GoodSync is cheap and I use it to mirror drives drives and directories to other drives, all automatically in the back ground whenever the backup drives are online.

I really like SyncBackSE for backing up files. It's compatible with Vista 64, not sure about Windows 7. There is a free trial.

acronis for every major update / program install (usually once a month), and win 7's built in for files. it's 'free'. it works, what more do i need?

leslie

btw using acronis ver 10 on 7/64bit with no problems (i've restored a couple of times).

Thanks for the helpful replies, folks. Much appreciated.

Leslie, thanks for your specific comments on Acronis and Win7 x64. Is there any reason why you didn't mention using Acronis for file backups, too? My understanding is that Acronis will do imaging and individual file backups.

Steve

Retrospect is excellent for backups used in conjunction with Acronis True Image.

Historically, Windows pre-installed stock backup software has never been too reliable, or so I hear.

Syncback SE does a much better job than Acronis will. I like Acronis for imaging...but it's "file and folder" backup are sketchy at best.

I rank em on how difficult is is to restore...and with SyncBack...I have never lost a single file. Can't say the same for Acronis....

I did use Retrospect for a long while and it was solid...but a bit of a bear to set up.

Over here we use a combo of SyncbackSE and Windows Home Server which has a wicked backup process....

Cheers!

VP

I use SyncBackSE (the pay version - it's worth it) for file backups and Image4Windows from Terabyte Unlimited for imaging ( http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/index.htm ). I used to have Acronis (back about version 8 - even paid for the upgrade to 9 ) and gave up on them - kept running into issues where it would tell you it was a good backup but then when you went to restore, it ran over itself etc. I did have the latest versions and if you looked in their forums, you saw others with the same issues. They would never fix the bugs in the existing version before they released a new one that had those bugs fixed but now had new bugs. Still have it, but never use it (my test of backup software is to "pretend" I have had a drive failure, disconnect the existing drive, put in a new drive and do a restore -- it better come up clean (and not be one of those - oh, you have to install this first and stand on your left foot routines either). Terabyte stuff, while not fancy, is not bloated, works very well and is very reasonably priced (I'm still running XP Pro and Linux on my machines here)

I should add that SyncBackSE has a good support forum and is quite responsive to questions and issues. I have several "profiles" that run every night to back up all my digital photos etc (90+ gigabytes of photos !! )

mikey

I used acronis, but have since moved to an HP Home Server for backup. It can back up multiple pcs (I think up to 10) and it is only hampered by the amount of space you can stuff in it or connect to it via USB. It backs up every night each computer and can even wake the computers up for backup. In addition, depending on how much information you want to back up, you can even store it on Amazon's servers as part of their service. If the server and your pc ever crash, you can reload the server and log on to your amazon backup account and retrieve all your files.

j razz

I would try out Acronis Home 11 WD under Win 7, if you have at least one Western Digital Hard Drive:

http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp

It's free, but it's not a full version of Acronis True Image. I've uninstalled my Win7 RC partition, so I can't tell you whether it works properly under the new OS. It does work for my purposes under Vista x64.

Reply by: kentwolf, Date: 10/16/2009 4:43:13 AM
IMHO Windows backup is very reliable. Just not quite as intuitive to use. Like Vegas, with a little patience, the more you use it the easier it gets. The biggest complaint is the recovery. I've created recovery procedures for my clients, here's the text w/ out the screen shots for those who what to give it a shot. I recommend playing around with this utility on a small folder and recovering it to another location to get the feel of how it works then backup a larger project. I don't have Vista or Windows 7 RC so I'm not sure what the GUI looks like but hope this helps...

Bottom line though use what works best for you and what you're most comfortable with.


Windows Backup Utility
File Recovery

Launch Windows Backup Utility, Click: “Restore Wizard (Advanced )” button,
At the Welcome to the Restore Wizard window, Click: Next

Click File “+” to expand the backup files and Select the Backup Files in “Items to restore” list it the Restore Wizard.

Click the “+” of the backup file to be restored and select the folders to restore. (Individual files can be restored at this point.) Click: Next.

At the “Completing the Restore Wizard” Screen, Click: Advanced

Select Restore files to an “Alternate Location”
Click: Browse and select a folder to restore the files. (It’s best practice to restore files to an alternate location than the original in the event the original location has physical disk errors.)

At the “How to Restore” screen select: “Replace existing files” and Click: Next.

At the “Advanced Restore Options” Verify the following are selected and Click: Next.
Select: Restore security settings
Select: Preserve existing volume mount points

At the “Completing the Restore Wizard” screen, Click: Finish

I have Vista x64, but I've never used its backup features. According to scattered reviews, it is just atrocious, whilst Win7's looks promising. I don't use WHS, nor do I use any WD drives that would allow use of the free limited version of Acronis.

