Do you prefer incremental or differential backups?

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  1. Posts : 245
    W10 Home Version 21H1 Build 19043.1055
       #21

    Compumind said:
    FYI -

    I just created a full system image (about 400 GB) from a internal 2 TB SSD via USB 3.1 (Gen 2) to a external SSD (also USB 3.1, Gen 2)
    Took less than 10 minutes with verification using Macrium. Simply amazing.

    FWIW.
    I'll take a guess that you've got decent SSD's with good DRAM and SLC cache capabilities, Samsung Pro's perchance?...
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  2. Posts : 5,048
    Windows 10/11 Pro x64, Various Linux Builds, Networking, Storage, Cybersecurity Specialty.
       #22

    Infrasonic said:
    I'll take a guess that you've got decent SSD's with good DRAM and SLC cache capabilities, Samsung Pro's perchance?...
    No Samsung on these. They are great, though!

    Something different:

    XG5-P Series | TOSHIBA MEMORY | Americas

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  3. Posts : 138
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #23

    f14tomcat said:
    I do daily/weekly/monthly fulls, with the smattering of the incrementals as mentioned before for their purpose. Retention is 14 daily, 26 weekly, and 12 monthly. It's not only to restore a known state, I also keep so many because I can mount the image and cherry pick any file from back in time, if needed. Data, sys file, whatever.
    That's a thorough backup setup you have there!

    Curious question...Since you do so many backups, do you write comments on most images using the MReflect comment feature to tell yourself what changes were made or the significance of a backup image?

    Caledon Ken said:
    My offsite backup is very simple as I figure if I need it things are very bad. I have two laptop drives of sufficient size to carry a couple of full data backups. One is in the safety deposit box, one is at home. When then one at home is written I swap it for the one in safety deposit box. I also have USB drive that I keep multiple copies of my password vault on. They swap when the drives swap.
    That is simple yet very practical. I really like this idea (not sure why this didn't occur to me). If I may ask, how costly is the safe deposit box -- monthly or annually? I presume it's with a local bank you use regularly. Think I might go this route while I do research on the NAS solution I wish to go with.

    reddice said:
    Full backup of my C Drive where the OS is using Macrium Reflect which takes about 3 minutes to complete and about 8 to 10 minutes to restore. My D Drive I backup using SyncBackFree. I tried to do it with Macrium but it said it would take over 16 hours and there was no differential option after so I only image my main drive.
    Any idea why Macrium made such a high estimate? Seems rather unusual. Also, what features of the SyncBackFree program do you like that makes it superior to the traditional drag & drop backup method?
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  4. Posts : 138
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #24

    Compumind said:
    FYI -I just created a full system image (about 400 GB) from a internal 2 TB SSD via USB 3.1 (Gen 2) to a external SSD (also USB 3.1, Gen 2)
    Took less than 10 minutes with verification using Macrium. Simply amazing.
    FWIW.
    In my perfect world, all my external would be an SSD. Currently can only afford the 500GB sizes (ignoring the cost to get a 1TB SATA into an enclosure). But the $/GB cost leaves me with no other option but to use traditional externals for now.
    Last edited by KabyBlue; 23 May 2021 at 15:49.
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  5. Posts : 5,048
    Windows 10/11 Pro x64, Various Linux Builds, Networking, Storage, Cybersecurity Specialty.
       #25

    KabyBlue said:
    In my perfect world, all my external would be an SSD. Currently can only afford the 500GB sizes (ignoring the cost to get a 1TB SATA into an enclosure). But the $/GB cost leaves me with no other option but to use traditional externals for now...
    In my line of work, I get some great deals.

    I suggest buying Solid-State Devices, if you can.
    Prices are coming down rapidly. Just need some patience.


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  6. Posts : 1,020
    Windows 10 Pro 20H2 19042.572
       #26

    KabyBlue said:
    How reliable has your incremental backup strategy been thus far? I have always been worried about a chain in the set of incrementals being damaged/corrupt and for that reason tend to limit myself to differential images -- but due to my data usage the files can get pretty large & fill up my current external drive quickly.
    I too have had zero issues with any of my incremental files. But to be honest even though I always run a verification of the incremental, I have only needed to restore once in the past when a failed physical drive forced me into it. But I also create duplicate backups (Full & Incremental). Backups are sent to a removable Sata drive (my computer case has removable drive capabilities). After the backup completes, the new incremental files are automatically copied to an attached USB 3.1 external drive in Raid 1 mode which provides further duplication. All of these drives are offline and only are online during during the short period of time when backup & copies are running. Note that utilizing Raid 1 for the target is quite slow ie I never see full USB 3.1 speed.

    Since my backup drives are all spinners (WD BLACK Drives), and can't match SSD to SSD backup speeds, backup speed is of intrest to me and another reason why I chose Incremental backups vs Differential backups. I also buy additional insurance since my backup cycle is duplicated. At the same time I also run AOMEI backups in addition to using Macrium Reflect. Call me paranoid, but
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  7. Posts : 30,118
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #27

    Samsung drives in Canada have been on a really good sale lately. 1TB for $179.

    Can't tell you how much safety deposit box is as it is included in banking plan. I use Laptop drives. As I said I use to use my brother house as off site and encrypted drive with Truecrypt (now Veracrypt). Free and easy to use. The drive to my brother house plus the odd task there would take two+ hours, round trip to bank, 40 minutes.
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  8. Posts : 13,896
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #28

    An example of how cheaply storage can be, this a 2.5" typically used in Notebooks or pocketable portable cases, the 3.5" drives in desktops are usually much less:
    Amazon.com: Samsung Seagate Spinpoint M9T 2TB 2.5-Inch SATA 6Gb/s 32MB Cache Internal Hard Drive(ST2000LM003): Computers Accessories
    I did get a surprise when salvaging a 2.5" 1TB drive from a Notebook with the brand name, found this information I'd missed:
    Samsung sells HDD division to Seagate for $1.375 billion
    It just means there's fewer vendors of drives than back in the mid-'90s when I got started working on/building computers.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 56,806
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       #29

    KabyBlue said:
    That's a thorough backup setup you have there!

    Curious question...Since you do so many backups, do you write comments on most images using the MReflect comment feature to tell yourself what changes were made or the significance of a backup image?


    On some, yes. Particularly if it's a clean install, major revamp, new version build (1809),something I want to identify easily.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 5,048
    Windows 10/11 Pro x64, Various Linux Builds, Networking, Storage, Cybersecurity Specialty.
       #30

    For those that might be confused regarding the difference between Incremental and Differential backup methods, please see this:

    Whats the difference between differential and incremental backups (and why should I care)?

    Hope this alleviates any potential confusion.
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