Backup Software 2021 *Which One You Like?*

Many thanks for all the input from everyone. :beer: I was then able to finally make a choice! It was tough the last few hours deciding. :question:
I’ve decided to use FreeFileSync. It’s open source and ad free. Plus it’s got that nifty parallel file transfer tech. Let’s just hope I don’t have to reinstall. :smiley:

I tested many backup solutions and finally settled on restic. It has windows build as well, although I use it only for linux hosts.

If you are backing up documents and pictures, you really can’t beat the Onedrive, its built into W10 and completely seamless.

Most people never heard about it but its the single best feature of W10.

I like Paragon for Image BU. But others are acceptable.
Years ago Acronis had verify problems. And instead of addressing the problem, they just deleted the hundreds of negative posts on the forum. That’s why I stopped recommending it. But that was decades ago.

I don’t think you can do better than Syncback for file type backups.
I’ve had clients on Syncback for decades without a problem.
Very customizable if you want to get complected. Yet easy on the basic level once you get the hang of it.

Even the free version is adequate for most. I use the free version to copy huge folders or zillions of files.
I don’t trust Windows all that much for big transfers. For example, Windows is not really happy with the Quickbooks file naming conventions and often kicks out a duplicate file message. Syncback doesn’t have a problem.
A hint, when doing a backup, open up the task manager and watch the disk windows. Wait till things settle down after a big job before getting frisky with the power button. The destination disk is often still chugging away after the software thinks the job is finished.
All the Best,
Jeff

I don’t do backups, at least not like this. Precious stuff (photo’s, documents etc) are all manually put on at least 2 different drives, the photo’s go online storage too.
After many years of computing I’ve come to the conclusion that when windows breaks, to the point it’s playing up, then it’s time for a fresh install anyway. Little point in restoring a 3+ year old windows installation that is fractured anyway, you are just restoring more trouble for the future and likely it’s performing less well than it should. Windows 10 has made me a bit lazy in this respect, it is so reliable (from my point of view) compared to previous versions - having had pc’s ranging from windows 95 and every version since, I have never had windows 10 crash on me once, at least not like the older ones used to which were usually fatal.
Obviously drives breaking etc is not included in that, but like I said above, those precious things are already double backed up.

I use FreeFileSync for important photos and data and copying large files. I backup to at least 4 different external hard drives.

Clonezilla for cloning system drive.

Does any use M-Disks? 1000 year archival sounds good to me :laughing:

I’ve been doing block level backups to a NAS using Veeam for years. Never had an issue, just make sure you have the restore media created beforehand.

Oh, and be sure to to test restores from time to time.
Ya’ never know when something decides to go sideways.

Be sure to make archive copies so there are older intact backups sets just in case the worst happens as in:
Current file system /or files somehow get corrupted. Then the backup software happily copies the corrupt files over the good set.
After all, it’s only doing what you told it to do.

I’m also a believer in offline storage of backup sets. Have a few external HDs to make or copy backups sets to. After the backup is done. Unplug that sucker and malware will have a hard time jumping the air gap.
All the Best,
Jeff

:+1:

Hey good tips again! I’m getting vibes now that maybe…

Group 1) People don’t care about the actual program but care a lot about their personal data (photos, files etc)

Group 2) People care about their installed programs and data.

So that means, if you belong to Group 1, then just do cloud or local backup. if you belong to group 2, then clone,local and data backups?
Either way, looks like one will be needing some time for sure! :partying_face: Easy but not easy! :smiley: :money_mouth_face:

STEP 1

1) Alternative backups to cloud
2) Alternative backups to local
3) Alternative backups to clone
4) All of the above

Then one day the system crashes…

STEP 2

1) Do fresh install
or
2) Do Clone install

Either way, it’s gonna be a ride I tell ya! :smiley:

To Clone or not to Clone?
On the systems I use for surfing or don’t have much in the way of software installed, I don’t bother to Clone. Just do the data. If it craps the bed, a fresh install, add a few open source software packages and my fav utilities and I’m ready to go.

On my main system with lots of paid for software that need activation and have defaults set to what I want and would be a major pain to get back to the ideal setup? A fresh install is an all day affair. Time to Clone.
All the Best,
Jeff

That pretty much sums it up for me too. If you have more than one or two extra pieces of software added to the basic OS re-installling all that is too much work.

Yeah that way works real good. I’m gonna go data and clone. Seems the more sensible way to approach. But first, I think I’ll try the OneDrive cloud way first like zoulas mentioned already. Then if it works out I’ll have 3 backups now! :smiley:

OneDrive works. I use it as a place to auto upload my phone camera pictures to and have certain frequently used files available without filling up the phone storage. One may find there is insufficient space unless they buy a subscription. Depends on how much “stuff” you have collected.

FreeFileSync and Norton Ghost for mirroring whole discs/partitions.

Kool brother! Will take a look once I finish the rest on my list. :smiley:

I loved Ghost, Used it for many years. I’ve done many hundreds of images and restores with it. We used it to deploy images for clients.
Only a very few gave me problems. Fancy features were few, but it was rock solid, and that whats counts.
It’s not real happy with UEFI these days. And I’m out of the game for client images.

All the Best,
Jeff

The one drive is the single best windows 10 feature. If you are not using it, you are missing out big time.

I decided to use Paragon Backup and Recovery Pro. I had problems with Acronis, Minitool, EaseUS, Macrium and Veeam. They all installed but lots of weird issues here and there. Some wouldn’t backup while others would stop halfway plus other gremlins popping up.

This morning I tried Paragon and was smooth as butter. Just finished a backup. :slight_smile: I even installed Paragon Partition Manager. Now to try FreeFileSync! :innocent:

I use Easus todo backup for image files, but every couple of months I actually remove the drive and us a stand alone drive clone device to make exact copies on an identical drive. I have drive cloning devices for both NVME and SATA drives. I do image files weekly, which is easy since I have 3 harddrives in my main laptop…2 NVME, and 1 SATA. I am fairly OCD with backups. At 1 time I had 4 identical laptops, but this laptop is a bit too pricey to do that. I may at some point buy a used one identical as it ages, but right now it is to new to find inexpensive duplicate. I do have identical files and programs on a thinner, lighter, cheaper laptop.