Based upon feedback to date, it looks like SyncBackSE is a strong contender for solid file backups, "set it and forget it" functionality, cost, and ease of use for file recovery. I think I'll give it a shot once my backup RAID is set up.

Thanks again for all the helpful feedback and suggestions.

I used to have Acronis (back about version 8 - even paid for the upgrade to 9 ) and gave up on them - kept running into issues where it would tell you it was a good backup but then when you went to restore, it ran over itself etc. The old Acronis support forums are now closed, but before they closed, a thread that I started on the subject of unreliable backups became one of the longest running threads ever. It is still available:

Corrupt/Can't Verify Corrupt Archives: Let's uncover the problem!

In the several years since I posted that, and after dozens of emails to/from Acronis tech support, no one ever came up with a solution. I still use Acronis True Image (and also their partitioning software) because as long as you validate the backup file immediately after you do the backup (which can be set as a permanent preference so that it always gets done), I have never had a problem restoring. Also, the problem is clearly hardware specific, and my new computer does not have the problem.

The great things about True Image are:

1. It is fast. Even with the extra time needed for the validation -- something that should be done even if there wasn't a problem -- it gets the job done in a hurry. Thus, you are more likely to use it.

2. It has both image backup and file backup. For my money, image backup is far more useful than file backup. Heck, I can copy files, or use Zip or some other compression program, and indeed I use those tools to make small backups. In the old days (1980s) when compression was extremely slow (remember TAR and ARC?), and tape and floppy media were not easy to write to (floppies were easy, but not if you wanted to stream to them, like Fastback did), specialized programs were needed. These days, the incremental value of backup programs for simple file backup is pretty small.

So, my vote, with qualifications, is still for Acronis True Image.

Goodness, John! That was a whopper of a thread. And you still are a proponent of Acronis.

I've read more on imaging vs. file backups. In my case, I'm mostly interested in preserving vast quantities of data files (e.g., captured and rendered video, music, etc.) kept on large volumes (not C:). Would Acronis still make sense for me?

If it's just data files, then you are better off using Teracopy, which is a copying program that is a bit faster than the built-in XP and Vista copy algorithm used in the Explorer. There are 32 and 64 bit freeware versions:

http://www.codesector.com/teracopy.php

And if you like to reward an author of good, free software, there is a "Pro" version, which has a nominal cost. The most recent beta version did work (more or less) under Win 7, but under Win 7 x64, I couldn't get the Explorer shell (right click stuff) to work right. I'm guessing that the next build will work fine with the release version of Win 7.

Further, there's not much to be gained by using WinRAR, WinZIP and/or 7Zip for backing up video files, since they are USUALLY heavily compressed anyway. You don't gain much by compressing them further and smooshing a bunch of them into one large, unwieldy file. My advice is use Teracopy and create a sensible folder structure on one or more 1-2 TB HDs.

After reading jabloomf1230's last post, I went back and re-read the initial post in this thread. Golly, if you are wanting to archive your projects, then I definitely agree with jabloomf1230 that you don't need any backup program at all. For archiving projects, just use the backup built into Vegas. When you click on "Save As" in Vegas, just click on the check box "Copy and trim media with project." When the next dialog comes up, select "Copy source media." This will then put every single piece of media, in its entirety, in the folder of your choice. If you later need to re-create the project, everything is all in that one folder.

[Edit]
You have to ask yourself, "what does a backup program do that I can't get by just copying files?"

These are my answers for file copying (i.e., this doesn't apply to backup images, something that ONLY a backup program can do), and I'm not sure any of them apply in your case:

1. Compression. As was pointed out, video and photo files don't compress.

2. Speed. Some backup programs bypass the Windows calls and write to the backup media more quickly. This used to be a big deal (with floppies in particular, e.g., Fastback). I'm not sure it is anymore.

3. Automation. If you backup the same set of folders, you can create batch scripts. Of course, there are many other ways you can do this without a lot of hassle, without a backup program. Thus, if you want timed backup, then backup programs are useful. However, if this is a one-time housecleaning chore, then you pretty much have to do it manually anyway.

4. Error correction. Some backup programs store data in such a way that a few errors in the media will not destroy data. Of course all storage has some of this already built in (e.g., if you scratch a DVD, it can still play because of built-in redundancy and error correction). I honestly don't know how big a deal this is and whether you really have any extra data integrity with backup programs. Other people who know more than me would have to speak up.



As for why I still use Acronis True Image after years of banging my head against the wall, part of it is that I would miss the head banging, but also the interface is still the best of any backup program I've used; it is fast; and after I found out about the validation problem, as long as I can get the file to validate, I've never had a problem restoring an image, and I've restored a LOT of images (I'm getting old and I screw up a lot, and these images let me recover from my mistakes).

