Comments for Can't I just copy everything instead of using a backup program?

Comment from Merna B. on 2009-11-17

2009-11-18T00:57:17Z

Robin Clay, have you looked at Karen's Replicator? ( http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp ) Other programs and a newsletter available at her home page ( http://www.karenware.com/ ).

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Comment from Robin Clay on 2009-11-17

2009-11-17T20:14:56Z

You wrote:-
"

On day three you realize the changes you made the day before were a huge mistake. Ideally what you want is the copy of the file at the end of day one, before you deleted everything. Unfortunately even your backup no longer has that, as it dutifully overwrote the backup with the results of day two's work."

That happened to me about 25 years ago. :(

What I reelly reelly want is software that will take a file on my hard-drive (say "My Current File.doc"), compare it with the files in the same folder on the back-up drive, and, if it exists, and has the same size and datestamp, ignore it. However, if either is different, the software then changes the name of the file on the back-up drive to (in this example) "My Current File 20090812 145302.doc" and then copies the new version under its own name.

I've been struggling to create a VBA routine in Excel to do this.....

Do you happen to know of any commercial software that would do it for me ?

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2007-11-18

2007-11-18T19:53:18Z

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I'm probably just not understanding the question. Based on what I *think*
you're asking, the answer would be "yes", though I would tend to copy each
partition individually.

What am I missing here?

Thanks,

Leo

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A comment on: Can't I just copy everything instead of using a backup program?

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Comment from Graham Windibank on 2007-11-17

2007-11-17T09:08:15Z

As I recd. nil response last time, please can I request an opinion to the following which hasn't been covered before as far as I am aware -
My DELL 9300 laptop has 3 partitions (all different format - FAT16.32 and NTFS) for 'DELL utilities', 'Shipping condition' recovery using Ctl/F11 and the C: partition (NTFS). The HDD also has the 'special' DELL boot sector to enable the shipping recovery action - see(www.goodells.net/dellrestore/recover.htm)
Can you advise if its possible to copy whole HDD to my ext.250Gb USB drive please and then do incremental updates of the C: partition - to cover possibility of HDD failure?
Rgds. G (an oldie UK fan)

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Comment from David on 2007-08-29

2007-08-29T19:05:59Z

I've used Acronis for years, every week I do a complete image backup and if I've ever had a problem, picked up a virus, anything at all I'm back up and running in about a half hour. It's always worked flawlessly for me. I recommend it highly.

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A comment on: Can't I just copy everything instead of using a backup program?

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Comment from MeL Konrad on 2007-08-23

2007-08-24T00:48:34Z

I'm sorry to be a 'What about me' on this subject, but I've been trying to find a product that I believe was recommended in a recent (within the last 3 months) Leo newsletter. It had to do with back-up solutions for small servers. I though it was an HP product. But HP is not answering my emails about it. I've tried to find the newsletter and haven't been able to. We have a 75GB server and I'd like daily back ups.
Thanks...

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A comment on: Can't I just copy everything instead of using a backup program?

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Comment from Cathal on 2007-08-20

2007-08-20T07:42:45Z

I agree about the new ghost software. Its completely different to the 2003 version and hard to do a complete image backup of your c: drive. I find ghost is the best (and fastest) way of doing a complete backup of your system and its fast to restore from too.

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A comment on: Can't I just copy everything instead of using a backup program?

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Comment from Ron N. on 2007-08-18

2007-08-18T12:18:03Z

I use Genie Backup Manager - and it is the only one that I can recommend to my customers.

First, it will keep your files in their original format - or zip. Most programs put them into oddball proprie-tary formats. You don�t really know if the files are any good or not. I always keep them original.

Second, it can backup directly to CD or DVD, - a lot of progs. don't do that.

Thirdly, very simple to use. It puts an icon on your desktop for quick access to a backup profile. Just click it, and your backup starts in 10 seconds. You don�t have to hunt for the backup program, then the profile, then launch the process.

Also, I use the older Ghost 2003 for my full image-type backups. Paragon and Acronis look very simple to use. They say they can backup a live system, but I would still bootup to a CD and do it from there. There are a lot of horror stories out there on the new Ghost and Acronis.

Ron N.

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Comment from Ron N. on 2007-08-18

2007-08-18T12:16:17Z

I use Genie Backup Manager - and it is the only one that I can recommend to my customers.

Second, it can backup directly to CD or DVD, - a lot of progs. don't do that.

Ron N.

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Comment from Andrew Goodall on 2007-08-18

2007-08-18T08:17:26Z

I was looking for a larger HD and noticed Aconis True Image was bundled with the HD which is a good idea. I think it was on Google.

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A comment on: Can't I just copy everything instead of using a backup program?

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Comment from Neville Turbit on 2007-08-17

2007-08-18T01:40:14Z

I started using SyncBackup from 2BrightSparks. Have been very happy with it after struggling with Retrospect for some time. There is a simple mode and an advanced mode. If you use the advanced, the configuration options can be a bit complex. It is not exactly intuitive. Must complement them however on support. They sorted out a problem I had backing up to an external hard disk and response time was within 24 hours to requests. Cost from memory was around US$45 for a 5 user license. You can trial the software for 30 days so suggest you give it a go.

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A comment on: Can't I just copy everything instead of using a backup program?

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2007-08-17

2007-08-17T20:27:29Z

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Not really, perhaps other readers will chime in with some ideas.

My default answer would be the backup utility that's included in Windows. It's
gotten a bad rap in past years, but I also understand that it's improved
somewhat as well.

Leo

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Comment from mark on 2007-08-16

2007-08-16T18:13:35Z

Leo,

Any suggestions for free/ low cost backup software? I know you "get what you pay for" much of the time, but as a recently married grad student, software can be a hit to the budget. At the same time, having to do a full reinstall mid-semester, the week before a paper is due, is daunting at best (and before you ask, my data files are safe and regularly backed up).

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A comment on: Can't I just copy everything instead of using a backup program?

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