Best Backup software for 2020

I need to install backup software on a windows 10 laptop and on a Windows 7 laptop

The software needs to:
1. Backup to a usb external hdd
2. Automatically backup on a set schedule, once a week.
3. Delete old backups when space runs out on the hdd.

Which software (or softwares) are recommended in 2020?

In the past I've used Macrium free, EaseUS free, Paragon free, and even Acronis and have old versions if all. I do not believe that the free versions can do automated scheduled backups but I could be wrong. I have no problem purchasing software if needed.

Thanks.

For so-called "system files" only?

Or for personal files?


Or ALL files on ALL partitions on a given drive, regardless of type?

Here's a page from Macrium's users guide.

It looks like it will do what you need.

I use Macrium, but not scheduling. I cannot recall if scheduling is available in the free version. You can probably figure that out from the free versions you already have.

You can specify how many images you want to keep or to delete the oldest when free space falls below a certain level.

I wouldn't recommend Macrium to back up personal data, although it does so----it's just clunky compared to a one-trick pony devoted to that.

Curious said:

In the past I've used Macrium free, EaseUS free, Paragon free, and even Acronis and have old versions if all. I do not believe that the free versions can do automated scheduled backups but I could be wrong...

Can't say for the others, but Macrium Reflect Free has all the scheduling functions. They are not a Premium feature. File and Folder backup, Incrementals (Free has Differentials), Image Guardian and Rapid Delta Restore are the main Premium features disabled in Free.

Hi there

anything that works is fine --just check that restores also work -- many times I've seen people backing up stuff -- no errors reported and when they come to restore -- messages like Corrupt image etc etc.

For system images Macrium Free works OK

For backing up data etc I rely on a Linux NAS system -- I use rsync (or if you like a GUI Grsync) -advantage of Linux is easy crontab to schedule jobs whenever !!!

Note backing up data needs different strategy from backing up the OS -- remember though even with the Macrium Free version you can mount a backup image and browse / copy data files.

For cloning / copying HDD's / SSD's you can't do better than the old venerable Linux dd command - saves worrying about what file system, partition sizes etc etc -- just copies sector by sector whatever is on the disk and in whatever format --it's just physical data - it doesn't care at all about format / file systems disk permissions etc etc.

Just boot any linux live distro and run the DD command to try it. !!

Cheers
jimbo

ignatzatsonic said:

For so-called "system files" only?

Or for personal files?


Or ALL files on ALL partitions on a given drive, regardless of type?

Really for everything. My wife could not handle multiple tools. So I need something to set on her PC and forget about it and its attached ext hdd.
On my W10 laptop I could use several backup tools if necessary.

- - - Updated - - -

ignatzatsonic said:

Here's a page from Macrium's users guide.

It looks like it will do what you need.

I use Macrium, but not scheduling. I cannot recall if scheduling is available in the free version. You can probably figure that out from the free versions you already have.

You can specify how many images you want to keep or to delete the oldest when free space falls below a certain level.

I wouldn't recommend Macrium to back up personal data, although it does so----it's just clunky compared to a one-trick pony devoted to that.

Which one-trick pony do you mean?
I would prefer not to need to go to linux everytime a data backup is desired. It would never happen with my wife's PC and it is too likely to be skipped out of laziness in my own laptop.

see comments:

Curious said:

Really for everything. My wife could not handle multiple tools. So I need something to set on her PC and forget about it and its attached ext hdd.
On my W10 laptop I could use several backup tools if necessary.

Wife: does she keep personal files on BOTH her internal drive and the external? Or are the files on the external purely duplicates of certain files on the internal??

The standard advice for her would be to use Macrium to make ONE image file representing ALL partitions on the internal drive that contains C. Save that image file to the the external.

But that advice might be inappropriate--depending on the purpose of her external drive.

Provide more details about that. I'm specifically interested in whether or not ANYTHING on the external also needs to be "backed up".

If your wife would demand only a single tool, it would likely have to be Macrium or an imaging tool of some type because the "personal file" backup tools do NOT help you rebuild Windows in case of a serious problem. She'd just have to live with the imaging program's inadequacies as a personal file backup tool.

On the other hand, maybe you are NOT interested in backing up wife's system---only her personal files??

For most people, personal data backup is far more important than system backup. The latter only saves you time. The former could conceivably keep you out of the jailhouse.

- - - Updated - - -


Which one-trick pony do you mean?

There's free ones and paid ones. All work similarly. Some are easier to understand than others due to interface and help file differences. I use SyncBackFree. Others use FreeFileSync, Karen's Replicator, SyncToy or Second Copy, etc.

These are NOT imaging programs suitable to "back up" your system drive so you could recover from a hard drive failure, but they are much better than an imaging program for "personal file" backup.......pretty much like a drag and drop copy, without any complications like imaging.

I would prefer not to need to go to linux everytime a data backup is desired. It would never happen with my wife's PC and it is too likely to be skipped out of laziness in my own laptop.

No over-riding need to use Linux. If you were a Linux-skinner, then sure; otherwise, no reason to climb that learning curve.