Transferring Files to External Hard Drive -Multiple times?

KatCookie

I have an External Hard Drive that has been bought for backing up all the files on my laptop. i was wondering what the easiest way is to update all the files on the HD without adding every file twice? In other words, ONLY backing up the files that have been created or modified sice it was backed up?
thanks

sunny2004

there are many programs for this, I dont use them but I am sure someone will be along shortly with names..

Overheal

Vista Laptop?

Go to start and search for/run the windows Backup and Restore Center. search term "backup"

Go to Create a backup, follow the steps and you can now schedule how often you would like to perform the backup. It will update only files that have been modified since the last. For the first it creates a full backup o' course.

Regarding the backup being scheduled while the extern is disconnected - well ive never run backup, Im a big preference to doing everything manually because I'm OCD about computers but im sure it will generate an error, tell you to hook it in and press continue.

fletch

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=E0FC1154-C975-4814-9649-CCE41AF06EB7&displaylang=en

Overheal

fletch wrote: »

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=E0FC1154-C975-4814-9649-CCE41AF06EB7&displaylang=en

Thats really meant for syncing MP3s and Cameras etc. But good sounding app nonetheless. Not really built for system backup though.

Voodu Child

fletch wrote: »

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=E0FC1154-C975-4814-9649-CCE41AF06EB7&displaylang=en

+1

It will do exactly what you're looking for, and is simple to use. I use version 2.0, but its a beta so you might want to use 1.4 as linked above.

KatCookie

Vista Laptop?

Nope, Windows Xp..

sorry, i usually give lots of info..

How does that app help me exactly, i was going to search for files used since it was backed up.. but that would take far too long!

Voodu Child

KatCookie wrote: »

How does that app help me exactly, i was going to search for files used since it was backed up.. but that would take far too long!

You have one folder on your computer (for example 'My Music') and you create a folder on your external drive (for example 'My Music backup').

Then you start up Synctoy, and tell it to synchronise the two folders. It checks to see what needs to be copied onto your external HD, and copies it over. That's about it, there's a few other options in relation to whether you also want it to synchronise deletes/renames etc, but for the most part its very simple to use and will do what you want.

PogMoThoin

I use Acronis True Image, not free tho

KatCookie

PogMoThoin wrote: »

I use Acronis True Image, not free tho

Meh, if its not free..

PogMoThoin

KatCookie wrote: »

Meh, if its not free..

U think i paid for it

Overheal

Strange thing to ask santa for

KatCookie

Santa??

where??

/hides

Yarnhall

I've used SyncBack (2brightsparks.com) on a machine in work and hadn't any problem, version V3.2.19 is the freeware version. First time it ran took a while but a second run through was lightning fast (I'de changed nothing I wanted backed up so there's noting to backup again)