Backing Up Files to a USB Stick

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saluraropicrusa

undercover bird
Feb 22, 2010
241
0
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This is something I've done a little bit of research on, but I'm not sure how to find the answers to my specific question through google, so I was hoping the Escapist forum-goers could lend me a hand.

I just got a 32gb USB stick, and I've copied several folders to it already. Here's my issue: I want to back up my art folder, as well as my folders that have all my reference for drawings, but these folders change sometimes on a daily basis. I don't want to have to constantly copy the new files to the stick (especially because I might forget to do so).

The question I have is, what's the best way to make sure everything gets backed up automatically (say, every time the folder/a file is modified)? I've tried a few programs now, but all of them left me a little confused as to how they worked, or didn't work the way I would have hoped (for example, for one, when I chose what folder to backup, it started backing up the sub-folders but didn't put them in their own folder, leaving them loose on the stick itself).
 

evilneko

Fall in line!
Jun 16, 2011
2,218
49
53
Use the free version of SyncBack. Create a backup job in it (and do explore the advanced options, even the free version's pretty powerful) and then schedule it to run daily (or nightly, if you'd rather).

Microsoft SyncToy is another option. Just from reading its page, it looks smarter than SyncBack, but I've never used it myself so I can't speak to how well it works. Also doesn't look like it does automatic backup when files/folders change, but neither does SyncBack.

If your stuff will fit, consider SpiderOak. If you join using my referral link here [https://spideroak.com/download/referral/503599c1e882b1aac5f6aa9acde03b44] you get an extra GB for a total of 3 (and you can get up to 10 with referrals). The SpiderOak client really does do backup when a file/folder is modified if you set it to automatic, or it can be scheduled. Automatic is the default, IIRC. SpiderOak is more secure and private than DropBox.