martyr2013 Loc: Massachusetts

I started using Picture Keeper which goes through my computer ans backs up all my photos. It doesn't back up duplicates and on subsequent back ups only gets the new shots. I've been backing up to a 128GB flash drive. When it is full I'll just get another flash drive.

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

Copy and paste. Most backup software uses a compression algorithm so you can not look at the backup and just select a file to copy. However, there are some out there that actually just copy the files as is and you can look at the backup and select any file to restore like you can with copy and paste. I also use an on-line service called Mozy that will let me restore any file back to the original location or to a different one if desired.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

I disagree with every post here. We keep on going over this same issue time and again.

If you feel safer doing it yourself, then do it. Sounds like nostalgia reigns here. I used to do this twenty years ago. And too often I could not restore what I needed. The other problem here is that you are using another mechanical device that could fail. And another problem is that the backup is on-site.

So far, no one has explained why this approach is better than using a service to back up to the cloud. I use carbonite and have been able to restore what I needed so long as it had not been deleted more than thirty days ago. I can restore a file in as little time as it takes if you had backed up locally. I do not have to worry about a mechanical failure and I can get a file if I am thousands a miles away. With all I have invested in photography plus a lot of other personal files, $60 annually is cheap insurance. And all this is done reliably in the background so I can spend more time on photography.

Jerry G Loc: Waterford, Michigan and Florida

I will give one reason that is a common in the various places I go. Lack of internet service.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

In the old days, when I had 500 desktops to deal with, we did "since saves" in the evening and full backups every Friday night after COB. That worked well but seems a bit much for photos if you have to do it manually.
Memory is so cheap now that saving full files is no big deal, no need to compress. Just sort Pictures Folder by date and copy and paste the new stuff.
If I was still working full time I'd use a software that did backups to an external drive without compression. Once a week or so I'd copy to the Cloud.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

You got me there. You are right. I had not thought of that. However, you suggest that you are at those places only some of the time. Once home, you can then use the cloud. Right?

tomad Loc: North Carolina

I copy/paste to the first external drive then run a Windows 10 script that copies only new/changed files to a second external drive.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I have used SyncBack for years. It was free. It is quite flexible allowing syncing in both directions, one direction, or simple backup.

CaptainEd

SycBack is a great tool. Once you have it working the way you want you can setup a scheduled task to have Windows execute the transfer on your desired schedule.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Let me begin with an apology. I was a participant in your last thread and one of those that helped “highjack” it. I answered an innocent question with a simple answer, and then it went way downhill from there. I am sorry - it won’t happen again.

Now to your question. I copy and paste because: (a) I have seen too many restores from backups fail, even with enterprise quality backup SW like NetBackup, and my observation is that users rarely test their restores (until it is actually needed and too late to address any issues). (b) when I copy/paste or mirror data, I can see and use the copied file as is - no decompression algorithm or restore procedure. Some times I use Xcopy (with appropriate options to copy only the files I want), sometimes I just drag and drop, and sometimes I RSync to a remote system.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

When DOS reigned, I used XCOPY religiously, and knew by heart all the 'switches' that could be used. But, I left the 'command line' interface a long time ago (before Win 7). I contend there are just better ways to do it now.

Your point about compression algorithms is spot on, and one of the things I like about SyncBackSE. The files are simply copied to the destination, and are completely usable from there, without using any 'unpack' function.

Nanarozzi Loc: Brentwood, TN & East TN

I stopped using backup software a while back. I had issues with many backup software programs. I personally decided if something happened I would do a clean install of everything anyway to get away from bloat created over time, so I just copy everything (all important files - pictures - Adobe styles - fonts - etc) using a program called Beyond Compare. There may be a better program now, but I've used it for so long....it's just a habit. When I get a new computer, I've found it's just easier to get started this way. I usually run Beyond Compare about once a week. So far it's worked for me.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I use Robocopy which is totally configurable and comes free with windows. I wrote a Rexx script (DOS Batch script would also work) that runs it from windows task scheduler (also comes free with windows and is like a lame CRON) and automatically copies all my important data files, including all my photos and MP3's, to an external drive daily at 9:30AM. I have it do an incremental back up, which means it only copies new files. I also have it delete missing files from the backup. On Mondays, the back up copies files to a second external drive. If my old computer is on line, it also sends the files to my old, networked computer.

In addition, I also do a daily back-up with Western Digital software that does an incremental back up and also keeps the last 5 (configurable) versions of files that are deleted.

Both Robocopy and the western digtal software copy full, non-compressed files that are directly readable with any file manager (I use Altap Salamander, the best file manager I know of.) JPG photos are already compressed, as JPG is photo compression software and further compression is pretty much worthless. Same with MP3's.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I use Acronis to backup my computer. But the files on my external hard drives (all my pictures) get backed up using the copy/paste method. If the file is already there, it asks me how I want to treat it - whether replace, ignore, or have both. If you click one of them plus the "do same for all" it will treat all duplicates that way. Saves time. If you're only backing up new files, it will ignore all the duplicated files without you having to sort them out.

One of my computer gurus suggested I use "Beyond Compare." He uses it. I think it was priced at about $50, and I've never had the funds free to buy it. I watched him using it. It pulls up both indices and shows details (like size, dates, etc.) And it will TELL you if they're not exactly the same. So, for example, if you've updated one of the files on the original disc and haven't copied it to the backup disc, it will highlight that file. Then you can individually tell it what to do.

Jerry G Loc: Waterford, Michigan and Florida

Yes I could use the cloud as an addition backup and I have thought about it.