BigHal

I have two Toshiba 931 GB USB connected external hard drives and have transferred many files to either of them at one time or another. Being USB, there are no power cords/transformers to worry about.

When transferring files to other drives, or different location on the same drive, whenever the process attempts to transfer a file identical to one in the receiving drive or folder, the system asks whether to skip or replace the receiving unit's file, or one can choose the "replace all" (or similar wording) if that is desired.

Not being a guru, I am simply telling how I transfer files. Using a "backup" procedure is a similar process but will be dependant on the process used. I hope this sheds light for your problem.

mjgoulet

I would also recommend Acronis. Don't use the cloning part of it as it does not work well but use the incremental backups. This way it only backups up what has changed since the last backup and then add a full backup every week/month. I've been using it for years and it works beautifully.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Also what's the best way to make a copy of your Lightroom catalog to an external HD?
Open LR. Go to Edit>Catalog Settings>General tab>at the bottom Back up catalog: When Lightroom next exits>OK
Then close LR and a Back UP Catalog dialog will open. Click on Choose for Backup Folder and select the external drive and a folder for it to be placed in. I use a J drive (external drive J:) and have a folder called Backups>Lightroom Catalog. It will make a new folder with todays date on it and place the newly saved catalog there.

The cloning software program I'm using for my PC is called Acronis
I don't like using cloning software because you can't go into it like a normal hard drive and find a folder or file and just copy it. You are actually creating some kind of machine language mirror copy of the files that can only be restored by running the cloning software. I use a free program called SyncToy made by Microsoft. It's easy and will make the hard drives identical. I suggest you do it before bed so that it can work through the night copying all the files and folders. After it's done, you can put the hard drive in a safe place, take it out once a month and do another sync that will add or remove files that you've added or removed from the working external drive. So if you decide to do some house keeping and delete some old pictures that were all soft or blown out, then the next time you sync using SyncToy, it will also remove the same files from the backup external drive, and at the same time add any new images it detects from the working drive. Very easy to use and you don't need to run that program to see, copy, or get at any of the images on the second external backed up drive.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

FYI: Acronis is much more than Cloning Software. Your concept of Acronis' software is incomplete and incorrect. One can open a backup file, all files, copy paste, ...without the software - just by using Windows or IOS. You might review/read previous posts/replies.
Mark

crphoto8 Loc: Anaheim, California

You can just copy over the relevant image folders using a utility like SyncToy. You can set up the specific actions (copy E:\pictures\2016 to F:\pictures\2016 for example),
then run updates once in a while just by running SyncToy. It will update only the modified folders.

wej

I have been using a device called a Tough Tech Duo for more than 2 Yrs. There is now 3 versions of the device. The new Duo C can operate on bus power if you have 3.1 to power the unit on the bus ,if not it can still operate on USB 2.0 and 3.0 but will require the use of the ac power adapter to power the device. You can select the device without the hard drives and obtain what ever 2.5" drives you prefer. It is very user friendly and can easily duplicate another drive even using a hot a swap to do so. Using this device you only need to order the additional drives and change out a drive by inserting the new formatted drive in the carrier and then insert it into the DUO. Additionally you can buy additional carriers. It will also work with 2.5 inch SSD cards. You can see the specifications and information on www.cru-inc.com/products/usb3/ Then click on the https link and then click on Tough Tech. You will see two versions of the Tough Tech. A very reliable portable solution.

This provides and endless solution for a hardware based Raid 1 configuration that resolves any backup you desire with no hassle.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

The Acronis Web Site does suggest that both the "True Image" and "Backup 12 Workstation" versions are availbe for Mac. The "Server" is only for Linux and Windows.

I have used this when I was on Windows and did a reasonable job of making a mirrored, bootable HD that I kept on the shelf for immediate use if the boot drive went south (i.e. failed).

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

Ive been using Acronis for a long time. I only use it to "clone" my main drive. I use the cloning aspect of Acronis because it makes an EXACT DUPLICATE of my main HD.
It is a process which can take a bit of time and, to be perfectly honest, would not be necessary for your purposes which is simply to back up your images from one drive to another. Cloning is best for OS's & Software.
However, the Acronis program can schedule BACK UPS which can COPY your pictures at set intervals.
It is good software.

ikaush Loc: Medford, MA

There is a very efficient and free program for synchronizing drives, partitions, folders, whatever. It is called Free File Sync (http://sourceforge.net/projects/freefilesync/).
I've been using it for years. It has a very friendly user interface, and can do a lot. It compares source drive, or partition with the destination and displays the list of files which are different. It does not show files which are identical on the source and the destination, so there is no clutter in the display. Then it has the synchronization step, which is configurable with a bunch of useful options.

camp154

I also perform manual backups by copying original drive files in My Photo folder. I then use Salty Brine's Folder Match which allows you to update only a single subfolder or multiple subfolders, copying only the files not included on the backup. Also shows you files on backup no longer on master drive in case you you want to pull back. http://www.saltybrine.com/home.htm

pego99

I use syncovery

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

Vice Versa is another well designed program - I don't think there is a free version though
http://www.tgrmn.com/

hahvee

I have found over the years time is of the essence, and copying drives very important.
On amazon search for this:
Inateck USB 3.0 to SATA Dual-Bay USB 3.0 Hard Drive Docking Station with Offline Clone Function for 2.5 / 3.5 Inch HDD SSD SATA (SATA I/ II/ III), Support 2x 8TB and UASP,

You can buy 1 terrabyte Western Digital hard drives for 49 dollars, I buy them by the dozen.
when a drive is full pop it in and hit clone, come back later and the copy is identical.

Also, I clone my laptop drives and every few months i take may backup drive and clone back to my laptop, this resets my laptop to 4 months ago, all viruses gone, my laptop becomes a new computer and you can play on internet with a fast computer again until eventually the internet screws up windows again. It is planned obsolescence, when another version of windows comes out everything starts going wrong, and I think they slowly degrade your old system, really, on purpose..
When computer stats slowing down and garbage has ruined your main registry, just pop it in and reclone it, brand new computer again.

Now that they are trying to eliminate windows 7, I cant say how important this process is. With this cloner my windows 7 computer will be running for the next 10 years good as new. They will stop help for windows 7 in 2020 I will keep going long after that.... :)

Once windows reinstalled, over wrote and installed windows 10 without my asking it! All I did was pop my laptop drive in the cloner and reclone it
brand new windows 7 again.
:)

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

Well - that's fine, as long as you haven't installed any new apps
AND you don't mind losing the past 4 months of your E-Mails ??
It's a 2-edged sword you're messing with. MicroSpit can now push GARBAGE no one wants onto your Win-10 system.
And you can't easily stop 'em (unless you disconnect from the internet).
No doubt in 10 years - they'll start to introduce crap that will crash your system that is fabulous today - but not according to microsnot plans 10 years from now.
I still have a computer that I boot every once in a while - runs Win 3.11 and Ami Pro - - just for fun.
I miss Win7 - - I still had ownership.

Travel Canon

Travel Canon
Clone drives are exact sector copies of the source drive. This is not a backup. There are programs that sync folders and files in the same order that the source drive has.
One such program is located at allwaysync.com.
There current site has this sales listing:

Buy Allway Sync Pro

Allway Sync Pro

today's special price

$25.95

Get an additional license for only $15.95

One time fee
Unlimited usage
Lifetime upgrades
Premium support

Buy Allway Sync Pro