Specific folders - What's the best backup technique?

[Duro]

I'm running Vista x64 Enterprise and finding it fairly infuriating when
attempting to backup specific folders to an attached 320GB external USB hdd..

Firstly this hdd is not acknowledged as a device with removable storage
(even though it clearly is, it's a USB connection..) so that excludes using
the sync center to create a synced duplicate copy on the target external hdd..

I'm now moving to option 2 which is using the fairly uncustomisable backup
functionality.. And lo and behold, it appears I cannot specify a specific
folder to backup to the external hdd..

I've managed to get most of my files organised before I migrated to this new
Vista x64 box, so have music, photos etc in specific directories.. Surely I
should be able to back these complete directories up to the external hdd as I
want too, without having to purchase additional 3rd party software??

 

[Duro]

Thanks dzomlija,

I have used your suggested technique in the past, however as just one of
these directories is almost 100gb, I'm more keen to use a syncing/backup
updating tool, that can look after my backup for me, and not create another
job I have to remember on my list (The host directory is constantly updating
it's content)..

I have used rsync and similar functions in the *nix world before, with great
delight and haven't found a comparable function buried natively within
windows..

I'm really looking for an automated solution here..

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

I would make a try at getting that thing recognized as removable. Write
caching might be it.

run diskmgmt.msc, and rightclick the drive icon for "policies' tab.
--
Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
interface.
http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPost

Mark L. Ferguson

..

 

[Duro]

I would make a try at getting that thing recognized as removable. Write
caching might be it.

run diskmgmt.msc, and rightclick the drive icon for "policies' tab.
--
Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
interface.
http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPost

Mark L. Ferguson

Thanks Mark,

Now I'm starting to get somewhere at least.. In policies this device was set
as optimised for quick removal, with write caching disabled.. I've turned
caching on, however this doesn't seem to fix the problem, so have set this
back to caching off (which I assume is a setting that indicates the device is
optimised as removable?)

I've also got a 4GB usb key drive plugged in, and this is acknowledged as
removable by the system.. I've hunted through policies and this has caching
turned off (optimised for quick removal), and is acknowledged as a removable
device (by sync center and everything else)..

Are there anymore additional suggestions here?

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Well, I think that tells you for sure it's a driver problem. Vista drivers a
rare bird for now. I think you should prod the drive maker for an update.
(preferably a cattle prod

--
Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
interface.
http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPost

Mark L. Ferguson

..

 

[Bob]

Have you considered using a batch file and then have Task Scheduler automate
if for you?

 

[Bob]

Have you considered using a batch file and then have Task Scheduler automate
if for you?

 

[Duro]

Well, I think that tells you for sure it's a driver problem. Vista drivers a
rare bird for now. I think you should prod the drive maker for an update.
(preferably a cattle prod

--
Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
interface.
http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPost

Mark L. Ferguson

Thanks Mark,

It's going to be quite a challenge to get a Vista x64 driver for this
external hdd, as Vantec (the enclosure manufacturer) don't appear to really
support anything past Win98SE on their fairly old-school website..

An alternative that I've found may actually be the MS Synctoy tool
(http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...54-C975-4814-9649-CCE41AF06EB7&displaylang=en)
this would appear to allow me to do what I want, although I do need to locate
and install all the dependencies required for the beta release of the v2.0
beta code..

I'd ideally like to get a stable non-beta release of this tool, however,
beggars can't be choosers!

 

[Dave]

Have you looked at SyncToy, that comes with Vista?
You can set up pairs of folders to keep synced, and can use Task Scheduler
to automate it.

 

[SG]

Hi,

See if any of these links can help you....
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...ot+recognized&aq=2&oq=external+USB+hard+drive

 

[Duro]

Hi,

See if any of these links can help you....
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...ot+recognized&aq=2&oq=external+USB+hard+drive

Thanks SG,
The problem here is not that the drive is not recognised, it's that it's not
listed as a device with removable storage (so a subtle driver problem).. It
plugs in and works fine, I just can't use this with the Sync Center software
built into Vista.. So in this case, it's fairly useless if I want to sync a
local folder on the host, with a copy of this on the external hdd..

 

[Duro]

Have you considered using a batch file and then have Task Scheduler automate
if for you?

Thanks Bob,

But if I wanted to be that granular, I wouldn't have bothered to post this
query.. I'm happy to use the software available within Vista or downloaded
plugins, other than write my own software to fix this problem.. There is also
the new SyncToy v2.0 beta available which should provide me with the solution
I'm chasing..

 

[Duro]

Have you looked at SyncToy, that comes with Vista?
You can set up pairs of folders to keep synced, and can use Task Scheduler
to automate it.

Thanks Dave,

SyncToy is not actually bundled in Vista, it's a download that is compatible
with this pre-SP1 release (well at least of my Enterprise x64 version).

I managed to locate this download, so will test it out and see if this
provides the solution to my problem, from a first look, it seems like it's
spot on.. It provides a significantly more customisable extended version of
functionality that's limited to specific devices with the built-in Sync
Center software bundled with Vista..

 

[Bob]

If you weren't a pompous ass you would consider a solution that is used by
people with more intelligence than you will ever have.