What Backup Software Should I Use?
❓ Deciding what backup software to use relies on understanding what kind of backup you want to create. I’ll review the options.
❓ What backup software?
Understanding the type of backup you need is important. Use image backup software like EaseUS Todo to save monthly full backups and daily incrementals to an external hard drive. Add cloud storage like Dropbox or OneDrive for real-time and off-site backup. Automate the process if you can.
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✅ Watch next ▶ What’s the Difference Between an Image Backup and a Files-and-Folder Backup? ▶ https://youtu.be/RQ1Mp1Rh4B0
Chapters
0:00 Backup software
0:40 Step by step guide
2:15 Everything versus some things
3:50 Where to back up to
5:30 Automated or manual
6:50 How many backups?
8:20 How long to keep them?
9:15 Above all, back up
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#askleo #backup #software
At home, I do a full backup every season (Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn) – so I have 4 copies of my data over the year. Those get overwritten each year. Potentially I could lose 3 months worth of data in a disaster situation. I’m willing to accept that as a loss – but at least I won’t lose everything. This has never happened to me thus far. I do my backups manually. Since all my data is stored in VHDX files (Virtual Hard Drives) it is easy for me to just copy and paste those to external hard drives. My VHDX files are encrypted with a bitlocker password. So if someone got hold of one of my external backup drives – they won’t be able to access the data without having the password. It is worth considering that making backups causes wear and tear on your storage devices (Including SSDs) – you are in massively increasing read/write operations by backing everything up. With that in mind it’s important to replace those external hard drives every so often – since those external drives only get used once every year they should last a while – but you have to keep in mind they could fail at any time unexpectedly. I would suggest that replacing them every 4 years would be a good idea. Since I have 4 backups – I can spread the cost of this by just replacing the oldest external drive once a year.
This video has little to do with the title! You didn’t cover backup software at all.
Three days to finish an initial backup? My initial backup with Backblaze took roughly six weeks. My C drive is a 500 GB SSD, but my main PC also has three spinning rust hard drives with 6TB, 8TB, and 10TB of capacity. For $189, Backblaze gives me two years of unlimited-size backups. Granted, the initial backup took quite a while, but now that it’s done, keeping it up to date is a breeze. Given how much data I am backing up, I consider that a bargain. I no longer feel guilty for not having fully backed up my data.
I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND BACKING UP TO A CLOUD SERVICE PERIOD.
IMO, there is not a more complex topic on the planet. I recently bought a new laptop, just around the time that my long term SugarSync subscription was expiring. SugarSync wanted $190 for an annual renewal of 500 GB, while my new MicroSoft subscription boasted 1TB of OneDrive storage for free. That seemed like a no-brainer. Only after a little research did I learn that OneDrive had no intention of "BACKING UP" my computer; instead, they would "REPLACE" my hard drive. (Of course, MS never discloses this little detail when they boast about their back up service.) If my internet is down, I would not have access to my OneDrive files, though all of my data would still be available for sale by the spies at Microsoft! The lies and obfuscation from all software companies, as well as their willing accomplices on yewtoob and the internet, is very disturbing. If you don’t believe me, try a google search for "best back-up service." (That is how I got to this video.) You will find answers from several seemingly "reputable" sources with completely different conclusions and recommendations. Is it really possible that two companies/people/entities could evaluate all the major back-up services and derive top-ten lists with zero overlap? The inescapable conclusion is that all recommendations are dictated by their paid sponsors. Pay a little extra, and your ranking could go from #9 to #2! The dishonesty is blatant and disgusting. I am willing to pay for actual expertise, but I have no reason to believe that honesty is even permitted on the internet. Heck, this post will probably be deleted by the cyberbots. Wouldn’t be the first time…
Great content! For MSPs like us, the right tech stack is vital. We’ve found our groove with solid backup tools and a BDR strategy, a robust RMM, top-notch cybersecurity, and Thirdlane Multi Tenant PBX for our clients’ VoIP needs. This is our recipe for success. Thanks for video!
The correct answer is none.
