Free Windows Backup Needed

May 5, 2004 11:54 PM

Can you recommend a FREE backup utility for Windows? [More Inside!]

I have a bunch of {ehem} data on one drive that I want to backup to another drive. I'd like to be able to schedule the task to run routinely. It would also be nice if it would just backup anything new or anything that has recently changed (rather than backing up the entire drive each time). My searches have turned up a few options, but most of them cost a fair amount of money and my "data" just isn't THAT important. Thanks!

posted by Witty to computers & internet (8 comments total)

If you've got windows XP, the built in backup is absolutely perfect for this:
Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup.

You can set it to do a full or incremental backup (the "new stuff only" request you made above), and you can scehdule it to happen anytime you'd like. I've got mine running every morning at 4am.

No need to pay for anything.
posted by malphigian at 12:00 AM on May 6, 2004

Let me be the first to weigh in with the inevitable...
cwrsync
posted by seanyboy at 12:09 AM on May 6, 2004

rsync is nice, but more primed for syncing stuff up over a network than locally. Chances are the builtin backup will do you want. You might also want to have a look at the options for the commandline 'copy' command, it might well have an "update only files newer on source than destination", and possibly even a "delete files on destination that don't exist on source". Don't have a windows machine handy to check I'm afraid, copy /? should shed some light.

Also, is "{ehem} data" mp3s or pornography these days?
posted by fvw at 12:19 AM on May 6, 2004

Ahhhh. Yes. The whole - "read the question first and then answer it" thing.
Sorry. I'm going to recommend xcopy then.
Type "xcopy /?" at a command prompt for more info.
Put it in a batch file and add to your scheduled items list to do it regularly.

Also - Doesn't Windows still come with Briefcase. That'd do what you wanted.
posted by seanyboy at 12:27 AM on May 6, 2004

I believe I was using, before my drive got wiped out, Backup4All. It was Good.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:03 AM on May 6, 2004

The Windows backup program is on 2000 as well.
posted by internal at 11:20 AM on May 6, 2004

My xcopy-powered scheduled task reads:

"C:\WINDOWS\system32\xcopy.exe d:\projects C:\bkup\Projects /m /e /c /i /h /y"

YMMV
posted by signal at 12:26 PM on May 6, 2004

"C:\WINDOWS\system32\xcopy.exe d:\projects C:\bkup\Projects /m /e /c /i /h /y"

/m /e /c ... see you real soon!
/i /h /y ... why? because we like you!
posted by kindall at 3:33 PM on May 6, 2004