Recommended backup plan, use google drive for file history?

Hi, I'm getting ready for an online/remote job and finally trying to set up an easy and complete back-up process on/for my Windows 10 version 1909 laptop. I have an external hard drive and a google drive account. I'm thinking to use Google Drive for File History - is that feasible? And then use the external drive for system image, as I've read you shouldn't have file history and system image on same drive. I have a recovery flash drive from when I purchased the laptop. I'd like to automate back-ups.
I'm thinking of using SyncBackFree (have never used it). Does it have advantage over using the existing Windows settings?
Is is possible to schedule File History to backup to Google Drive perhaps daily and keep a week's worth of files? I'm not worried about 'versions' - just having the most recent version in case I delete a file by mistake. Can I put system image backup and file history on same external drive? Is there anything else I should be doing or recommendations for other tools? I'm on limited budget - free is better for me!
thanks in advance!
Abby

If you use Google backup and sync it will backup as soon as you save a file or change one it's free and unlimited storage for photos it will also sync to any of PC you login to

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AbbyHyde said:

I have an external hard drive and a google drive account. I'm thinking to use Google Drive for File History - is that feasible?

Feasible? Sure.

The best choice?

Not sure. Do you have to involve Google in this at all? Or any "online" backup service when you have your own external drives?

And then use the external drive for system image, as I've read you shouldn't have file history and system image on same drive. I have a recovery flash drive from when I purchased the laptop. I'd like to automate back-ups.
I'm thinking of using SyncBackFree (have never used it). Does it have advantage over using the existing Windows settings?

"System Image"....do you mean Windows built-in imaging program? It's a bit shaky and on the way out. You might be better off with a third party program like Macrium for "system image".

You can save a Macrium image anywhere it will fit other than on the system drive itself. You can automate Macrium if you want to. I don't use that feature.

I use SyncBackFree and like it. I don't use File History at all and would see no need to assuming you back up directly to your externals and they are in working order. Google might be tolerable for a "backup of the backup".

The recovery drive you got at the time of purchase would likely restore you to the state the machine was in when purchased. Is that what you would want to recover to?

Is is possible to schedule File History to backup to Google Drive perhaps daily and keep a week's worth of files? I'm not worried about 'versions' - just having the most recent version in case I delete a file by mistake. Can I put system image backup and file history on same external drive? Is there anything else I should be doing or recommendations for other tools? I'm on limited budget - free is better for me!

I'd think free would work. Macrium Free and SyncBackFree.

You can certainly put SyncBackFree file backups and Macrium Free system backups on the same drive. A Macrium image is just a huge file. One file.

I know next to nothing about File History or Google Drive and don't have any reason to use either. I'd think SyncBackFree would supplant File History. You may need Google Drive or something like that if you need access to backups and don't have your externals.

Maybe I'm not correctly understanding your requirements?

thank you both. I do have google backup and sync. I'll explore that. And thank you for other suggestions! I understand Macrium is no longer free? I can try SyncBackFree. I think I'll keep recovery flash drive of the original OS, and perhaps make another now? And periodically? Anything else I'm missing?

AbbyHyde said:

thank you both. I do have google backup and sync. I'll explore that. And thank you for other suggestions! I understand Macrium is no longer free? I can try SyncBackFree. I think I'll keep recovery flash drive of the original OS, and perhaps make another now? And periodically? Anything else I'm missing?

Macrium has a free version and a paid version. You should be fine with the free version.

If you use Macrium, you'll need to:

1: make a "full image" containing ALL partitions on the system drive. Save it like any other file on your external. Maybe make a new one weekly or monthly. Might take 10 minutes; might take an hour.

2: make "recovery media" from within Macrium, using a USB stick. You need to confirm that it will boot your machine.

It's in your interest to understand how to use Macrium NOW, rather than AFTER your drive is dead. Most don't. Some do.

