I prefer to back up only my personal files and settings. I also use a removable disk backup system (Iomega REV is my tool of choice at the moment, these have been very reliable for me so far) because it simplifies the task of keeping an offsite backup. The drive stays attached to the computer, one set of backup disks goes offsite and the other stays home.

With all this in mind, I have a couple of questions:

1. Any recommendations for good, simple backup software that can handle removable media? Rescue and Recovery does not seem to be able to backup onto a REV drive (it doesn't recognize the drive when I try, even though my REV drive has a drive letter and is connected by USB) so that's off the table. I've used Retrospect Professional in the past, but it's overkill for my purposes. I suppose I could try Retrospect Express, but am not sure Retrospect is even available anymore; the EMC website has been down for the last few days.

2. One of the nice things about Vista and Mac OSX is that they put all your files and personal settings in an easily identifiable home directory, so you just back up your home folder and you're all set. But on this computer I'm using XP, which doesn't seem quite as clear. Am I safe if I back up my personal Documents and Settings folder? Or should I back up the master Documents and Settings folder, which on my computer has four subdirectories: the Administrator's docs and settings (which is me), another folder for docs and settings under my user account, the All Users docs and settings, and the "Default User" docs and settings (all of which are me, as I'm the only one with an account on my computer).

[mgo]

1. Any recommendations for good, simple backup software that can handle removable media?
2. One of the nice things about Vista and Mac OSX is that they put all your files and personal settings in an easily identifiable home directory, so you just back up your home folder and you're all set. But on this computer I'm using XP, which doesn't seem quite as clear. Am I safe if I back up my personal Documents and Settings folder?.

I am a big fan of Syncback for backing up my personal files. There is a freeware version, and a very reasonably priced paid version. Google them and download. The GUI is easy to use and the program is rock solid and a pleasure to have on board.

You can also use RoboCopy which comes free on Vista now, also the XP version can be legally "borrowed" for XP. It requires very simple batch files for the backup and restore jobs. Robocopy is exceedingly fast and reliable.

By default, XP will put yur documents in the My_Documents folder. Just keeping personal files in there and backing up will do the job. You can pretty much ignore Documents and Settings as a backup location, as it is more of an "admin" type of location.

Really, you can keep your personal files anywhere you like. Just select those folders for backups and send them to your USB drive or other external drive destination.

With SyncBack, you can schedule your backups to happen automatically, and RoboCopy will do that, too, but it's not as easy to set up.

You're smart to do backups. I've literally seen grown men cry because they lost huge amounts of work because they did not run backups of their files.

[bhurley]

Thanks for those recommendations, I'll look into them!

Just keeping personal files in there and backing up will do the job. You can pretty much ignore Documents and Settings as a backup location, as it is more of an "admin" type of location.

The problem is that I also have a large archive of current and old Outlook .pst files (about 20 gigs worth at this point) that need backing up, and those are stored in Docs and Settings folder (Local Settings), plus I spend a lot of time customizing my Word dictionary, setting preferences for other programs, etc., so I'm thinking the Documents and Settings needs to be backed up so I don't lose those things.

[teetee]

For syncing files I use FileSync (not free) which served me well over the past year. (on windows)

For doing the backup on linux I used rsync for large files and plbackitup script + crontab for small-but-change-often files(ex. system configuration files and such). They are free.

[t20user]

I use this for manual USB flash drive backups...

http://www.grigsoft.com/wndsync.htm

Its very basic, and a manual process but works well for small changes.

For large automatic drive backups I use Retrospect. Its OK, but not so simple to set up. I would be curious what other recommend.

[mgo]

Thanks for those recommendations, I'll look into them!

Just keeping personal files in there and backing up will do the job. You can pretty much ignore Documents and Settings as a backup location, as it is more of an "admin" type of location.

The problem is that I also have a large archive of current and old Outlook .pst files (about 20 gigs worth at this point) that need backing up, and those are stored in Docs and Settings folder (Local Settings), plus I spend a lot of time customizing my Word dictionary, setting preferences for other programs, etc., so I'm thinking the Documents and Settings needs to be backed up so I don't lose those things.

No reason then why you cannot just add Documents & Settings to your backup job. Using RoboCopy or Syncback will just involve backing up the changed files instead of having to do the whole shebang each time.

I have found that closing Outlook before a backup makes the job less error prone, even when a backup program claims that it will backup locked files.

With 20 gig of Outlook pst files the first backup will take a long time, but the subsequent ones will happen quickly. Just check the backup options to make sure you use the "backup only changed" files.

[carbon_unit]

I like Fabs Autobackup . It makes easy work out of saving outlook or outlook express files and settings. It also saves desktop files, dial up connections, favorites and windows/office activation files. It will restore the files just as easily as it backs them up except you have to import the .pst file. It even saves your desktop wallpaper.
I use this program almost daily backing up peoples computers.

[ArtShapiro]

I don't have anything to add to the discussion, but wish to note that the EMC site is working fine for me; I personally check out the (usually no-response) Retrospect Express topic in their forums, and have it up in another browser tab as we speak.

Art

[bhurley]

Thanks, the Retrospect site must have been down temporarily as I couldn't reach it yesterday or early this morning.

I ended up downloading SyncBack SE ($30.00 and worth it, I'd say) and am happy with it, it backed up flawlessly to the REV drive and I like the interface. Thanks all for the various tips and suggestions.

[mgo]

Thanks, the Retrospect site must have been down temporarily as I couldn't reach it yesterday or early this morning.

I ended up downloading SyncBack SE ($30.00 and worth it, I'd say) and am happy with it, it backed up flawlessly to the REV drive and I like the interface. Thanks all for the various tips and suggestions.

Good choice on the SyncBack (and nice that you spent a few dollars for the paid version. No-I don't work for them, but they deserve support since the program is so good)

You will discover some terrific options and features in SyncBack that few people are aware of. For example, sometimes a USB drive will not properly write files during a backup. SyncBack in its "expert" mode will do an extra verify to make sure the file actually got laid down.

Obviously, I'm a big fan of the program.

[snessiram]

I very recently configured an automatic backup system to:
1) daily make a backup from my data to an external drive (unless it isn't connected)
2) weekly make a backup from the backup data on the external drive to another folder on that drive (in case something gets lost due to the daily backup)
3) weekly make a backup of my whole macbook (os x) drive except my docs in case my harddrive ever crashes, although I'm considering to stop doing this
4) daily sync my thinkpad with my macbook

For 1 and 2 I use rsyncx on os x.
For 3 I use Carbon Copy Cloner on os x.
And most relevant to this thread: for 4 I use allway sync (freeware) on windows which I really recommend. It has a lot of possibilities to automatically start syncing, which include on connecting a device, on bootup, windows task manager, on idle, vast periods, ...
Although rsyncx works fine I'd love an application like allway sync on os x (freeware offcourse).