What is a good free backup software that doesn't package files

[silvan4now]

I've used SecondCopy for a long time. Best of all I've tried. Easy to config. All the features, including option to keep last n versions.

Almost free, like $29.
For me, backup is really important so most freeware is to me not trustworthy enough.
http://www.centered.com/download.html

Used as a trial and for me it did the job done. didn't purchased the full version (still one of does that think: if it's not free is not worth the effort).

 

[taltamir]

I've used SecondCopy for a long time. Best of all I've tried. Easy to config. All the features, including option to keep last n versions.

Almost free, like $29.
For me, backup is really important so most freeware is to me not trustworthy enough.
http://www.centered.com/download.html

To quote myself

I have secondcopy and it works perfectly. But it costs money and that means that if I want to setup a backup solution for friends and family I have to get them to buy it as well.

The problem lies with friends and family being too cheap to buy secondcopy and as such have no backup. I am not looking for a solution for myself as I already personally own second copy.

 

[Gooberlx2]

If you're willing to deviate from the "standard files and folders" approach...

...something like Crashplan works wonders as a backup solution to both one's local drives and/or offsite to the other friends/family in this group. Or Cobian backup, which I think uses zip files, works well also.

 

[jobz]

Surprised no one has mentioned FreeFileSync.

 

[taltamir]

Surprised no one has mentioned FreeFileSync.

I tried it, found it via wikipedia, it has no scheduling capability that I could find.

If you're willing to deviate from the "standard files and folders" approach...

No, I am not. That is in fact my #1 requirement.

huh? why do you need a GUI? drop the commands into a .bat file, set the bat file to run automatically with windows built in task scheduler.

why have more shit installed on your machine? i wouldn't want a GUI for robocopy, because then i wouldn't be able to use it in batch files.

Today a family friend, who is nearing 80, called me freaking out that his backup isn't working. I had installed second copy for him a few days ago. He used skype to let me see his desktop and I showed him where he can find the icon (windows auto-hid it), how it looks like, and checking the log confirming that it indeed is running. (he was scared because the system tray icon was being hidden by windows, making him think that the program broke)

I can't do that with a GUI-less robotcopy script. Although it would certainly work great for backing up the data.

Those I can't get to pay for secondcopy will get DirSync Pro. I filed appropriate bug reports and feature requests for that program and if need be I will make the necessary changes to it myself (since it is, after all, open source).

 

[MustISO]

Cobian and SyncBack work well for free products. No backup containers and plenty of options.

 

[Fayd]

I tried it, found it via wikipedia, it has no scheduling capability that I could find.



No, I am not. That is in fact my #1 requirement.



Today a family friend, who is nearing 80, called me freaking out that his backup isn't working. I had installed second copy for him a few days ago. He used skype to let me see his desktop and I showed him where he can find the icon (windows auto-hid it), how it looks like, and checking the log confirming that it indeed is running. (he was scared because the system tray icon was being hidden by windows, making him think that the program broke)

I can't do that with a GUI-less robotcopy script. Although it would certainly work great for backing up the data.

Those I can't get to pay for secondcopy will get DirSync Pro. I filed appropriate bug reports and feature requests for that program and if need be I will make the necessary changes to it myself (since it is, after all, open source).

insert a pause command at the end of the script.

ie:

robocopy source dest /mir
pause

it'll contain the log of what was copied/changed, and at the end it'll give a summary that will stay until they manually interact with the window. (press a key to continue/click the x)

 

[LokutusofBorg]

Taltamir, I have basically the same requirements as you, except I'm looking for myself, so I don't mind the (minimal) price requirement... Does SecondCopy fulfill everything for you? Does it do two-way sync, meaning I could sync the files on my desktop and my laptop via my file server, with changes on either being reflected on the other?

 

[biostud]

I use windows live mesh to sync my documents between my skydrive, laptop and desktop creating a "real-time" backup. Then use xxcopy to make larger backups on my external harddrive once awhile for directories too large for skydrive (photos etc.)

 

[taltamir]

Taltamir, I have basically the same requirements as you, except I'm looking for myself, so I don't mind the (minimal) price requirement... Does SecondCopy fulfill everything for you? Does it do two-way sync, meaning I could sync the files on my desktop and my laptop via my file server, with changes on either being reflected on the other?

If it has such capability, I have never noticed it. Sorry.
However, you can use their trial period and see, or check their forums.

Alternatively, I think your requirement for two way sync are unique enough that it warrants its own thread where it might get wider attention and maybe someone could give you the answer you seek. (I don't at all mind if you want to discuss it in this thread, just saying you are more likely to get an answer if you make a new one titled "I need a two way sync program")

 

[YBS1]

Puresync does all that I think.

 

[Binky]

+1 for puresync. It does all of this, it has a decent gui, and it's free for home use.

 

[The111]

How do these sync programs determine if a file is different from another?

filename, date and size?
checksum?
check all bits?

 

[Mark R]

I use a low-cost commercial product called "Oops backup".

It has a simple GUI, schedule facility, can be maintained without admin rights, is able to backup open files (which things like robocopy can't - if you have an open file, such as a word document or a mailspool, robocopy will skip it), uses an 'rsync' type function to only backup changes (including only changes in large files)

It keeps the latest backup as a simple directory tree with uncompressed files, fully accessible to the user. Older snapshots are stored as compressed patch files (which convert the current version into the old version - this is the opposite of how most backup systems work. They store the old version, and then store patches to bring it up to date). It has a nice "time-machine" like GUI for restoring old versions of files.

It's coped with me disconnecting LAN, etc. during backups, and it never corrupts anything - the backup may be incomplete, but it will retry as soon as the LAN comes back up. It doesn't interfere with shutdown/restart/log off during a backup - the backup will be stopped, and the system shutsdown instantly.

My only gripe is that it doesn't recognise iSCSI pools as remote drives, it treats them as internal hard drives, and puts big red warnings all over it (saying, this is an internal drive and does not provide optimal safety for your backup files). Still works fine though.