jlsphoto Loc: Chcago SubBurbs

I am curious what software others are using to back up their photos to another drive. I use a windows pc. I thought there was a recent post on this subject but I could not find it. Please advise.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I use Carbonite, as well as an external pocket drive (simply copying to it).

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

For an attached drive (USB for example) you can use native Windows facilities. For remote drives (includes any drive reached through any network) you have many good choices. The native Windows facilities will schedule the backups and do incremental updates. For just copying the new stuff when you want to, plain old copying is fine.

While you did not specifically ask, I recommend using both local (attached or attachable) backup AND off-site (a friend or relative or the cloud). While some cloud choices may be better than others, the most important thing is that you have an offsite copy. The reason is simple. There are many ways for disaster to befall your physical data storage in addition to the most obvious stuff like disk failures. Fire, flood, theft, vandalism, earthquake, tornado, etc.

And, of course, use an automatic backup as often as makes sense for you. Daily, overnight is easy and excellent.

The "best" backup in the cloud will offer you several generations of backup. If you ever backup corrupt data onto a perfectly good copy you will then understand why generations are good to have. They also protect from inadvertent changes and deletions.

Last but not least, in choosing offsite or cloud backup consider privacy and security. Security is about ensuring that nobody can read or obtain your information unless you want them to be able. Privacy is ensuring that only those you trust actually can read or see your information. You can have security without privacy. You cannot have privacy for long without security.

It costs very little in time, effort and or money to get this right. If you value your "stuff" then protect it.

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

I use Sync Toy, simple to use and it's free.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I use SyncBack Free. Been using it for 12 yrs without a mishap. I use it to manage backups to local external drives, Google Drive and Backblaze.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I use SyncBack SE. There is also a free version available. I have seven folders that I back up to two externals and a NAS. It can take a long time to do the first backup, but after that, it's a few minutes or less, depending on how many changes there are. I have mine set up to Mirror, so that the files on G are the same as those on C. As I delete from my computer, the backup drive also deletes them.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I simply copy the downloaded files to two hard drives, each in two separate systems. I'm looking at purchasing a recently released system that can handle 40TB. It' being released by Synology. I'll still use my current system in conjunction with that one.
--Bob

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

"Handling 40TB" is one thing. Buying 40TB of hard drive is another.

GLKTN Loc: TN

GLKTN Loc: TN

Safe deposit box would be safe and private.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I'm very happy with Syncback, the free version. I never turn off my PC so I programmed it to run in the background at night when I'm sleeping.