@John: I'm familiar with (but have not yet used) the archive feature of Vegas, and yes, I thought of that, too, but I have MUCH more than just the used project media to backup or archive: captured video, music, pictures, veggies, DVDA projects, rendered files of all kinds including intermediate renders, etc. Essentially, every scrap of raw material (and finished stuff), whether part of a Vegas project or not, that supports my editing obession, er, hobby.

Still, I think I will archive Vegas projects as you suggest to add another layer of protection.

The more I think about this and the solution that jabloomf1230 suggested (which looks like a slick but attended file copy application), it appears that I'd need a file backup utility for ALL of my stuff in the event that my main media and rendered volumes totally die. Just restore on new volumes and...presto, it's back. If I munge or lose a Vegas project, then I'd have an archived version, too.

EDIT: I just re-read my original post, too, and I should have clarified that I wanted to do more than simply archive projects and their related media!

EDIT x 2: Great points 1-4. I guess the automation appeals to me most. This isn't one-time 'house cleaning'. I want a regular maid. :)

You find more about SyncBackSE here:

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?Forum=4&MessageID=659431

Jøran Toresen

I'm not using software, and after finding my new best friend, I don't know if I ever will.

I bought a 4-bay drobo a couple of months ago. It hooks up via firewire 800 (needed to buy a card for that), and have been running it ever since. WIth 4 x 1TB drives in it, I effectively have a 2.5 TB backup that doesn't require ANY attention by me, other than to watch the lights blink (well, actually, they just stay solid green, when you see a blinking light you also get a popup message that you need to replace a drive).

I've noticed our ad agency actually uses a 16-bay Drobo and they love theirs. So, in short, it's more expensive, but it can be used actively as a backup drive, or just as a RAID array that requires no input at all from you (which is what I do).

That's my two-bits of backup advice.

I'm not using software, and after finding my new best friend, I don't know if I ever will.

Again - this is only as good as long this unit stays up and healthy. Depending on what you "term" valuable" - if you are not taking at least one copy of critical data offsite or at least making a full copy to another drive - you are not really doing a "backup".

I would hate to see 4GB of stuff disappear because the Drobo suddenly lost it's mind...trust me - in the world of 1's and 0's - nothing can be trusted unless it exists in at least two and even better - three places.

Cheers!

VP

The Drobo Pro can be set to tolerate one or two simultaneous drive failures without data loss; you just replace the physical drives that are shown to have failed, and the array rebuilds itself immediately.

I agree about the off-site backup for critical stuff though, it can save your data from earthquakes, fires and hurricanes. MozyPro rocks for online backup, I have just over 20 GB backed up automagically every night for about $15/month.

For larger data backup, I still backup to data DVD, but hope to switch to the very robust 800 GB LTO-4 tapes next year.

Oh, boy. Backup strategies!

The first thing you need to ask yourself is how static are the files you are dealing with? For most video footage, it's very static. A copying program is fine for that, and the best option is a synchronizing file copy program like SyncBackSE, whcih works fine on Win7 x64 for those asking. You set up two sync jobs, one targeted at the RAID attached to your PC for a local backup copy, and the second targeted to the USB drive you take offsite. As long as you always add your video captures to a subdirectory within the directory tree that is synced, you're golden. But the key here is that you are just trying to copy newly aded files. Since these types of files don't change, you are not trying to backup changed versions of the same file.

Then there are the dynamic files, the ones that change frequently, and that you might want to go retrieve a version of from 3 weeks ago before you made the stupid change to it. Files like the .veg files. Here you want not just a copy of the latest, but a historical series. And for those you want a program that's a little more backup like, althoug SynBackSE can be coerced into it.

What I do, is I keep all my captures (video, still, audio) on one disk. I sync them to two places using SyncBackPro on demand. It could be scheduled, but for me it's part of loading the capture onto my PC.

On a nightly basis, I run a perl script that copies all my veg/dar files, all my RAW processing files, etc from the drives where I actually work on projects to my C: drive. I then use NovaBack to do a normal backup cycle of my C: drive, every four weeks it does a full backup, then a series of incrementals. After four weeks it starts over with a full. Every couple of cycles, I delete the incrementals, and I keep the 4 week fulls for about 18-24 months, just in case. Not perfect, I'd like to keep the incrementals for that long as well, but a reasonable compromise.

I've used Acronis, and I just don't trust it. Paragon Software has similar products, but the backup piece is grim. I'm actually using their Drive Backup 9 until the 22nd when NovaStor will finally release a version of NovaBack that supports Win7. And thanks for the reminder about Fastback. What a great product that was.

Steve Wark

I use syncback after recommendation here, and I love it.

/Ulf