No fuss computer backup

[rustynails87]

Hi All,

I'm looking for suggestions on devices to back up a computer. Are there any external hard drives out there that include backup software that just work reliably without any user interaction? And also have the ability to restore a file without any difficulty...

Don't want to go with carbonite, etc. I am looking for a physical external hard drive with backup software that works reliably.

Just wondering what devices you recommend and use?

Thanks

 

[HCHTech]

For simple, file-only backups, we use a robocopy script that runs daily as a scheduled task. No software required for backup or restore. We have this setup for lots of residential customers.

Doesn't do versioning without serious juggling, but it's simple. Simple is good. Data is available on any computer by just plugging in that drive.

We don't like trusting free, bundled-with-the-drive software. At some point it will start nagging to upgrade to the paid version, stop working altogether without notice, or be too cumbersome to restore data from when it is needed most. Then guess who they blame when something isn't retrievable for whatever reason.

For commercial customers we typically use other paid software depending on their budget, but it never hurts to have another redundant backup that runs occasionally. I have several customers where I have a periodically-scheduled robocopy script to backup a NAS to local storage, for example. In addition to the NAS's own backup software doing whatever we have it doing.

 

[cyabro]

Free Veeam endpoint backup.
It just works.
Can set it to run automatically when the USB drive is connected.

 

[Diggs]

Cobain Backup. First time I saw it I didn't give it much credence but the more I've seen it and now use it for some customers the more I like it -

https://www.cobiansoft.com/cobianbackup.html

 

[Larry Sabo]

Cobain Backup.

+1

 

[jogold]

Cobian also has log files so that you can keep track of the backups.

 

[fincoder]

I would never suggest using the software that's bundled with external USB drives. You'd be better off using File History which is embedded in the Windows 10 OS, or even better a decent third-party option like Acronis True Image.

 

[Castle Computer]

I have a bunch of clients using syncback from 2brightsparks to backup to an external drive. I works well. They have a free version and a pay version

 

[carmen617]

I would never suggest using the software that's bundled with external USB drives. You'd be better off using File History which is embedded in the Windows 10 OS, or even better a decent third-party option like Acronis True Image.

This. I preferred Windows 7 backup to File History (hard for clients to see if backup is actually happening - no imaging option - default is keep data FOREVER, lol, instead of until space needed) and I really wish Microsoft would come out with something closer to Time Machine, which, in my opinion, is the single best part of MacOS. They keep threatening to do it but they don't. My preference is to set up my client with the native OS app, or something reputable like Acronis. Or Carbonite. Third party free apps, or the bundled crap on drives, used for critical backups seems a bit too risky to me.

 

[Markverhyden]

Just throwing this out as an option. Nothing fancy, been around for years. Just a straight and simple GUI xcopy kind of app. Originally by Karen Kenworthy, who passed away almost 10 years ago. But someone managed to resurrect the website and update code. Replicator works very well.

 

[Mick]

Try FreeFileSync, also free.

 

[Porthos]

All the above simple file backup programs are nice until the user is hit by ransomware and the device they are backing up to is attached to the computer.

 

[Larry Sabo]

All the above simple file backup programs are nice until the user is hit by ransomware and the device they are backing up to is attached to the computer.

Unless the user alternates between external devices and only connects them and leaves them connected when actually updating the back-up.

 

[Porthos]

Unless the user alternates between external devices and only connects them and leaves them connected when actually updating the back-up.

Like that will happen. Users are lazy and want an automatic solution. I ask users when they last made a backup all the time and the answer is the last time I did it or walked them thru them again.

I do have several users who are faithful withbackups.

 

[NviGate Systems]

You could update those backup apps to run a diskpart script to unmount the drive after backup and mount it again for a backup. There are ways of creating unique GUID for these purposes if memory serves.

 

[cyabro]

Veeam has the option to disconnect the USB drive once the backup has completed.
You do need to restart or unplug and plug it back in again to get the next backup though.

 

[Markverhyden]

I've been reading that more recent attacks have been able to parse drives that are not mounted but still physically attached.

 

[carmen617]

I've been reading that more recent attacks have been able to parse drives that are not mounted but still physically attached.

Mark - what's your opinion of attaching a drive, setting up file history or some other set it and forget it backup program, and turning on Windows 10 ransomware protection?

 

[NviGate Systems]

You could use Bit Locker to encrypt the volume, even if a virus mounts the drive it won't be able to access the contents. A simple encrypted command to disk part could solve that.

Just thinking about possible solutions.

 

[Markverhyden]

Mark - what's your opinion of attaching a drive, setting up file history or some other set it and forget it backup program, and turning on Windows 10 ransomware protection?

It's all about air gap. Meaning if the electrons can't flow it should be safe. At least until it gets plugged in again. Personally I'm all about having at least two copies in addition to the original.

We should always use ransomeware protection just like anti-malware. Even then 0 days do happen. So that may not be bullet proof with just one copy.

You could use Bit Locker to encrypt the volume, even if a virus mounts the drive it won't be able to access the contents. A simple encrypted command to disk part could solve that.

Just thinking about possible solutions.

True, but every drive with FDE still has a tiny readable portion. So, in theory, they can still wreak havoc if that is physically attached. I guess a lot depends on how the machine and OS handles an ejected disk that is still attached.

I know I'm sounding really paranoid but I've been around long enough to see lot's of "fool proof" solutions get fooled.