jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I use SyncBackSE. They also have a free version. I don't have it setup to run automatically, but I backup to a NAS and two external drives every couple of days.

OlinBost Loc: Marietta, Ga.

I have a second PC dedicated to backing up my file PC. I use SyncToy to backup changed files and then use AOMIE to do a final backup. They have a free version that works great.

bobbyjohn Loc: Dallas, TX

I have used Macrium Reflect for years. It has a free version and a paid version, and all I ever need is the free version. It takes a full backup of your (one or multiple) HDs....into ONE file on an external HD. Whenever I take a backup with Macrium it takes about 1 - 1 1/2 hours for my C: (operating system) and E: (data) backup. The paid version allows you to take a backup of select data items, and also do incremental backup which takes less time since that only backs up changed or new data. In either case, you can use that backup file to restore either select data items, or to restore the entire HD in case of a HD crash using a bootable CD or thumbdrive.

IMO, it is the best and easiest backup strategy.

Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee

I too use SyncToy. I am very please with how well it works and with its simplicity. I have Windows 10 Pro and used it Windows 7. No problems.

foggypreacher Loc: Dickinson, Texas

I agree with you, markngolf. I have the same package and besides doing backups, I have used it twice for migrating OS from one Hdd to a new SSD. Not all that expensive considering the various tools available. The more I read the manual the more I can see to use and uninstall a couple of other programs. Thank you for bringing this up.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Buy a 2nd hard drive and have two sets of back-up. If one fails you have not lost all.

DoninIL Loc: East Central Illinois

I've tried a couple of backup programs. and settled on Cobian Backup. It copies without compressing or otherwise messing with the files and I can choose what I want and don't want included from drive down though folders to actual files. I can access the backups with any program to open or copy files. I run it at night when I'm done working and have it shut off the computer when it's done.

jldodge

I use SyncBack Pro. It's not free but I have used it for years to backup my "content" folders, e.g. docs, pics, pdf files, etc. It can backup or sync depending on your need. The reason I use it is that the files are directly accessible from the backup drive unlike Acronis or Paragon.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I am not a fan of file compression backup SW - much prefer plain mirroring such as acronis or Goodsync or a chron job running Robocopy or RSync. First, unless you have a ton of small files (the opposite of typical image files), the space saving is not that impressive, but more importantly, during restores, you’ll need the same application to successfully decompress the data, and there are more possibilities of a failed restore. Even with enterprise class SW such as NetBackup or CommVault, restore failures DO occur. Which brings up the next point: test a restore from backup BEFORE you really need it.

Also as mentioned above, Snapshots, which are a point in time picture of the file system, can really save you from some common failures. A snapshot consumes very little space as it only includes changes and new files since the last snapshot. It is typical to keep a number of snaps of different granularity. For example, you might 5-10 dailies, several weeklies and a monthly. It will save you from tragedies such as backing up a corrupt file system or one infected with malware/viruses (where the backup also contains the errors) or unintentionally deleting a file (or files) which then propagates to the backup, deleting that file as well. With a snapshot, you just revert the file system to a point before the corruption, or go to the snapshot directory and restore the accidentally deleted file. Some backup SW as well as file systems support this feature, and Windows has a snapshot utility VSS (volume shadow copy service). This is different from setting restore points in Windows (also recommended) as that only reverts the OS, not the user data.

Finally, once again, while a local backup is a necessity for a quick restore, a third off-site disaster recovery copy is a necessity if you care about your data. Power surges, lightning strikes, AC failures, fires, floods, thefts, backup corruption/failures and double drive failures do happen, and that’s when an off-site copy such as cloud storage if practical for your internet speed can save the one thing that all your expensive photographic equipment is designed to produce - your data. End of sermon 😁.

rck281 Loc: Overland Park, KS

I use the two backup programs built into every Windows 10 installation. File History will create a record of every version of data file. Handy if you want to find an older version. Then the Windows 7 Backup and Restore will generate a backup of the data and a System Image (to restore a drive). Multiple images may be retained based on available disk space. Every individual file may be restored.
If a more sophisticated solution is desired to implement differential and incremental backups, I recommend Acronis. If you want a free program, try Macrium Reflect.

KillroyII Loc: Middle Georgia

1st, I am sure reliable commercial software exists; however, at work (over the years) I have had several commercial packages that failed to perform... & didn’t know till the recover did not work... BAD NEWS!

... and I still don’t trust anyone’s cloud (that is another whole story)

Robocopy for me, with the Robocopy commands in batch files and some of them scheduled to run every night. I not only back up this way but also copy some of our financial/family files to my wife’s PC. I have 5 backup drives (yes paranoid), 4 in use at all times and 2 of the 5 are swapped out every so often in safe deposit box at bank. All my drives are from 2 to 8 TB.

I have “purge” in the Robocopy command line, to get rid of discarded files, on all but 1 drive... that one is a safety measure in case I accidentally deleted a needed file the Robocopy w/purge gets rid of the backup.
I do drive/directory compares every now and then...to ensure I am not missing anything. I also use log files and check them occasionally.

EDIT... oh, I don’t back up our Windows operating system or the programs... with a disk crash, I just reinstall... time consuming but an added benefit is clean installs/registry is a benefit. Yes, there are registry cleaners but they can do more harm than good.

ralf Loc: NJ

I assume you are using Windows because Mac comes with a good backup program called Time Machine. My advice: (1) dump Windows and switch to Mac, (2) use Time Machine with a dedicated backup drive that is 2X the size of all HD's being backed up, (3) get all Thunderbolt 3 drives (with Apple cables only). Macs cost more because they are worth more. The single program, Time Machine, offers enough extra value (to me) so that I don't mind paying a premium for Mac. And don't get me started on the 27" 5K screen. Back when I used Windows I recall spending $400 on a backup program, and I never got it to work the way I wanted after weeks of trying. I spend less than 1 minute setting up Time Machine fater having used the Mac Mini for about 2 days. The rest of the Mac experience is similar.
Sorry for "somewhat" changing the subject, but someone somewhere may read this and see the light and stop wasting 100's of precious, irreplaceable hours configuring Windows, and thousands of dollars for "extra" software (such as a good backup program) that should just "come with".

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

I am going to ignore my instincts and not bother on quoting the many reasons why Windows is better and just let it go at this single sentence.

rck281 Loc: Overland Park, KS

Smart Move!

It's like telling people that copy/sync programs are not backup programs.
True backup programs allow the generation of Sets of Incremental/Differential files over specified intervals. With backup sets you should be able to go back months and restore your data/system. That's my one sentence.

KillroyII Loc: Middle Georgia

Well... since you posted... boils down to these reasons (for me)… way back just after the dinosaurs died I built PCs for me, and for others... when Macs came around I was already invested/familiar with PCs and Macs cost MUCH more, were not buildable/configurable like PCs and the software not as widely available or cost effective (I grant you that has changed). Later, I have had several occasions where I had to use a Mac in a work environment (AND it seemed like PC people saw PCs as a tool but the Mac people where hard-over fanboys {or girls}… which sort of gripes me, like a Nikon user seeing my Canon equipment and needing to trash-mouth my choice (I do NOT trash-mouth Nikon users... live and let live)... by the way when I started with SLRs the Nikons had an external lever between the camera and lens and I saw that as a weakness... no longer an issue but I am long invested in Canon as are family members and just not going to change) and just couldn't become comfortable with Mac and still couldn't see spending the $ and lack customization/configuration to the PC level... now, I am too old to consider a change and everything I change my wife wants to change as well and she is worse than me regarding switching something new... and I have to provide here support.