SyncToy to an encrypted removable USB drive for me, because I have a number of computers some of which share the same files (like music and vacation photos). And then just make an image backup onto the same USB drive. You can also use robocopy for file/folder backups if you’re not regularly moving files between different computers. There’s absolutely no need for third-party image backup software. Multiple external drives, stored in a media safe and a theft-resistant safe, all encrypted.
Decide what you want to back up, write a BAT file to invoke robocopy on a regular basis. When you change something in your OS (install programs, reconfigure something complex, etc) then use the image backup built into Windows.
I’ve learnt this the hard way, but back in 2005, when I lost some unique pictures. But I was 14 back then, how could I’ve known. 😢
Every month or so, I create an image of my machines using "Redo Backup," saving the image to one of my local drives, which I then copy to an external drive and my NAS. I also use an online backup – Jottacloud – and my NAS to back up all my data in real-time. Furthermore, I keep my OS in a different partition from my data, which was very helpful when I had to restore my OS image twice.
I used a popular backup software for many years. I backed up to a SECOND internal physical hard drive. I backed up to an external hard drive. This was at the infancy of cloud service so not all files could go there. I tested my backups RELIGIOUSLY. SURPRISE, when I had a failure of my primary hard drive. I lost 3/4 of my personal files and had to rebuild my computer. I admit I had issues with the "popular" backup software and had to restart backup images, believing that hiccups happen, after all, that is what happened in the industry in its infancy.
That was in 2018. I’ve been on a much better backup software since then, only paying 25% more for it. I have NEVER had a corruption of my new software’s backup images. And, yes, I continue to test them religiously to ensure they remain stable.
I do use a different backup scheme, only because it works for my situation. I won’t bore everyone with details.
But my reason for writing is that it is vital to routinely test your backups to ensure they are stable. And if you are having chronic issues, and you have verified the issues are not your hardware, dump that software FAST.
Windows 10 apparently has an option to select folders and back them up to an external hard drive on a schedule. What’s your opinion of that option? I know it’s only selected folders not an image.
✅ Watch next ▶ What’s the Difference Between an Image Backup and a Files-and-Folder Backup? ▶ https://youtu.be/RQ1Mp1Rh4B0
What do you think about "Beyond Compare"?
While this advise is good as far as it is… (Just back up your stuff… figure out which is best for you BUT BACK UP YOUR STUFF)
I will disagree about the methods in this video. The old style of incremental backups I think no longer match the way that most people use their computer.
Most people have either become somewhat experts in how a computer functions or they are completely oblivious.
The traditional backups I think do not serve the vast majority of computer users.
What tends to work best is for people to put all their files on a 2nd hard drive (whether internal or external)
The connect yet another external hard drive to your computer once a week and SYNC the two drives and then put that drive in a fire safe.
What this does… is separate your files from the computer… and if your computer crashes you can just plug the other drive into a new computer.
No wasted time constantly backing up and zero time restoring.
Now the recommended method of backups is the 3,2,1 rule…. but just getting in the habit of backing up is the hardest hurtle to most.
I do mine once a week while having Sunday morning coffee.
I won’t cloud store 99% of my files. I use a sync app that updates everything to my external. I simply run it each time I change files on my system. Only takes seconds. Also have backups at the bank for disaster. To complement the bank backup I put new or or updated files when I do them. I don’t have any file that I have ever lost.
As for image backups only do those once a year. My total time spent to do this is maybe a 5 minutes a month
I’ve been using Paragon’s Hard Disk Manager software for years to do backups. Never had a problem restoring when needed.
People who back up to an external drive should be aware of the fact that if their house burns down, gets broken into and the drive gets stolen, or the drive becomes corrupted or damaged, they will nit have access to their data. Also, they better make sure the backed up data is encrypted. You talked about having multiple copies of your backup. Most people will struggle doing this consistently and to ensure data integrity (same versions of files). Your points are very good but not realistically feasible for the vast majority of people. I personally keep all of my data in the cloud and have nothing stored locally on my computer.
– A very solid intro into the matter, thank you for this vid!
