Back up

[pmcd9]

I bought a backup drive and I want to use it to make periodic back ups of my document folders.  Do you computing geniuses have some suggestions on where I can turn to acquire the software to do this.  Freeware would be sweet, but i'll pay if I need to.

~Paul

[jough]

I use the free Windows Explorer for this. Just drag and drop the folders you want to back up.

Most backup software will stick files inside some kind of proprietary file format - not as useful as being able to unplug the backup drive and take it to a friend's house (or connect right to a new PC).

What kind of backup did you get?

[pmcd9]

It's an ACOM.  That's what i've been doing, just backing it up by hand and you're probably right, that's the best way to go.  Thanks.

~Paul

[jough]

It would be nice, of course, if you have many files in various sub-directories, to have a batch script (or a VB script, etc.) that you could run to back up everything you commonly back up.

Another use for an advanced copying tool would enable you to only back up files that had changed, etc, making your backup faster.

I don't know about you, but it takes me about half an hour to back up the important files on my hard drive, and I only have about 4Gb of data that's not programmes or media files (which I always burn to CD to archive).

P.S. I was asking what *kind* of backup drive it is, rather than the brand.  But I'll assume it's an external hard drive and not a CD or DVD burner, or tape, etc.

[pmcd9]

Yes, sorry, it's an external hard drive.  I have a LOT of files because I've taken a ton of pictures.  My documents folder is about 25 gig.  It was running pretty fast today.  I left the house before it was complete, but it was looking like it was gonna take about an hour.

~Paul

[CortJstr]

Another use for an advanced copying tool would enable you to only back up files that had changed, etc, making your backup faster.

This is what the "one touch" Maxtor drives do in theory but I've heard complaints. I just drag the folders over occaisionally but since I only have USB 1.1 it takes a while. So lately I've been being pickier, like keeping a text file of which mp3's I've made since last back up so I don't waste time overwriting the other 3,500 when I only have 24 actual new ones.

The sad part is the files I want to archive are mainly in compressed formats already (jpg, mp3, etc) so zipping is counterproductive.

Which reminds me, don't forget to create a document that lists all your various serial numbers and registrations and stuff so it's easy to reactive your programs after a crash.