[MSP]

OK, I'm currently using Spare Backup which came bundled with my laptop. But turns out it's a fucking trial version and has been pounding my ass with advertising here lately. So I'm going to replace it, looking for something like Time Machine from Apple.

I'm also contemplating a Windows Home Server setup as well, as I have several spare PCs sitting around.

Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Home Server 32 Bit 1 Pack - Server Software

[hans5849]

I use vice versa

[SoulAssassin]

I've used Cobian in the past. A guy at work told me about it and it seems to work well and it's free.

Cobian's site - The home of Cobian Backup

[ElGatoFlojo]

If you want a complete image of the hard drive, I'm not sure. But, if you want to just backup your Documents directory. What I recommend is mapping a network drive, and then 'moving' your Documents directory to that drive. Its called folder redirection. And under XP it automatically makes the folder available offline. Check out

Folder Redirection

Best of all its free! Well, as long as you have another server running Windows or Linux to do the windows file sharing part of it.

[SoulAssassin]

Originally Posted by ElGatoFlojo

If you want a complete image of the hard drive, I'm not sure. But, if you want to just backup your Documents directory. What I recommend is mapping a network drive, and then 'moving' your Documents directory to that drive. Its called folder redirection. And under XP it automatically makes the folder available offline. Check out

Folder Redirection

Best of all its free! Well, as long as you have another server running Windows or Linux to do the windows file sharing part of it.

I'm sure you just taught .001% of this board something today.

[tweakmonkey]

Originally Posted by SoulAssassin

I'm sure you just taught .001% of this board something today.

New to me. Please don't be rude to new members trying to help.

[MSP]

I just want to keep my data directories (documents, music, photos, etc) replicated to a second drive (either network, USB, or internal) daily. I don't want RAID - that's really not a complete backup strategy because you can overwrite or delete a file from a RAID array and both copies are now ruined. I upload all of my stuff to a 1&1 internet server monthly for the off-site backups anyway.

Automated, day-to-day file replication. Time Machine for Mac is the best I've ever seen.

[MSP]

Originally Posted by SoulAssassin

I've used Cobian in the past. A guy at work told me about it and it seems to work well and it's free.

Cobian's site - The home of Cobian Backup

Holy shit, this thing even does FTP. I could schedule my 1&1 backups with this and forget 'em. Except spot checks of course. Nice find.

[SoulAssassin]

Originally Posted by tweakmonkey

New to me. Please don't be rude to new members trying to help.

Did I hurt his feelings? Dude's talking about folder redirection when MSP wants a backup program.

[ElGatoFlojo]

I was merely offering another alternative to what he is asking. Most people would agree that folder redirection to another server, is a form of backup.

How about I'll just tag all my posts with n00b from now on, that way you won't have to get eye strain from reading them, or any kind of excessive wrist injury from writing reply's to let me know what a n00b I am.

[SoulAssassin]

Please. Folder redirection doesn't backup a single thing. You would eventually still have to backup the redirection.

[hans5849]

Um, I do that with My Documents. Except I do it to another hard drive on the computer.

[Undertaker989]

I've used Acronis True Image, BackupMyPC, and Symantec's Backup Exec for servers, NONE of them are perfect.

If you find a freeware solution that is better than the above listed, please post it.

[SoulAssassin]

None are perfect. There are always some errors in the programs I've used no matter how new/old the system is. Cobian seems to do well on most home networks. I've used Backup Exec on large systems and sbs backup on small networks.

[Mr. Ali]

I use Genie backup server since I wanted something that would run on my server that runs 24/7 and backs up my main desktop instead of having something running on my desktop in the background. It works well and can encrypt files and send them over ftp, do full or incremental backups/etc.

[MSP]

BackupExec is the bomb. A little overkill for what I'm wanting though.

[SoulAssassin]

I've found BE to be great when it works but Jah help you if you need support from Symantec. I had to restore a server from backup and found that the server's version of BE, 9.1, was the only version officially supported to perform the restore on a 2003 server/sbs 2003 server. When I called to ask a question they told me support had ended! It's the only officially supported version to perform the task but they don't support it.

[MSP]

So far Cobian is looking great. Running the initial backup now, and assuming the file structure and everything looks OK I'll be removing this Jahforsaken Spare Backup right afterward. Literally 2-3 times a week I get a browser pop-up, and when I contacted Gateway about it they said the only way to get rid of it was to uninstall the software...

[MSP]

Digg must have heard us talking, they ran this story just now:

13 Great Free Backup Programs for Windows, Mac, and Linux - Download Squad