copying only necessary parts of a folder to a USB stick (backingup data)

[Sam]

I have some paper work in a folder on my laptop (Windows XP, SP2, MS
Office 2003). Since it contains quite important data and the paper
manuscript being worked on, the folder is copied to a USB stick quite
often in a week's time.

Now, I am wondering if there is a better method to keep a backup of the
folder on to the USB stick? The data is around 120MB. Ideally I would
like an application that compares both folders, the one on hard disk to
the one on USB stick, and copy only the files that have changed and
leave the unchanged files (same files in both drives) alone. This would
really speed up the backup/copying process.

And if there is an option of doing this while the folder on the USB
stick is compressed, that would be even great.

Suggestions? Hints?

regards,
Sam.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have some paper work in a folder on my laptop (Windows XP, SP2, MS
Office 2003). Since it contains quite important data and the paper
manuscript being worked on, the folder is copied to a USB stick quite
often in a week's time.

Now, I am wondering if there is a better method to keep a backup of the
folder on to the USB stick? The data is around 120MB. Ideally I would
like an application that compares both folders, the one on hard disk to
the one on USB stick, and copy only the files that have changed and
leave the unchanged files (same files in both drives) alone. This would
really speed up the backup/copying process.

And if there is an option of doing this while the folder on the USB
stick is compressed, that would be even great.

Suggestions? Hints?

regards,
Sam.

Create a batch file with the following two lines inside:

@echo off
xcopy /s /d /c "d:\SomeFolder\SomeSubfolder\*.doc" e:\

xcopy, when used with these switches, will copy only new files
and also those files on drive D: that have a more recent file
date than those on drive E:.

Adjust the drive and folder settings to reflect your own requirements.

Type
xcopy /? | more
from the Command Prompt to see the meaning of the various
switches and what other switches are available.

 

[Sam]

Apparently, _Pegasus (MVP)_, on 02/01/2005 02:01 AM,typed:

Create a batch file with the following two lines inside:

@echo off
xcopy /s /d /c "d:\SomeFolder\SomeSubfolder\*.doc" e:\

xcopy, when used with these switches, will copy only new files
and also those files on drive D: that have a more recent file
date than those on drive E:.

Adjust the drive and folder settings to reflect your own requirements.

Type
xcopy /? | more
from the Command Prompt to see the meaning of the various
switches and what other switches are available.

This is good stuff. Thanks. I will try it out.
sam.

 

[Plato]

Now, I am wondering if there is a better method to keep a backup of the
folder on to the USB stick? The data is around 120MB. Ideally I would

I never tried this with a thumb drive so I dont know it it works, But I
do like and use the app:

http://www.centered.com/download/sc2000.exe

http://www.mjleaver.com/Software/SyncBack_Setup.zip
something else to play with/tryout