So at Microsoft, we have this email alias where we can post any questions we have about anything and they’ll help us. Today I asked about backing up software. The software I was using that came with my Seagate HardDrives were less than satisfactory. It didn’t have much options besides copy everything from Directory X to Directory Y and when ever it hit a problem (such as a file that it couldn’t access because the file was in use), it would stop.
Someone on that alias suggested SyncToy for Windows XP. I’ve gotta say, I’m really happy with this solution. Not only is it’s free, it has many options to choose from and even supports network directories. Only thing missing was the fact it didn’t come with a scheduler, though it did come with instructions on how to use the Windows Scheduler with the software which works for me. Another thing I wanted my backup software to do was not update files that didn’t change, but the seagate software just overwrote everything.
The different modes it supports are:
Synchronize: New and updated files are copied both ways. Renames and deletes on either side are repeated on the other.
Echo: New and updated files are copied left to right. Renames and deletes on the left are repeated on the right.
Subscribe: Updated files on the right are copied to the left if the file name already exists on the left.
Contribute: New and updated files are copied left to right. Renames on the left are repeated on the right. No deletions.
Combine: New and updated files are copied both ways. Nothing happens to renamed and deleted files.
The mode that I was looking for was exactly what Echo does.
I also got some other responses suggesting xcopy and robocopy which both did what I wanted, but SyncToy was simpler. hehe.