{"id":1328,"date":"2013-10-18T18:30:30","date_gmt":"2013-10-18T18:30:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.compuclever.com\/posts\/?p=1328"},"modified":"2013-10-18T18:42:32","modified_gmt":"2013-10-18T18:42:32","slug":"synctoy-a-free-tool-for-pc-backup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.compuclever.com\/posts\/synctoy-a-free-tool-for-pc-backup\/","title":{"rendered":"SyncToy – A free tool for PC backup"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Synopsis:\u00a0 In some of our previous articles<\/a> we have advised our readers to perform a backup of files for a variety of good reasons including to avoid loss or destruction of data file and to better organize files so as to reduce clutter and free hard drive space.\u00a0 We have also recommended Microsoft\u2019s Sync Toy and have encouraged users to run this free tool when doing backup procedures.\u00a0 In this article we are going to go in to some depth on how to use this technology.\u00a0 While we do not benefit from others using this program, we do feel its merits are to be shared.\u00a0 There are some terms and actions that require explanation and instruction.\u00a0 Once you get familiar with this program you can be backing up files on a regular basis and you\u2019ll be impressed by just how fast and easy it is.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>What to Backup:<\/h2>\n

When thinking about backing up your PC we suggest you visualize types of computer files in three categories: system files, application files, and other files (including your personal data).\u00a0 System files are those items that are critical to your PC for it to run and operate as you expect it to.\u00a0 These files are part of the operating system and they are typically hidden and are not meant to be modified, moved, deleted, or tampered with.<\/p>\n

System File Backup<\/strong>:\u00a0 For all versions of Windows you can make use of the Backup & Restore tool available with PC Tuneup Maestro<\/a>.\u00a0 This is a way to backup system files quickly and easily and by doing so you can restore your system to a previous date when it was working before a change was made.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind this is not a method of backing up your personal files \u2013 it restores your PC based on an earlier configuration of your system files. \u00a0Here\u2019s how you can do it:<\/p>\n

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  1. From the Fix & Clean page, click the BackUp & Restore <\/strong>link.<\/li>\n
  2. Click the\u00a0Create a Restore Point<\/strong> button.<\/li>\n
  3. In the\u00a0dialog that appears, enter in a description and click\u00a0Create<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  4. Click\u00a0OK<\/strong> in the confirmation dialog.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

    Application files<\/strong> include all the programs that you have installed on your computer.\u00a0 Most often, with a healthy computer you do not have to re-install programs.\u00a0 In the rare event that something happens to your computer you can re-install from your original CD discs or you can go online to the software manufacture and download and install the program again. \u00a0Having your license code previously written down may save you some time but in most cases you can contact the manufacturer and they can pass the license to you.<\/p>\n

    Personal files<\/strong> most often make up the bulk of your PC files in terms of space required, items you interact with directly, and data that changes on a frequent basis (new files added, files deleted, renamed items, items modified, etc.).\u00a0 These are the files that we are going to focus on here more specifically.\u00a0 This is where a good program like SyncToy will save you a lot of time and give you the sense of security that comes from knowing you are not going to lose recent data.<\/p>\n

    When, Why and Where to Backup:<\/h2>\n

    Let\u2019s look at some of the basics to good backup management.<\/p>\n

    When<\/strong>:\u00a0 With creating a System Restore point you want to have a Restore point created before making significant changes to your PC.\u00a0 With PC TuneUp Maestro, there is an automatic restore point creation built-in when you apply certain functions.\u00a0 You can see it happen during the process.\u00a0 This includes registry cleanup and defragmentation of the registry or the hard drive.\u00a0 It is these types of system changes that warrant having a Restore point created.<\/p>\n

    With personal data files you need to do regular backups even if this is on a monthly basis.\u00a0 Think of it as building up a wealth of some sort (in this case, new and modified documents and media files all represent time and effort and in some cases cannot be replicated easily or at all).\u00a0 Once you build up wealth to a certain point you want to bank it so it is safe.<\/p>\n

    Why<\/strong>: \u00a0As just stated backing up your files provides a sense of keeping your digital \u201cwealth\u201d safe.\u00a0 There is also the added benefit of being able to better organize hard drive space.\u00a0 If you take advantage of virtual storage (like Dropbox <\/a>for instance), as well as storing on an external hard drive, you can free up space on your computer.\u00a0 The added benefit to this is that your PC has a greater chance of operating at optimum speed rather than having to wade through fragmented data files.\u00a0 In some cases you need to create enough free space in order to defragment your PC.\u00a0 Finally, duplication and backup is good practice in the case of hard drive failure as well as destruction or theft of your PC or laptop.<\/p>\n

