How to backup just the new stuff?

[beyond the blue]

I did my first backup to an external hard drive a few months ago and now need to backup stuff I've done since then. I have done a google search and a lot of people are saying us a free tool called "Sync toy" as apparently this will just back up any new stuff and not everything all over again. I tried to download this tool and a message appeared saying "make sure your folders are synchronized before installing", as I've not a clue what it meant I cancelled the install. As I'm a bit thick on all things computer can any one tell me how to just back up any new stuff bearing in mind that I don't know new stuff from old now?

 

[CraigDHD]

You first need to be clear on the difference between sync, redundancy and backup as they usually all get called a backup incorrectly. It's sounds pedantic but they make a big difference in execution and how secure your data is.

Synctoy will work fine I wouldn't worry about the message synctoy will work by comparing two folders and syncing data between them do it's just warnoing you to be sure that if syncing your data is already in the correct state so files are not incorrectly overwritten. Your options in synctoy are mirror which will copy new and changed data in both directions, echo which will copy changed and new data from source to destination and echo which will only copy new data from source to destination. For it to be a backup make sure you choose echo to prevent corrupted data or deleted files also being destroyed on your backup drive.

****It's ages since I used synctoy so should add that the disadvantage of echo is that files you deliberately change will not be synced. Most of synctoy can be replicated with a couple of robocopy commands if you don;t want to install anything. If it's your only source of backup there are more robust systems out there that will include versioning of files as well.

 

[beyond the blue]

Thanks for that Craig, I've downloaded the program and to be honest with you I haven't a clue what it's asking me to do. It's asking me to sync 2 folders the only thing I want to put on the external hard drive is "my pictures" and "my videos". Am I right in thinking I choose "my pictures" from my PC hard drive as one folder, and "my pictures" from the external hard drive for the other folder so it can compare the two folders? If so what do I do then?

 

[beyond the blue]

Sorted! Re-sent the whole lot.

 

[mbscad]

Hi Neil,
may I make a couple of observations as I've used Synctoy in the past when I was faced with a similar problem.
All went well when I copied from source to destination. I then thought I'd be smart and synchronize in both directions (doh!).
Things didn't go so well after that and I abandoned using synctoy as I couldn't work out exactly what it was doing (including deleting files).
Remember a backup is only any use if you can restore your files from it (which very few people try unless they have lost something).
If your files are irreplaceable (to you) then make another complete backup of your pictures and videos to another (not external) drive periodically.

 

[Shadow]

I personally use PureSync as you can schedule backups and everything else I need to do.

 

[st599]

You probably don't want to Sync your files. This keeps the files on 2 drives identical. So if you delete from the PC, it will vanish from your backup drive too.

 

[gman]

I use SyncBack which explains everything as you choose things.