Off topic - software question

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GT

WinXP SOFTWARE QUESTION:

I've just posted this question in 'alt.backup-software', but I'm new to that
group and have no idea if there is anyone alive in there! I am therefore
repeating my question in this group because I know there are a few of you in
here who will be able (and hopefully willing?) to help me...


Windows XP, 2GB RAM, 2 Internal hard drives, 1 External laptop hard drive in
USB caddy as backup device.

My internal drive is split 80GB C (System) and the rest as D (Files). I
currently use SyncToy to backup certain folders manually, but wondered if
there is any software that could maintain a live backup (echo) of my
important files every time they are saved? I'm basically looking for a live
Raid1 (mirror) type software setup that works on specific folders, or
perhaps at the partition level, rather than at the drive level.

My D Drive currently contains a few hundred GB of files that I don't need to
backup - music, camcorder HD video, games etc. My important files are spread
over 4 main folders and take up about 40GB and will increase by maybe
1GB/year at most. I mention this to highlight that I could define a
partition on the internal drive to match the size of the USB backup drive if
necessary - if 2 matching partitions are the only option.

So, anyone know of any folder mirroring or partition mirroring backup
software. SyncToy does the job perfectly at the moment, but is manual, so
I'm not prepared to spend much money on automating this and would therefore
prefer a freeware option.

Thanks,
GT
 
GT said:
WinXP SOFTWARE QUESTION:

I've just posted this question in 'alt.backup-software', but I'm new to
that group and have no idea if there is anyone alive in there! I am
therefore repeating my question in this group because I know there are a
few of you in here who will be able (and hopefully willing?) to help me...


Windows XP, 2GB RAM, 2 Internal hard drives, 1 External laptop hard drive
in
USB caddy as backup device.

My internal drive is split 80GB C (System) and the rest as D (Files). I
currently use SyncToy to backup certain folders manually, but wondered if
there is any software that could maintain a live backup (echo) of my
important files every time they are saved? I'm basically looking for a
live
Raid1 (mirror) type software setup that works on specific folders, or
perhaps at the partition level, rather than at the drive level.

My D Drive currently contains a few hundred GB of files that I don't need
to
backup - music, camcorder HD video, games etc. My important files are
spread
over 4 main folders and take up about 40GB and will increase by maybe
1GB/year at most. I mention this to highlight that I could define a
partition on the internal drive to match the size of the USB backup drive
if
necessary - if 2 matching partitions are the only option.

So, anyone know of any folder mirroring or partition mirroring backup
software. SyncToy does the job perfectly at the moment, but is manual, so
I'm not prepared to spend much money on automating this and would
therefore
prefer a freeware option.
Click to expand...

Not sure how helpful this is but, take a look:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-folder-synchronization-utility.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_file_synchronization_software
 
GT said:
WinXP SOFTWARE QUESTION:

I've just posted this question in 'alt.backup-software', but I'm new to that
group and have no idea if there is anyone alive in there! I am therefore
repeating my question in this group because I know there are a few of you in
here who will be able (and hopefully willing?) to help me...


Windows XP, 2GB RAM, 2 Internal hard drives, 1 External laptop hard drive in
USB caddy as backup device.

My internal drive is split 80GB C (System) and the rest as D (Files). I
currently use SyncToy to backup certain folders manually, but wondered if
there is any software that could maintain a live backup (echo) of my
important files every time they are saved? I'm basically looking for a live
Raid1 (mirror) type software setup that works on specific folders, or
perhaps at the partition level, rather than at the drive level.

My D Drive currently contains a few hundred GB of files that I don't need to
backup - music, camcorder HD video, games etc. My important files are spread
over 4 main folders and take up about 40GB and will increase by maybe
1GB/year at most. I mention this to highlight that I could define a
partition on the internal drive to match the size of the USB backup drive if
necessary - if 2 matching partitions are the only option.

So, anyone know of any folder mirroring or partition mirroring backup
software. SyncToy does the job perfectly at the moment, but is manual, so
I'm not prepared to spend much money on automating this and would therefore
prefer a freeware option.

Thanks,
GT
Click to expand...

Backing up the whole system then I don't know, cuz I have spent lot of
$$$$ on backup system (started with floppy, SCSI tape backup, 250M tape, few
others I don't remember the names, and hard drive etc.). But I have never
restored any, then the software, hardware no longer work with newer Windows,
and some incompatible etc. so I never have a chance to use it.

So for years, I just burn them to DVDs (hundreds of them) and rarely look
at those old junks. Cuz

1. SOFTWARES, they will be old within few months

2. SYSTEM, it will be useless after awhile. Unless you are running a
business then backing up current data is useful.

3. DATA, most of them if you won't use now then you may not use them later.
Yup! I have been a DATA collector for decades, and I do have lot of old DATA
which I have no idea where they are now.

So, I would say burning to DVDs is my style.
 
Joel said:
Backing up the whole system then I don't know, cuz I have spent lot of
$$$$ on backup system (started with floppy, SCSI tape backup, 250M tape,
few
others I don't remember the names, and hard drive etc.). But I have never
restored any, then the software, hardware no longer work with newer
Windows,
and some incompatible etc. so I never have a chance to use it.

So for years, I just burn them to DVDs (hundreds of them) and rarely look
at those old junks. Cuz

1. SOFTWARES, they will be old within few months

2. SYSTEM, it will be useless after awhile. Unless you are running a
business then backing up current data is useful.

3. DATA, most of them if you won't use now then you may not use them
later.
Yup! I have been a DATA collector for decades, and I do have lot of old
DATA
which I have no idea where they are now.

So, I would say burning to DVDs is my style.
Click to expand...

I don't want to backup the whole system! The system drive is not backup up -
I have install disks for everything. The majority of my data is not backed
up either. I was looking for a live backup (mirror-type) solution, not an
archiving solution.
 
GT said:
I don't want to backup the whole system! The system drive is not backup up -
I have install disks for everything. The majority of my data is not backed
up either. I was looking for a live backup (mirror-type) solution, not an
archiving solution.
Click to expand...

I have never heard of live backup but I have heard and seen scheduled
backup that my niece uses to backup his works (he is a doctor), and for
decades many programs (like word processor) have option to auto-save every
## minutes which could be considered scheduled backup.

So, if you want scheduled backup then YES, there are plenty and most
backup programs should have this option. They will just backup the NEWER
data to whatever device you wish it to backup to (like TAPE, DVD, Hard Drive
etc.).

The name? as I mentioned I don't use none to know any name or what to
suggest. But GOOGLE is often our friend, so you should be able to Google
for Free, Shareware, or Commercial version
 
Joel said:
I have never heard of live backup but I have heard and seen scheduled
backup that my niece uses to backup his works (he is a doctor), and for
decades many programs (like word processor) have option to auto-save every
## minutes which could be considered scheduled backup.

So, if you want scheduled backup then YES, there are plenty and most
backup programs should have this option. They will just backup the NEWER
data to whatever device you wish it to backup to (like TAPE, DVD, Hard
Drive
etc.).

The name? as I mentioned I don't use none to know any name or what to
suggest. But GOOGLE is often our friend, so you should be able to Google
for Free, Shareware, or Commercial version
Click to expand...

I've discovered PureSync and it does exactly what I require - there is an
option to synchronise files when one changes and it appears to work. I just
have to have my laptop and desktop connected on the network and the desktop
automatically detects the newer files, copies them to its local copy and
backs them up to a USB drive at the same time! All live - as soon as you
close a file, its backed up (in my case to 3 places!).
 
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