SyncBackFree has a busy interface with lots of rules and choices. Generally, you'd want to use "mirroring" of all files--assuming you have enough space on the backup drive. Mirroring means the backup matches the original.

Beware: if you make a wrong choice, SyncBackFree could DELETE your Macrium image. To avoid that, make a folder on the target drive called "File Backups" or something like that. Direct SyncBackFree to put its backups there.

Put the Macrium image in the root of the external drive, where SyncBackFree won't touch it.

thank you ignatzatsonic! I believe I have info I need to feel confident I'm protected. Have a great day to both of you

- - - Updated - - -

Hi - OK - I have a 1TB external hard drive that I plan to (1) use for system image differential back-ups monthly using Macrium Reflect Free, to go in the root of the drive. (2) create a folder called "file backups" and back up/"mirror" my files daily using SyncBackFree.
And I have a 128gb flash drive where I will create a recovery drive including system files - using MS Media Creation Tool? - every six months.
Am I understanding this correctly?
Are there any other settings or little tricks that I need to use to make sure the recovery drive and system image will work correctly? It's scary to read all the posts from folks having issues in restoring a system.
Can I use the flash drive for any other file storage in addition to recovery?
thanks in advance, Abby

The Macrium recovery USB stick needn't be over 1 GB. Very small.

Not sure why you are involving Media Creation Tool. That's normally used to make a Windows installer......entirely different from Macrium.

You use the phrase "recovery drive including system files". Not sure what that means.

I suppose all of that could co-exist on a single stick. I've never done that. I use separate sticks for different tasks.

Typically:

1 stick for Macrium recovery, to boot from if your hard drive won't boot. Not needed IF your hard drive WILL still boot. Plan for your hard drive to be D-E-A-D, so make this stick and confirm it boots your PC.

1 stick for a Windows installer, totally unrelated to Macrium. Has nothing to do with "backup". Needed only for a clean Windows install. Needs to be 8 GB I think, maybe still 4 GB.

1 other hard drive of some type--to use as a destination for the Macrium image file. Might be internal. Might be external. Could be a USB stick, but not the best choice due to flimsiness, slow speed, and modest capacity.

Your image files are likely to be 20 GB or larger--roughly 50 percent of the occupied space on your system drive.

No over-riding reason to use differentials unless your image storage drive has space issues or unless you cannot bear to take the time to do a full image.

Macrium is circa 97 to 99% reliable. It's just a time-saver. Not guaranteed to do anything. Expect it to fail. Know what you will do then---namely, a clean install followed by reinstallation and configuration of all programs. Might take 5 or 50 hours. Macrium saves that time if it works. No more. No less.

I may not understand your intent, but that's my first take on what you wrote.

I already own the 128gb stick and the 1TB external drive. So wondering if there's any reason not to put other files on either of them.

AbbyHyde said:

I already own the 128gb stick and the 1TB external drive. So wondering if there's any reason not to put other files on either of them.

Find out by experimentation.....would be a good drill for you anyway.

Make the Macrium recovery stick. Confirm it will boot to the Macrium interface. Shut down. Put a bunch of other random stuff on the stick. Retry booting to the Macrium interface. It still works or it doesn't. I suspect it will.

The external 1 TB can certainly be used for other purposes than SyncBackFree. I personally use my destination drive for both SyncBackFree backups and for garden variety drag-and-drop backups. Why?? Because I run SyncBackFree daily, but I still on rare occasions need a file from a month ago. SyncBackFree folder would not have that month old file because I don't use "versioning". My SyncBackFree folder at noon contains ONLY the stuff that was on my source drive at 11 AM when I last ran SyncBackFree.

I'd probably advise you to make a second backup---of at least your most important files. Maybe on a USB stick you keep in a nightstand where you could grab it in a house fire. If not kept off-site entirely.

I think I've got it! Funny how you can find old flash drives in drawers if you look. Can I put a windows installer and recovery drive on one 8gb stick?