KVR Audio

Mustachio · Post by **Mustachio** » Wed Jul 27, 2022 10:47 pm

I have a main external drive where I keep all of my working audio and visual projects. It's several TB large of course. I'd like to make a backup copy of this drive every week or so. The problem is, the way I'm doing it TAKES FOREVER!

Lets say the drive is 3TB. I take out the backup/copy drive, THAT ALREADY HAS about 3TB on it from the last time I backed up to it.

All I really want to do is ADD THE NEW STUFF AND CHANGES to what is already on the backup drive. I don't however remember all the new stuff and changes I've made on the main drive. I can't think of or know of any way to ONLY put the new stuff and new changes on the existing backup.

So... what I end up doing is DELETING the entire 3TB on the backup drive and doing a complete fresh copy of the main drive. Of course... this takes twenty something hours. But MOST of what's being copied to the backup drive WAS already there before I had to delete it.

I've tried just selecting everything on the main drive and copying it over on top of the stuff on the backup drive, in hopes that Windows would tell me that there are a bunch of duplicates, and do I want to keep them or change them. But... WIndows never gives me this option. Whenever I've tried this, WIndows just tells me there "isn't enough space on the drive to do the transfer/copy". Well duh!

Is there ANY faster/easier way of doing what I want? Isn't there ANY way for the computer to know what's different on the two drives and just transer THAT STUFF. I mean there's only like a 25% difference on the two drives, but I always end up having to delete the entire backup drive and copy all 100% of the main drive over again.

There has to be an easier way than this.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Logga · Post by **Logga** » Thu Jul 28, 2022 7:39 am

There are several ways to do that with various tools.

I use FastCopy. There's a help page that describes how it works in detail.
For routine backup tasks, you don't have to open the app and select things manually. You can create a shortcut that performs the backup with a single click (see the Command Line section).

There are other, maybe easier to use apps, that do the same job. But I find that they're more bloated and/or they cost money.

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Thu Jul 28, 2022 8:09 am

Mustachio wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 10:47 pm Does anyone have any ideas?

Google "backup software" and do the research.
I use SyncBackPro - they also have a free version.

(related) For imaging my system I use Acronis True Image WD Edition (free when you have a Western Digital drive).

lobanov · Post by **lobanov** » Thu Jul 28, 2022 9:25 am

I use GoodSync (paid software).
Many people praise FreeFileSync (free).
Bvckup 2 is a very interesting tool and may be what you need. But I've never tried it.

I don't think you could really speed up full backup. But buckup of files that has been changed and automated backups speed up this task considerably.

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Thu Jul 28, 2022 9:55 am

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/window ... s/robocopy

Free GUI front-ends available.

bioroid · Post by **bioroid** » Thu Jul 28, 2022 10:09 am

I've been using BeyondCompare for years

https://www.scootersoftware.com/features.php

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Thu Jul 28, 2022 11:09 am

lobanov wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 9:25 am Many people praise FreeFileSync (free).

I use that one. Does what it's supposed to do nicely.

ON BEATS · Post by **ON BEATS** » Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:32 pm

Make an indoor wifi backup that adds anything that isn't already there wirelessly. My Netgear M1 Modem has the same backup feature and it is my internet wherever I go.

I have a spare Alcatel modem that has the same feature, but there is a maximum size SD card capacity, so it won't work for you.

If anybody else would like my spare modem/memory device just send a dm and I'll post it anywhere in Europe for free

Kr3eM · Post by **Kr3eM** » Thu Jul 28, 2022 3:40 pm

https://personal-backup.rathlev-home.de/index-e.html

Googly Smythe · Post by **Googly Smythe** » Thu Jul 28, 2022 6:56 pm

What's wrong with Windows Backup? Just asking, since, because I only backup projet files, a simple copy to another drive works for me.

Mustachio · Post by **Mustachio** » Fri Jul 29, 2022 9:11 am

Does Windows not have anything like Time Machine built into the OS? This was SO EASY when I was on Mac.

As it pertains to Windows, do I want "backup software" or "file synching" software for what it is I'm trying to accomplish (just saving changes, not resaving everything every time). I keep running across two different terms in my research. Are they the same thing?

I've looked at some of these free file sync/back up apps and to be honest, I don't feel safe putting them on my machine, as the GUI's look like ancient third world spyware.

Ugh...

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Fri Jul 29, 2022 9:22 am

Googly Smythe wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 6:56 pm What's wrong with Windows Backup? Just asking, since, because I only backup projet files, a simple copy to another drive works for me.

What the OP asks is more a case for a file synchronisation software than for a backup software. A full system backup is not always what you want or need. I don't do that, for example. I only backup my files to external hard drives, not the whole system.

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Fri Jul 29, 2022 9:22 am

Mustachio wrote: Fri Jul 29, 2022 9:11 am I've looked at some of these free file sync/back up apps and to be honest, I don't feel safe putting them on my machine, as the GUI's look like ancient third world spyware.

Prejudices. The mentioned FreeFileSync is safe, stable, and the GUI is alright too.

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Fri Jul 29, 2022 9:49 am

Mustachio wrote: Fri Jul 29, 2022 9:11 am As it pertains to Windows, do I want "backup software" or "file synching" software for what it is I'm trying to accomplish (just saving changes, not resaving everything every time). I keep running across two different terms in my research. Are they the same thing?

KInd of, people mix the terms up. Ultimately you want to backup your drive by syncing it's contents with an external drive.

One thing to get straight in your head is the concept of 1 way and 2 way synchronisation.
With 1 way you copy anything new or changed from your source disk to the external one. If you've deleted anything then that WILL NOT be deleted from the external. So that could grow over time into quite an archive. (so, not strictly synchronisation

)
With 2 way anything not now present on your drive (deleted project etc) WILL be deleted from the external so it remains an exact copy of your source drive.
For home use, I use 1 way, can always manually prune the external drive if it gets full of unwanted stuff.

For a no nonsense solution, I've found SyncFolder works well (in the MS app store). Genuine freeware with no ads or anything, easy set up/GUI, can be configured for scheduled backups, supports multiple ways of syncing, can show a preview of what will be backed up and a report afterwards etc. Works.

But you'll get as many recommendations as posters so just go for the one that makes sense to your way of working, clicks etc.

Googly Smythe · Post by **Googly Smythe** » Fri Jul 29, 2022 11:11 am

chk071 wrote: Fri Jul 29, 2022 9:22 am
Googly Smythe wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 6:56 pm What's wrong with Windows Backup? Just asking, since, because I only backup projet files, a simple copy to another drive works for me.
What the OP asks is more a case for a file synchronisation software than for a backup software. A full system backup is not always what you want or need. I don't do that, for example. I only backup my files to external hard drives, not the whole system.

Ah ha! Last time I used Windows backup was Windows 3.11, it was a proper backup program back then.

Faster Way To Backup/Copy?