Toronto Photography Meetup Group

I currently have all my RAWs and processed jpegs backed up to an external hard drive. I intend to purchase a second external hard drive so that I can store a backup drive at work. I intend to swap the backups periodically. I want to keep it simple and cheap. No NAS or multidisc RAID configuration. I am self-disciplined enough to backup regularly.
Once a week I backup any RAWs or jpegs that I process. Currently I use a free MicroSoft program called SynchToy to copy files from my hard drive to my external. I want a program that mirrors my hard drive files on to the external. I thought that is what SynchToy is supposed to do. But I don't seem to be able to use it properly. When I cull non-keeper RAWs from my PC drive they don

OK then....what software, if any, do you use to schedule backups?

I use a free Microsoft power tool (I forget the name, but I will check when I get home) to basically schedule "backups". I put it in quotes because I actually just wanted a tool that will mirror my entire image library without compressing it or putting it into any weird formats. Anyways, the tool is intelligent enough to see what the differences are and apply those accordingly handling new files, deleted files, etc.

+1 for "no weird formats." i have nothing but good experience with synctoy and dsynchronize. the former is faster but adds it's own tracking files; the latter scans for changes each time. both have been doing the job here for years, daily

PS. "I don't seem to be able to use it properly." I'm afraid that may be the case.

if you are not afraid of the command prompt, you can use xcopy. It has a bunch of options and can copy, or mirror, a directory to another.

You can create a bat file, and then set up a schedule in windows scheduler.

Having re-read the original post, I am pretty sure that I'm actually using SyncToy. SyncToy definitely does delete files on the backup volume based on your source, so I think there is something off in your settings. I think Vilk's PS might be accurate

I will double check what settings I use and will post them here.

How about SyncBack? There's a freeware version which might meet your needs.

I use synctoy also. have for years. i use "SyncToy Action: Echo" to be sure any changes i make on my "master" drive get to the backup. i use two separate usb backup drives and i gave them different drive letters.

I've been using Allway Sync. Works perfect for my needs.

+1

I use this too. It ensures all new files are backed up but smart enough not to overwrite same files to your backup drive. It is a plain file explorer type of interface so there are no thumbnail previews.

It is fast, simple and reliable. I run scheduled or just manual updates - 2 thumbs up (for me atleast)!