Poll on Backup software

Haydon · Mar 18, 2022

ddelo said:
/MIR = mirror the folders, as the data I want are in the source folder
/XX = If there are any files in the destination folder that haven't been backed up (like Junctions, remember in the backup command we used /XJ to exclude junctions), don't touch them, I.e. don't delete them

It is astonishing (to me) that these broadly defined switches (/XJ in backup mode and /XX in restore mode) work so accurately, right down to individual files. I wonder if these switches have been purposely designed to work in such a complementary go-and-return fashion in robocopy?

It may or may not have any bearing on the issue, but I notice in the other thread that you don't use the /B switch in backup mode, can I ask why?

jimbo45 · Mar 18, 2022

Macrium for System images, rsync with it's GUI GRSYNC for data backup (from NAS to external devices). If I need to clone a disk or copy a specific partition I simply use Linux DD comand from any Linux live distro as I don't need to worry about format, file system, gpt flags etc or anything else - DD just copies byte for byte by reading physical data irrespective of file system. Disadvantage of this though is that any errors are propagated (whether physical disk errors or corrupted data) and there's no compression etc so could take longer (probably will) than classic disk cloning via systems like macrium. DD though as stated does not depend on any file system whateever.

Whatever system you use always have backups even if its only copies via file explorer. And for those using NAS systems - don't forget those should be backed up regularly too.

Cheers
jimbo

ddelo · Mar 18, 2022

Haydon said:
It may or may not have any bearing on the issue, but I notice in the other thread that you don't use the /B switch in backup mode, can I ask why?

As far as I know /B is to overcome ACL (permission) issues.
Starting with the fact that I always run robocopy as Administrator, plus that I don't want to copy any System or TrustedInstaller owned files I figured that I didn't need it. It turned out, over the years I use it, that I don't need it.
I would guess that it won't hurt if you use it.

Haydon · Mar 18, 2022

ddelo said:
As far as I know /B is to overcome ACL (permission) issues.
Starting with the fact that I always run robocopy as Administrator, plus that I don't want to copy any System or TrustedInstaller owned files I figured that I didn't need it. It turned out, over the years I use it, that I don't need it.
I would guess that it won't hurt if you use it.

The 'do not want to copy system files' would probably be important for data migration from an old W10 computer to a new W11 computer.

How suitable is robocopy for data migration?

ddelo · Mar 18, 2022

Haydon said:
The 'do not want to copy system files' would probably be important for data migration from an old W10 computer to a new W11 computer.

How suitable is robocopy for data migration?

I'd say more than suitable. That's how I migrated all my data from my old laptop to the new one, without any problem.

Haydon · Mar 18, 2022

ddelo said:
I'd say more than suitable. That's how I migrated all my data from my old laptop to the new one, without any problem.

Care to share the robocopy command lines for backup and restore for data migration?

It has to be "just the data ma'am"

Edit: It must also be "all the data sir"

Edit #2: This has become OT here, I have started a new thread
User data migration from old W10 machine to new W11 machine

jbcarreon123 · Mar 25, 2022

Before, I don't have a backup solution. Now, I have 3 backup solutions:
1 - Robocopy (I forgot to click Other on the poll) - 2 times per day
2 - EaseUS Todo Backup [Home Edition Lifetime License], thanks @z3r010 for hooking me up a key. - Monthly
3 - Drive for Desktop's built in File backup (again, I forgot to click Other on the poll) - immediately

I save it on my Workspace Google Drive (until I have a reliable hard drive), using Drive for Desktop. Except for the EaseUS backups.

I backup my D Drive, twice (using Robocopy, EaseUS Todo), also backuped up my Chromes User folder once (I don't want to login to my 4 Google Accounts, ElevenForum account and wait for the 2FA email (I leave it on for you guessed it, Security), TwelveForums account and wait again for my 2FA email, TenForums account and many more), my Win11CompChk Alpha files, 3 times (because I don't want it to lose, like my prototype WinNTweaker lost because of a dead hard drive)

Ranett · Mar 29, 2022

Macrium has been pretty solid for me over the years.

FJRMarty · Mar 30, 2022

I am currently using FreeFileSync to backup my data / docs. I did install a free version of Macrium, but I have yet to try it. I think my new laptop has a basic restore file so I'm not in a hurry.

TeckyMike · Apr 10, 2022

Long way from Zip Zilla!

barreleye · Apr 14, 2022

I didn't see Image for Windows mentioned. Terabyte Unlimited makes excellent products, been using them for 10+ years.

For file-based backups, SyncBackPro.

Stigg · Apr 14, 2022

barreleye said:
I didn't see Image for Windows mentioned. Terabyte Unlimited makes excellent products, been using them for 10+ years.

For file-based backups, SyncBackPro.