– I do have to smartass there however: 3-2-1 approach refers to your data, not your backup. it usually means to have 3 copies of your data (including production data) on 2 different media formats, one of which should be off-site. Your way makes it a 4-2-1 approach. the "2" could be meaning cloud but it usually means to be safe against different kinds of failures, so it refers to hard disks vs. LTO tapes or some other format. But this is modern stretching of the meaning, because "the cloud" is so far away from your location that even if it technically is the same format (hard disk) it will most likely not be concerned by whatever failure your on-site data is suffering from.
– I use my own off-site hosted private cloud solution based on nextcloud to sync my office files which are synced with my smartphone and my tablet. I also do local backups daily with a professional software to a USB-Drive. This makes it a 5-3-1 solution – if i’m at home – or 5-3-2 if i’m away.
Have you had any experience using the Aomei Software they offer?
I used to use Norton Ghost for more than a decade for doing HD Images, then they dropped supporting the software at the consumer level years ago. Been looking for that replacement Backup software, however comes down to comfort zone with all this internet offerings. Norton had a large trust with me and of course the ultimate test when the HD went down, and it worked to restore my HD from that boot disk and backup image.
Thanks to all!
I have two Synology NAS, one at home, one at our cabin, all connected over the net. My important files are synchronised to my local NAS, and then sysnchronised from the local NAS to the one at our cabin. I also have image backups of my C drive (I have 5 SSD drives), one full then incremental in a five day cycle. I have never lost anything. My remote NAS has a RAID configuration so I can lose one drive (of four) without losing any data.
If you plan to back up graphics files (photos and images) to a Cloud service, ensure that the service isn’t going to downgrade the quality in order to reduce the amount of storage space they take up on the server.
What is the best free backup folder (not image) software? Freefilesync? Syncbackup? Robosync? Why? What strategy to backup thousands of ebook?
BACKUP TO THE CLOUD ? NEVER
video made by idiot for idiots
Stupid video really don’t waste your time watching this guy ramble on for nothing
I use Veeam Agent, free, very simple to install and configure for automated backups of my C: drive. Lost that OS drive a year ago, and had everything restored in a couple of hours including buying/installing a new drive and restoring the full image. I also use a free Windows Store app called SyncFolder that’s very simple and handy for keeping a mirror copy of drives/folders.
How much does EaseUS pay you? It is a horrible backup solution. I just paid for the Home version that also backs up to the cloud. It did a backup to an external drive and that was all. EaseUS now claims I don’t have an account and I can’t access any settings for incremental backups or backing up to the cloud. EaseUS won’t even recognize my email address. I can’t do anything other then wait for a reply from their "support team." So I paid $59.95 and I am very disappointed. I feel ripped off. Their web pages have spelling mistakes. Beware!
I used to use a free backup program called "GHOST" many years ago and really loved it. Unfortunately, I believe it was bought out by some company. I still may have a old version somewhere but I really doubt that it will work with the newer operating systems. Oh well, I guess I need to purchase a new backup program.
I want to make a backup so I have my external hard drive in another room or separate house/garage. This in the event of a burglary or fire.
I am a private user so there is no need to back up daily and only make image back up in case of major changes in data. I don’t think this is stated in the video about the possibility of this.
I back up my data twice a day it takes me 5 minutes
Leo you are right on doing backups and you cover a good scope in this video. Its not expensive and can be organised on a simple "Must do" and "nice to do" which only the used can decide. In other words if you keep your emails and have photos that are irreplaceable they become "Must do" If you have downloaded files that can be re downloaded they become nice to do or not essential. I keep a spreadsheet of what I have on the PC organised by disk, where it is backed up to and the type of backup. This file is of course backed up.
I use the Aomei backer upper, I had others but the Aomei sync I find great. Every file or folder worked on is backed up in real time and there is no holdup. Using sync means the files I use frequently are backed up without setting a routine and the ones used irregularly or are not critical are backed up in the old way with keeping 2 or 3 versions, the frequency depending on what it is. Sync can be set to just add information or delete it or both, so it can be a mirror or contain all the files even those deleted in the original file or folder(s). Also sync can be repeated, in other words a synced file on the PC can be synced to another place and then on to yet another place that can be addressed and accessed directly through windows. So I can sync files to my NAS or from my NAS to another drive or to an off site drive. All this is background operation and no holdups or speed degradation. Set and forget.