    Where<\/strong>:\u00a0 We recommend using an external hard drive for personal files.\u00a0 With files that require duplication, as they are of considerable value when you consider having to replace them, we recommend having two copies: a combination of your PC and either external hard drive or cloud storage (we have given the thumbs up for Dropbox<\/a>).\u00a0 As stated above, if you are struggling for disk space on your computer, you may want to consider removing personal data files from your PC and storing them on two external hard drives (one to backup the other).\u00a0 Or, you can use a combination of cloud storage and an external hard drive.\u00a0 The downside is that you may not have much free space for cloud storage and it fills up fast.\u00a0 If you have a lot of files (like most of us do), we recommend taking on the additional cost of a second external hard drive and keeping two copies of your personal data files.\u00a0 The good news is that external hard drives have really come down in cost and they have very large capacity of storage.<\/p>\n

    How To Use SyncToy<\/h2>\n

    If you decide on cloud storage and external hard drive(s) or some combination of these, you can use SyncToy<\/a> even if the files are not directly stored on your PC.\u00a0 For example, you can hook your USB key and your external hard drive and use SyncToy to backup and synchronize.\u00a0 Once you have connected external storage devices you can create a folder pair to sync the original files to the backup location.<\/p>\n

    Note<\/strong>: In this way you can choose to create files directly to a USB key (for example) and backup to an external hard drive.\u00a0 Keep in mind, in most cases you will be backing up from your hard drive (where your personal files are located), to a backup destination source.<\/div>\n

    After creating a folder pair, it is only a matter of choosing the type of synchronization and then running a preview before proceeding with the backup.<\/p>\n

    Let\u2019s take a look at the SyncToy user interface.\u00a0 As can be seen here it is fairly straightforward.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    Folder pairs are listed in the left pane.\u00a0 You can select one and see the Left and Right folders that you created in this pairing along with the file path where the files reside (for example: \u201cF:\\Docs\\From Laptop\u201d).\u00a0 Below this, the type of synchronization action that you originally selected is identified.\u00a0 You have the ability to change the action using the link that is provided.\u00a0 Next, there are options to choose from; the ones that you have selected (typically by default) are listed.\u00a0 Finally there are three action buttons relating to folder pairs and two on the right to perform the backup.<\/p>\n

    Folder Pairs: <\/strong>To begin you will be starting with a blank window and you need to create folder pairs.\u00a0 When you first start you can think of this as having a folder that contains all the files you want to backup on the left and the target folder (originally just an empty folder you have created) on the right.\u00a0 Now do the following:<\/p>\n

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    1. Click the Create New Folder Pair<\/strong> button.<\/li>\n
    2. In the dialog that opens, locate and select the folder in both the left (source) and right (destination) folders.\u00a0 Use the Browse<\/strong> buttons to more easily locate the folders.<\/li>\n
    3. Click the Next <\/strong>button.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Note: At this time we are only introducing left to right, source to destination, pairing.\u00a0 There are some synchronization actions that provide the option to have files duplicated both ways so that both folders contain the same data.\u00a0 The following section will describe this in more detail.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      Sync Type: <\/strong> The next step of the folder creation is to choose the synchronization action type.\u00a0 Here is what you see:<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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      1. Choose one the action types listed on the left.\u00a0 You can select one to get a short explanation.\u00a0 (We recommend \u201cEcho\u201d to begin.)<\/li>\n
      2. Click Next<\/strong> when you are done.<\/li>\n
      3. Choose a name for your folder pair (for example, \u201cBU \u2013 My Pics\u201d) and you are done.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Recommendation<\/strong>:\u00a0 For our purposes\u2026 let\u2019s simplify.\u00a0 We are referring to backing up data.\u00a0 In the case of backing up from a source destination to an external hard drive you would want to use the \u201cEcho\u201d action.\u00a0 With this action all copying happens from left to right including changes to any files that are renamed and deleted.\u00a0 What you get is an exact duplicate.\u00a0 You would not be modifying the files in the source folder in any way in this situation.\u00a0 If you are duplicating from one external hard drive to another (you would have to plug in both drives to your PC with available USB ports), you would still use the Echo option.\u00a0 That way you get two identical backups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        For the Synchronization action type\u2026 you would use this when you have two existing folders with, for example, music and you want to easily make both of these folders contain the same files.\u00a0 The shortcoming of this is that you need both folders to be fairly similar \u2013 deletion occurs in both directions to achieve a mirror of the other.\u00a0 It is better to do some manual organization first.<\/p>\n

        With Contribute, you would have a backup folder on the right constantly building up all the files you ever had on the left regardless of what items you have deleted in the left (source) folder.\u00a0 This is a backup for people who do not want to permanently delete their files stored in the backup location.\u00a0 As the description says\u2026 there are no deletions.\u00a0 You could use this option but we recommend that you have a lot of storage space.<\/p>\n

        With all these actions you can use the \u201cMore information\u201d link to get a more complete description in the available help file.<\/p>\n

        Preview and Run:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        With a folder pair created you can now perform a backup.\u00a0 Do the following:<\/p>\n

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