I've been using TeraByte Unlimited Image For Windows for years. I've never had a failed restoration.
I've also used its various other tools that come with TeraByte Drive Image Backup and Restore Suite. There are some powerful utilities in the bundle.

Home

Software to backup your computer, copy hard drives, boot multiple operating systems, manage the clipboard, capture the screen and more.

www.terabyteunlimited.com

For file backups, I use Bvckup 2. It is simple, light and extremely fast.

Bvckup 2 | Simple fast backup

Simple fast backup for Windows

bvckup2.com

RD Mercer · Apr 15, 2022

barreleye said:
I didn't see Image for Windows mentioned. Terabyte Unlimited makes excellent products, been using them for 10+ years.

For file-based backups, SyncBackPro.

I'll take a look at that, although, I have had the same outcome with Acronis True Image, "never mention here" I have never had one issue with Acronis. Funny thing is, if you search imaging or backup software, Acronis is usually the best choice, or minimal second best, also you can back up to the cloud with Acronis, I don't know of any other products that offer this. Maybe folks are just looking for free backup software is why Macrium, how can you not put a price value on any of these backup products? I backup every week, and Acronis is easy, fast and works for me, of course all this is just my opinion.

cereberus · Apr 15, 2022

RD Mercer said:
I'll take a look at that, although, I have had the same outcome with Acronis True Image, "never mention here" I have never had one issue with Acronis. Funny thing is, if you search imaging or backup software, Acronis is usually the best choice, or minimal second best, also you can back up to the cloud with Acronis, I don't know of any other products that offer this. Maybe folks are just looking for free backup software is why Macrium, how can you not put a price value on any of these backup products? I backup every week, and Acronis is easy, fast and works for me, of course all this is just my opinion.

Its all kind of bovine excrement really.

It is not what tool one uses, but the fact that a tool is being used.

I unashamedly endorse Macrium Reflect Free as

(a) proven to be reliable
(b) meets most people's needs
(c) free.

However, a lot here will probably use Easeus following the generous handout of the Pro version free.

It certainly meets (b) and (c) above (I reserve judgement on (a) untill we get feedback from these new users).

With regard to Acronis (and paid versions of other players), people have to judge for themselves if the (additional) benefit is worth the cost. For majority, the free versions are adequate for their needs.

By far the bigger concern, based on my own experiences, is that outside the sort of people on these forums, very few even know about image backups rather than actually doing them. I would be amazed if this was more than 10%.

RD Mercer · Apr 15, 2022

cereberus said:
Its all kind of bovine excrement really.

I totally agree with this.

zack ibraham · Apr 16, 2022

Currently I am using Gs Richcopy 360 , It is a kind of robust backup tool , run it and forget

Haydon · Apr 17, 2022

About all the backup hoopla ... amazingly loud and everlasting bovine farts ... if only the average user would simply copy their most important data on a USB stick!

cereberus · Apr 17, 2022

Haydon said:
About all the backup hoopla ... amazingly loud and everlasting bovine farts ... if only the average user would simply copy their most important data on a USB stick!

Yep. What I find interesting is making backups is age related. Older people are generally more fastidious (grew up with less reliable devices and/or bitten up the bum at some point).

Megahertz · Jul 3, 2022

My OSs and data are on different partitions / drives.
This are my OSs:
- Win 7 HP (my main OS) + Lubuntu on a 128G M.2 drive.
- Win 10 or Win 11 on a 256G SATA 2.5" SSD
- Win 7 HP (backup) on a 1T HDD

My main Data drive is a 1T HDD

For the OSs I have two full images:
- Fresh install (OS + basic software) - Just after install
- Last full image (updated every 3 months)

Every Friday I attach the power cable to the 1T backup HDD and boot from it.
The Win 7 HP backup has all tools for maintenance and backup but not all software s of the main drive.
For backup I use two tools:
- ViceVersaPro (File Synchronization, File Replication, File Backup and File Comparison) that I use to replicate (clone) all D:\User\Luiz folder from my data drive to the backup drive.
I also use ViceVersaPro to synchronize my desktop data with my laptop using a LAN connection
- Macrium Reflect to generate full OS drive images

I used to have Acronis True Image Home 2014 Premium but I replaced with with Macrium Reflect full version that I bought last Black Friday by half the price.

Another good image software is O&O DiskImage

cereberus · Jul 4, 2022

cereberus said:
We had a poll several years back, and no prizes for guessing which app had over 67% for tenforums user?

Interesting to see main leader still 2/3rds of forum readers favourite.

Poll on Backup software

Which imaging program do you use for backups?

Macrium

EaseUS todo

Aomei

Windows 7 system imaging in Windows 10 or 11

Acronis

Ashampoo

Paragon

Cloud based

Other (please post to explain)

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