Macrium Reflect. Period.
I use mostly Linux with a couple Windows computers for things that I need Windows for online. I don’t use a backup system. I don’t store anything on Windows to back up. I store on one Linux computer. I back that up with a large usb SSD. The program I use is copy and paste. I copy and paste the home folder one file at a time. When a duplicate file is found it stops and asks how you want that to be handled. I make the choice at that point which option to use and to do the same with all duplicates found. So occasionally I copy and paste an I also do this with an additional usb SSD that I move to use on other Linux computers.
I have never backed up a computer in my life. I put important files and pictures on thumb drives and never needed to backup the system.
SyncBackFree is superb for copying folders from your PC to a NAS or external drive. Mirroring and then it only copies what changes since last time. You can schedule this daily. I backup all my MyDocuments and my Media (MP3, MP4, etc.).
I use Samsung’s backup for creating a fully copy of my OS drive. I only do this early on with a clean install, drivers updated, and key software.
If in 2-3 years I need to get back to presteen, I can simply swap out the boot/OS drive (and then re-back-it up for next time). I then simply restore MyDocuments and media from backup (NAS, external).
Super simple.
The idea of making "Image backup" monthly sounds good, but has some huge Achillies heals. Unless you keep a history of image backups to chose from, a full backup of your OS drive won’t do you much good if your OS is in need for fresh install. It can only help if your physical drive fails and yo uwant restore to a new drive. Thus my approach above. Keep your content backed up continually, and have a pristine full drive backup ready to swap out on demand. You’ll have to re-install software, but that is not a super challenging topic.
PC OS’s are like dog years, but worse. I’ve had a couple HD’s fail me many years back, but I’ve only had 1 SSD drive flake out on me in the past 5+ years, and I didn’t lose anything.
Great guide thanks!
Here’s the information the title suggests you would find in this video:
Don’t use external drives for backups. When you bring them onsite for operations, all of your backups are in the same place — central to a mediocre backup plan.
Hasleo Backup
No recovery for an unbootable machine. I recall it working fine, generally.
Comodo Backup
Differential backups could not find the appropriate full backup to base on, buttons in the UI didn’t work (I couldn’t delete a regularly scheduled job, so I guess it was just going to run forever?). Also, its retention strategies were funky. Bonus: it uninstalled like trash. Comodo has a bad track record.
Minitool Shadowmaker Free
Failed a scheduled backup without generating an error. Unacceptable.
Paragon Backup
Seemed to work fine, but the backups were a maze of folders and files, making managing and triplicating my backups a pain.
Kopia
Never used it, but it makes weird, multi-file, random-ish looking names for backups, like Paragon, which creates an additional hurdle.
DriveImade XML
Took an hour to backup, an additonal hour to write an .xml file, then seemed to freeze, or it was working away without indicating what it was doing — both are bad. Also, its documentation did not make it clear how to restore from bootable media (you probably can’t).
Duplicati
Failed a scheduled backup without generating an error, so it’s dead to me.
EaseUS Todo Backup
(as recommended in this video) A bizarre interface, but it worked iirc.
Aomei Backupper
It works, but it really seems like the development team has a loose grasp on Windows development. If you want to use this one, steal it. After I purchased it, Aomei decided that they would like me to purchase it again, so I will have nothing to do with them.
Macrium Reflect
Creates bootable media, and can recover a non-booting machine (paid version). Some of the others do this, as well. UI is bad, unusably bad for some people, I’m sure.
OneDrive
Failed me once, years ago.
Google Drive
They promise encryption during transmission and storage. Why would I trust Google if I don’t have to? I encrypt my stuff myself before they ever see it. Modern encryption CAN NOT be overcome, not by the NSA, nor China, nor Google, nor anyone else, unless someone is hiding their successes at developing quantum computers.
