Backup / Sync Software Recommendations Please

Witterings said:

FreeFileSync is good and easy to use, I've found how you can backup to googledrive but I can't see that it backs up to Onedrive unless I've missed something?

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A backup/sync to OneDrive would be to the OneDrive location on your PC. FreeFileSync can access this location. Then OneDrive automatically reflects those files to the cloud. An alternative is to move all your files to OneDrive, and they will automatically be saved in the cloud with versioning.

Microsoft is pushing OneDrive so hard that I treat it like a virus, I don't let it anywhere near any system of mine! I've disabled/uninstalled it everywhere, and I want it to stay gone. Clearly there's an ulterior motive to all the emphasis on OneDrive, and it probably can't be good for me.

gunrunnerjohn said:

Microsoft is pushing OneDrive so hard that I treat it like a virus, I don't let it anywhere near any system of mine! I've disabled/uninstalled it everywhere, and I want it to stay gone. Clearly there's an ulterior motive to all the emphasis on OneDrive, and it probably can't be good for me.

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It's not jsut Onedrive, it's absolutely everything.
I've just been forced to buy a new PC and laptop .... only reason, because they won't upgrade to Win 11 .... If it really is a security isssue, I'm sure this could have been resolved for older machines via software or a USB dongle .... but instead now billions of computers are going to go into landfill so Microsoft can increase their profits.
On buying new machines, they try and lock you into signing in with a Microsoft account and every App you then log into like my work Outlook / e-mail they ask do you want this for all Apps .... just so the can track / control you and Edge is shoved down your throat at every opportunity they can ... I never liked this company, I'm now seriously starting to absolutley hate them and I'm sure I'm not alone.

Quandary said:

A backup/sync to OneDrive would be to the OneDrive location on your PC. FreeFileSync can access this location. Then OneDrive automatically reflects those files to the cloud. An alternative is to move all your files to OneDrive, and they will automatically be saved in the cloud with versioning.

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As per my reply above but it's not just that, photos and various other things are stored on a NAS and I don't want them taking up a huge amount of space on my laptop.

In case anyone else finds this thread in the future but may also be of interest to people contributing.

I intalled Syncback Pro and started running it at about 12.00pm today, backing up around 170 gb of photos with a few videos to Onedrive .... at around 4.00pm it seemed to be so slow, which I thought was Microsoft throttling the upload but I installed Syncovery and ran it in tandem, and despite starting 4 hours later, it finished with Syncback Pro showing at least 3+ hours left to run.

I much prefer the Syncback Pro's interface and method of logging into a Microsoft Onedrive account as it's far easier / more intuative but when it takes at least double the amount of time ...... hmmmm.

antspants said:

If you’re looking for a replacement for Goodsync, I’ve been using FreeFileSync (Free, they don’t sell it) for quite a while now to sync my personal files (I use Hasleo Free for System images, however Hasleo will backup anything), I love that free software. Works so well.

FreeFileSync

Download FreeFileSync 14.9. FreeFileSync is a free open source data backup software that helps you synchronize files and folders on Windows, Linux and macOS.

freefilesync.org

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I use FreefileSync too, there is a 'donation' version that unlocks a few extra features.

After continued testing, I've uninstalled Acronis for WD. It had a driver that was stopping Direct Storage from operating (ngscan). Once I uninstalled it Direct Storage was working again.

You can check your Direct Storage by opening up Windows Gaming (win-G) - Widget Menu (upper center bar) - Widgets (gear icon) - More Settings - Gaming Features. It's convoluted, but you can check your Direct Storage options there.

I do play/stream a couple of games that take advantage of DS so having that function helps with performance.

lilian said:

Take a look at these tools
-Teracopy
- SyncBack
- Gs Richcopy360
- FreeFileSync
- Goodsync
All are my finalist best copy tools

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I have looked at / tried most, Teracopy and FreeFileSync won't backup to Onedrive for business, the latter though is brilliant for local files.

Syncback Pro is good and easy to use but relatively slow, I compared it to Syncovery which although not as "nice" to use was significantly faster toi Onedrive Busniess with the same settings .... you can adjust Syncovery to copy / sync more than the default 3 files at a time (can't with Syncback) which I'm sure would make it faster again.

