Incremental Backup Software

crazychicken

Platinum Member
Jan 20, 2001
2,081
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I want to do something very simple - but I seem to have a hard time finding software for it. I have a folder that I want to backup daily to an external hard drive. I would like to (clearly) do incremental backups so that it doesn't have to copy the entire gigantic folder every day. However, I would like for it to be "official" software (from a trustable source) not a cheesy freeware type project. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

Dave
 

Phynaz

Lifer
Mar 13, 2006
10,140
819
126
Syncback or Acronis Trueimage. There's also NTI, but I haven't used it.
 

gba

Senior member
Apr 1, 2002
833
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71
I love SynchBack Free, for synching, too. However, it does not do incremental back-ups. For incremental and differential backups, You would need to purchase the the SE edition, which is $30 US. Here is a comparison chart of the three diffent vesions. I have not tried either of the paid versions, but I have been using the free version with various versions of Windows and, recently, Vista x64. I now see the chart indicates Vista is not "fully" supported by SynchBack free, although it has been working for me. I am seriously considering trying SynchBack SE now, bc it appears there are more options for synching and it does officially support Vista. I use SynchBack for keeping my documents synched between my laptop and desktop machine and it often takes a while for me to sort through the various synching choices. So, the added synching options may prove useful for me.

I have recently switched to using True Image for incremental back ups. I bought it for making offline restore images of my boot partition, but the data backup capability has been a nice bonus. You can set it up to run on a schedule, or run it manually.. It can do both incremental and differential back-ups.. you can password protect and encrypt your backups with AES, too. I have also used NTI for incremental backups in the past, and it worked well, too. I think that one is $20 US, True Image is $40 at Newegg at the moment...
 

gba

Senior member
Apr 1, 2002
833
0
71
Originally posted by: cvrefugee
Microsoft SyncToy 2.0

I have been meaning to try SyncToy for a while now, as I have noticed lots of positive comments... So, thanks for the reminder... It requires Microsoft .NET Framework v2.0, XP or Vista x86 plus there is a x64 specific version. SyncToy is super easy to use. You have a choice of three different flavors of synching which are clearly explained in a very quiet UI. Nice!.. and it is free, which is always a plus.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
39,593
9,441
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Originally posted by: austin316
AWESOME! I was just about to post this exact same question! Thanks for the information.

Me too, thanks!
 

austin316

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2001
3,572
0
0
Originally posted by: gba
Originally posted by: cvrefugee
Microsoft SyncToy 2.0

I have been meaning to try SyncToy for a while now, as I have noticed lots of positive comments... So, thanks for the reminder... It requires Microsoft .NET Framework v2.0, XP or Vista x86 plus there is a x64 specific version. SyncToy is super easy to use. You have a choice of three different flavors of synching which are clearly explained in a very quiet UI. Nice!.. and it is free, which is always a plus.

You heard right! I just installed it and the program is great. Also, it CAN do incremental syncing, so each time the task runs, you don't have to copy over say 20 gigs of mp3 files, you can just copy over the ones that have been added or changed.

Further, adding it to a task that runs each day is a little complicated, but surprisingly, Microsoft actually included a very "helpful" help file that explains this process. I couldn't be happier.

Now, everyday @ 11AM, all my music and pictures are backed up to my external hard drive. I should never have a problem again where I lose all my pictures. :-(