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Gear / Technical Help => Post-Processing, Computer / Streaming / Internet Devices & Related Activity => Topic started by: splumer on March 11, 2019, 02:18:45 PM

Title: External HD backup
Post by: splumer on March 11, 2019, 02:18:45 PM
I have two 1TB external HD's that I use. One is my primary storage device (besides my laptop's HD) and the other is a backup of the primary external. When I backup external 1 to external 2, I basically delete everything on external 2, then copy it all over from external 1, using a second computer. I'm thinking that might not be the best way. What do you recommend? I have a Win8 laptop. I'm planning on getting a new 2TB (or larger) external, but this is what I have for now. Thanks!

Title: Re: External HD backup
Post by: Gordon on March 11, 2019, 02:45:46 PM
I use https://www.goodsync.com for all my backups.  You set up backup jobs and the software compares both sides and will only add anything new or changed.
Title: Re: External HD backup
Post by: heathen on March 11, 2019, 03:27:08 PM
Robocopy is very easy.  Comes with Windows, and can be run from the command line.  I have a default command I use that I can post here if you're interested (it's saved to a text file on my home machine).
Title: Re: External HD backup
Post by: splumer on March 13, 2019, 09:39:55 AM
Robocopy is very easy.  Comes with Windows, and can be run from the command line.  I have a default command I use that I can post here if you're interested (it's saved to a text file on my home machine).

That would be helpful. My command line days are long gone.
Title: Re: External HD backup
Post by: heathen on March 13, 2019, 10:31:28 AM
Robocopy is very easy.  Comes with Windows, and can be run from the command line.  I have a default command I use that I can post here if you're interested (it's saved to a text file on my home machine).

That would be helpful. My command line days are long gone.

Code: [Select]
Robocopy Q:\Music R:\Music /MIR /Z /V
The first directory (Q:\Music in my example) is the source and the second is the destination.  If the name of your directory has a space in it you'll need to use quotes like this:

Code: [Select]
Robocopy "Q:\Live Music" "R:\Live Music" /MIR /Z /V
/MIR makes the destination a mirror of the source, so it will delete stuff that isn't present or the same as in the source.  /Z runs it in restartable mode (I've never needed to restart it though).  /V is verbose output...that can easily be omitted (I like seeing it scroll through all the directories though, but that's mostly so I can feel like I'm in the Matrix).  Here's a full list of commands and such: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/robocopy
Title: Re: External HD backup
Post by: KenH on March 13, 2019, 11:09:37 AM
I've been using WinMerge to compare multiple backup disks of my primary music drive to make sure I didn't miss anything. Works great, and it's fast (if you just compare by Size, otherwise it compares actual content which takes a looong time w/ about 250 GB!).
Can d/l it from sourceforge.net.