Goodsync .... I bought a lifetime licence years ago which didn't do cloud and again was good for local files, the newer versions do Cloud, I would have gone with that if they did a lifetime licence but they don't .... certainly the worlds use of the phrase lifetime licence has migrated, it used to mean what it said now it seems it's lifetime for that one product without upgrades.

Went to download GS Richcopy360 and you can't without giving a business e-mail which to me means they want to spam you and is a red flag for me but it also knocks out millions of potential home users .....
I've just walked away from it but could have been a potential sale .... I could also of been reporting in here what a great product it was which would result in other people seeing that report and potentially more sales, they in turn telling their friends how great it is so the cycle continues ...... very short sighted of them on my opinion and maybe why I've never heard of them before.

I've still got about 3 weeks of my free trial of Syncovery left and unless I find something as good in the interim that's where my money will go.

I thought I understood what backup software does, but after reading these posts, I'm not so sure. I thought backup software (Hasleo, Macrium, iDrive, etc.) backed-up your system to an external location and a local external drive creating initial and then incremental backups. But people here have been mentioning disk imaging, syncing, and other terms. Can someone recommend a good and comprehensive where I can have a better understanding of all this? Websites like TechTarget and PC Mag seem to just focus on the need for "backing-up" a drive.

Tasmania Green said:

I thought I understood what backup software does, but after reading these posts, I'm not so sure. I thought backup software (Hasleo, Macrium, iDrive, etc.) backed-up your system to an external location and a local external drive creating initial and then incremental backups. But people here have been mentioning disk imaging, syncing, and other terms. Can someone recommend a good and comprehensive where I can have a better understanding of all this? Websites like TechTarget and PC Mag seem to just focus on the need for "backing-up" a drive.

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I gave you a tutorial on how to use Hasleo to create your first system image ages ago, And in the following post after that, there are links to other processes like restoring an image, creating a clone (which you don’t need) Syncing, which is simply backing up files. But I think you said it was too complicated.
If you can learn Azure, you can master a simple click to succeed system imaging app like Hasleo. You can do it.

antspants said:

I gave you a tutorial on how to use Hasleo to create your first system image ages ago, And in the following post after that, there are links to other processes like restoring an image, creating a clone (which you don’t need) Syncing, which is simply backing up files. But I think you said it was too complicated.
If you can learn Azure, you can master a simple click to succeed system imaging app like Hasleo. You can do it.

antspants - Tips for using Hasleo Backup (Free) for the first time

This Tutorial will help guide you with using Hasleo Backup (Free) for the first time. A step by step process for creating a Windows 11 system image which is a comprehensive backup of your entire computer, including the operating system, installed programs, system settings, and personal files...

www.elevenforum.com

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Thanks for the reminder. I'll go back and review that post. I'm glad this forum saves old posts.

Tasmania Green said:

Thanks for the reminder. I'll go back and review that post. I'm glad this forum saves old posts.

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Just take your time, Mike. Read it carefully and take notes if you need to.
I am not sure if there is a Macrium tutorial anywhere mate. But I can tell you that there are probably more members that use Macrium than Hasleo, so responses to queries may generally be faster?

I can help you privately with Hasleo, but in a limited capacity. I create an image, I restore an image. That’s about as much as my knowledge goes.
Incremental is available, also retention (How many or how long an image is kept so you don't end up with 100 incremental’s) etc etc ad nauseam

antspants said:

Just take your time, Mike. Read it carefully and take notes if you need to.
I am not sure if there is a Macrium tutorial anywhere mate. But I can tell you that there are probably more members that use Macrium than Hasleo, so responses to queries would generally be faster?

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Yes, going slow is the way to go. I've read the post once and will re-read it again later. I follow a computer website called "Ask Leo." He likes Macrium and has screenshots and explanations.

Tasmania Green said:

I follow a computer website called "Ask Leo." He likes Macrium and has screenshots and explanations.

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You mean like in the tutorial I made?

antspants said:

You mean like in the tutorial I made?

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Almost. Not nearly as good as yours, but at least he tried. (Did I win brownie points? lol)

Tasmania Green said:

Almost. Not nearly as good as yours, but at least he tried. (Did I win brownie points? lol)

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I’m blushing and vomiting at the same time > Blumiting

Tasmania Green said:

Almost. Not nearly as good as yours, but at least he tried. (Did I win brownie points? lol)

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LOL

Does Macrium store a copy of your backup on their computers? I know that some backup software creates an off-site copy and then a local copy on your external drive.

Local.

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