Can anyone recommend free software for image-copy and file-based backups?

I want to do an image copy of my hard drive, and also set up a file-based backup software for my system so that certain folders can be backup up at regular intervals. I'm running windows XP.

Can anyone recommend some good free software to accomplish these two things?

Thanks!

 

Hi,

Take a look at Todo backup. It will definitely image the whole disk and looks like it will do specific folders as well.

If you decide to use it, don't forget to use the option under Tools to create a bootable CD version. It may be useful should you have a major problem and not be able to use the Windows version to perform a restore.

Their website has a few brief guides here. Just click on the specific feature and it takes you to a screenshot guide for that item.

 

http://redobackup.org/ for imaging
Cobian backup to backup files
All free.

 

@foogoo Cobian looks like something I could use. I was just copying a few important documents to a separate partition for safe keeping earlier tonight. I'll give it a try to see if it automates the process.

 

I noticed Cobian 10 does Shadow Volume Copy. How is that different from an image copy???

 

believe volume shadow sets all the window processes to the side so the system can create a back up all data involved while the system is running. may be right or wrong though, maybe someone can post a better description?

 

Right Cobian copies files it doesn't make an image. Volume shadow copy makes a temporary snapshot of the data being backed up so you don't get those 'file in use errors' while copying. So 'locked' or 'file in use' can be backed up.
Great program, I used it at work for a while, where the method for back up was running WinZip, which would always error on locked files, so with the scheduler & email report, made it an excellent tool.

If you just want to write your own batch file, I'd suggest Hobocopy - like Robocopy with VSS.