I do an incremental backup once a week and a full image backup every 5 weeks. I also learned the hard way to periodically check the backup drive for errors. (Years ago, the backup drive I was relying on got to the point that it would get errors whenever anything was written to it.)
The amount of data I have to back up (several hundred gigabytes) makes cloud backup too inefficient.
Usually, I schedule these backups to run automatically. But during a severe thunderstorm, I have to shut down my PC to prevent any power surges. So I set it up to run the backup as soon as my PC is restarted.
None whatsoever
Addicted to Leo is more like it! What a wise man and does not let you know!
Hey Leo, thanks for the great video! I’m curious, if you do a full back up in the beginning and then continue with incremental back ups, why is there a need to do a full image backup every month? It seems like that would be redundant and take up unnecessary space on your external drive. Does Time Machine for macOS do this? Or does it just do incremental back ups forever? I’m backing up a Windows PC, but I like to use Time Machine as a reference point. Thanks!
I HATE computers… especially having to set up a NEW one!!!! When you say to download a software (ON A DEVICE OTHER than the one you’re trying to let up), that first step ALONE is confusing for someone who does not know the inner-workings of computers. So, I have this external hard drive, a new computer and now there’s something else I need to do FIRST, I cannot even get into my new computer to tell it NOT to connect to the internet because I’m so afraid I’ll choose wrong "set up as a new PC" or "Restore from a PC" – I don’t know what to tell it! Do you have any videos for brand new machines and ALL the questions they ask you, etc? 😱😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
I am looking for a good backup for my Linux machine.
Requirements:
1. Local Control, I am not giving my data to Google or Microsoft to exploit or be hacked.
2. Storage on a separate drive (Timeshift wants to use the same drive that might fail).
3. Easy to use, and specify what does & does not get backed up.
4. Easy to restore info.
5. Graceful error recovery (I had a problem with Pika).
6. I would pay, but free is nice as well.
I have not found this tool yet…..
I do really like your advice and I think you are worth listening to.
When that is said, do I use another method:-)
1) I have moved all folders that are under my name to an external drive, such that documents and so on never gets stored in the computer’s internal drives.
2) I started out by making a complete clone of my C: drive and each week do I take an "incremental" backup, that detect if anything on the C: drive is different from last backup, that includes settings, programs and everything.
3) My documents does get copied to another drive, I do not delete my old backups because what if I, a year later, find out a document got deleted, or I need something 4 years ago.
4) I do never store in the cloud or anyplace that I am not in 100% control over.
Right now is my storage about 25TB and I can recall every detail from the last 10–20 years, dependent on the importance of the data.
He is very wrong with this advice if you back up your apps you also back up ransom ware or viruses.
I have a WD ssd external that I use for backup. When I try to delete backups that are no longer needed it tells me I do not have permission. I was running low on available space. So I had to reformat the drive to free up space. That seems like a pain. It also defeats the purpose of keeping 3 months worth of backups. WD provided acronis software with the drive.
I like that you put the ‘click on’ on the left-hand panel so I can write them down (stopping the videos if I have to) as trying to remember the sequence of them would men having to go back and forth on the video. Best computer info videos I have seen on you tube. Thank you.
I only just found your channel the other day. After watching a few vids I subbed in because to paraphrase, you don’t know what you don’t know. I’m retired, and never needed to use a computer for work to begin with. Is image back up to an external storage drive _enough_ for those like me, or is there a hybrid of sorts? Re size: ~ 75% of my 1T SSD is used. Maybe a third of that is games. However, once you own a game, on Steam or Epic anyway, you can uninstall it from your machine if you need space lets say, and then reinstall later if needs be. So, if I understood you correctly, 4X for me would be a 2T ext. drive. Yes? TIA.
I’m just using the copy/paste tools within windows to make my backups. no additional software required as you just manually copy files.
I trust my Image/backup to Acronis, it has always worked just fine.
External 8 TB WD HD to store and Acronis easy and fast clone any disk…