Best free backup software?

[evilsatan]

I am looking for the best free backup software. I only want what I deem to be basic features i.e:

Backup partitions or drives
Incremental or full backup
Scheduled backups
Create bootable recovery disc (optional)
Ability to browse the backup folders (rather than them being in a single container file)
Backup to local or network drive
Not resource hungry


I will be backing up to an external HDD in most cases. A sync type backup would be nice but some of these machines are very low powered so a sync service would slow them down too much.

There are too many to choose from, I have looked at Macrium Reflect free edition, fbackup etc.

I will eventually make a big thread to list the best free/pay for software for everyone to use, just a bit busy atm.

Cheers

[k11jrp]

Microsoft Synctoy.. take a look its free, ive used it before, basic, but does the job!!

[evilsatan]

Not seen that one before, thanks for the heads up.

[k11jrp]

Not sure if its suitable, it might be a bit basic for you...worth a look though. I used it to auto backup files from PC to NAS drive. I just added a schedule within windows xp to fire the exe...

[tombott]

Robocopy

It's all CLI based.
I used to use it to back up file servers to USB HD's.
Wrote batch files and the use windows scheduler to run daily.
Robocopy has stacks of options, so you can copy changes, everything, sync, remove copy from source on completion etc.

[Over Carl]

Robocopy

It's all CLI based.
I used to use it to back up file servers to USB HD's.
Wrote batch files and the use windows scheduler to run daily.
Robocopy has stacks of options, so you can copy changes, everything, sync, remove copy from source on completion etc.

+1. Install the support tools from windows xp cd to get robocopy.

Also heard rsync is meant to do the same thing more efficiently.

[tombott]

+1. Install the support tools from windows xp cd to get robocopy.

Also heard rsync is meant to do the same thing more efficiently.

Which is what I now use as we moved across to Linux file servers.

[Over Carl]

There is a windows version http://rsync.net/resources/howto/windows_rsync.html (maybe more even) but I haven't really looked at these yet.

[Rick Sanchez]

I have almost exactly the same requirements, I want to do this with my computer and my media server to my NAS box; but must be able to do:

Backup all drives
Incremental backups once a full backup is done
Scheduled backups - every evening
Create bootable recovery disc or image file
Ability to browse the backup folders
Not resource hungry

MUST be able to automatically backup to my NAS

[evilsatan]

I have almost exactly the same requirements, I want to do this with my computer and my media server to my NAS box; but must be able to do:

Backup all drives
Incremental backups once a full backup is done
Scheduled backups - every evening
Create bootable recovery disc or image file
Ability to browse the backup folders
Not resource hungry

MUST be able to automatically backup to my NAS

That's part of my requirements in my OP 'Backup to local or network drive'.

[hoponbaby]

Any recommendations for backing up offsite over the internet? Used Novanet Web before which works a treat but the trial has expired

[evilsatan]

Any recommendations for backing up offsite over the internet? Used Novanet Web before which works a treat but the trial has expired

You could use network backup or perhaps even cloud backups as they are now being offered by a lot of different companies at reasonable cost. Some probably offer a free allowance.

[Over Carl]

Any recommendations for backing up offsite over the internet? Used Novanet Web before which works a treat but the trial has expired

Robocopy does the trick for this as well (as long as you can see the share you want to backup to).

We've normally got around 12 remote sites at work that every night robocopy all site data back to head office over vpn.

[Scarface2003]

Hi I use Acronis - it is not free - but can located on the net somewhere for free. There is a trail version of it too if you want to check it out.

[evilsatan]

Hi I use Acronis - it is not free - but can located on the net somewhere for free. There is a trail version of it too if you want to check it out.

Cheers mate, used it before but I need a legally free app for clients.

[ZX7R]

Apparently Robocopy has been surpassed by 'Richcopy'.

I'm checking it out now.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/m...spotlight.aspx

[Wompastompa]

I also am in the same boat need to backup my windows home server backups to an external computer at home. Will hamatchi work for the VPN and then robocopy or such like can someone advise me please

[evilsatan]

I will be checking out Rich/robocopy for corporate solutions and look at the viability for home solutions. This looks like another alternative for home solutions:

EASEUS Todo Backup Home 2.0
http://www.todo-backup.com/products/...p-software.htm