to Backup to multiple disks?

Is there a program (preferably free) to backup the entire 24 Gb of "MyDocuments" in one step? A backup that will automatically continue onto several disks. Yes? No?

Thanks, people.

Mark246.

 

With 24 gigs of My Documents (plus other stuff you might like to backup), if I were you I would consider fitting a second hard drive, either internal, or external if $$$ permit. It is a more elegant, and easier, method to control, particuarly if you back up regularly.

If you want to stick with DVD's for backup, I'd sort your MyDocuments file to descending date. Create new Folders in My Documents by 3 monthly, 6 monthly, yearly date increments (whatever suits you).

Move your documents into the relevant new Folders. Back up those folders to DVD's. And then, in future, you probably only need to backup the most current folder.

Make sure you validate each Folder selection DVD, to ensure it can be read / reloaded / searched, again if needed.

IF you are happy with your backups, you could remove all the older My Documents Folders, BUT ONLY if you have validated all your DVD backups.

Hope this stirs up some ideas for you. Bazza

 

I apologize. I think my query wasn't clear.

There are actually only about 30 files in that SPECIFIC MyDocs directory... 99% of everything is in various subfolders under the MyDocs main directory. I'm pretty good at that classification thing.

I do backup everything... maybe once every few months... by copying a number of directories that will fit on a DVD, then another set of directories on the next DVD, etc... I was looking for a program that will do a COMPLETE backup, and then... maybe once a week... do an Incremental backup... just stuff that's new or changed.

I Like your 3-month suggestion, Bazza... that's a good idea... but is there a program that will do what I want? If not,... Why not? Is it Really That difficult, from a programming / buffering / data collection / hardware compatibility... point of view... to do this? I think it should not be Very difficult.

Thanks for your input, Bazza.

 

Hi
I thing it would be better for you to use 3d party software. Use True Image. I make a full backup once a month and incremental once a week. It allows to make a backup of hole hd, just os or folders. It isn't free, but there is a trial 15 days version, so you can try it. After I tried it I bought it and don't regret, just enjoy!

 

I also have Acronis True Image v10. One of the things I don't like about it is that it takes up to 4 times as long to validate your backups compared to writing the backup in the first place. :cry

I cannot figure out a reason why it should. .confused
It should be faster to read and compare data, than write it, IMO.

I am backing up from Hard drive to DVD so that might contribute to the reason why. Hard drive to hard drive (and validation), would be quicker I guess. Experts please step in.

Bazza

===

 

I have been using Karens Replicator for years and have had no problems, it does incremental backup and you can set a time on it, but the very best bit is that it's free!!!

I would suggest that with the cheapness of hard drives you get yourself one and a USB external box for storing your backups rather than using DVD media.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Karens_Replicator_d3917.html

HTH

edited for clarity

 

One more vote for True Image. Use it for ages. You need just to ask ATI to back up to DVD and run the process: ATI will tell you when to insert the next DVD. You will need about 3 DVDs: the "compress" level is about 2:1, so your entire backup will keep about 12GB

 

Wanted to add. If you want to incremental or differential back up you'd better adapt for this any external HDD - it's not so expensive nowadays. It will be much more convenient for you and you will be able to keep all the backups there: for example, the weekly backup, the monthly backup, etc. for the case you need not only the last backup archive. When using the external drive, I'd recommend the following backup scheme:
first of all create the full backup, then use the incremental backup for weekly operations and the differential one for the monthly backup. The difference between them consists in the following:
Differential backup saves changes that were made since the base full backup; these changes will be saved as subsequent backup archive. So if you want to restore, you need the first full backup and the last differential subsequent backup archive.
Incremental backup saves changes after the last (subsequent) backup. It means that when restoring you need the first full backup and the set of all incremental backups. Its benefits are in archives size that is smaller than under other ways of backup.