Options For Backup Hard Drive?

Hi there
First of all "Data Backup" usually means a lot different to "OS Backup or System Backup".
For data that doesn't change much e.g say Music / video files - these are really "Achives" and only need to be backed up once whatever method you use. USB3 connection from an enclosure drive should be decently fast enough.

Then future data backups - you only need to copy files that are new or have been changed.

If you have a NAS it's easy - simply run rsync or (grsysnc if you want a GUI). You can even do it through the WSL on Windows if you install WSL. programs like rysnc are dead easy to use -- check all the parameters of course, and practice a couple of times.

Robocopy I've never had much luck with but if it works for you --fine. I wouldn't get involved with incremental / differential backup for DATA -- more hassle than its worth if you have a load of files -- bite the bullet and go for rsync.

System backup --things like macrium -- great here and for these incremental / differential backups might be worth while - but these days taking a backup of a Windows system usually only takes around 12 mins on fast hardware so just take more backups when modyfying / updating systems.

Everybody has their own "relative importance" to data -- for absolutely critical stuff just get say 100GB of cloud storage - both GOOGLE DRIVE and Ms's ONEDRIVE are good value - and store that stuff in the cloud too. (If you are already an OFFICE/365 subscriber you get a whole wodge of ONEDRIVE storage included. For others ONEDRIVE costs around EUR 1.50 a month for 100GB (cheaper if you pay in one go for a year up front) and GOOGLEDRIVE is about the same.

Cheers
jimbo

Approxmiately 5 Hours to backup Game SSD, with it's Full First Image, Transfer Rate 132.0/mb/s, though does up and down at times, nothing else is running on system, took 4-5 hours to do the M.2 Image as well, isn't much on that drive either. After this only doing differential or 1 Full a month i think.

Maybe thinking of my old Asus H110M with USB 3.1 ports, don't remember it this slow in the past, but in June 2020 traded that old motherboard, and system in for newer one, Intel 10700 on Gigabyte B460M-DS3H Motherboard, and newer Thermaltake Case--and yes i did a complete clean install on system on 12/25/2020

All Drivers in
don't think much else can do

Did switch boot drive from Samsung 860 Evo 250Gb, to M.2 Nvme 500GB, it is set for pcie 3.0 x4 in uefi bios

Swapped out 1Tb Black hard drive for WD Black 4TB, and added Samsung 860 Evo 1Tb for game storage since got system home in late June 2020

Still using Stock CPU cooler til can afford to get needed supplies to upgrade to Aftermarket CPU cooler, and have peace in my real life to do that install for first time



Anyways will get this done, then explore the tips here and follow those

Marked as Solved, as don't think much else can do with this to make it any better, Thanks all for the tips, and suggestions, will follow those for sure, will check out Robocopy more, and backup files as best i can, and do some Cloud backups later on.. I lost files back in 2005-2006 due to massive infection, so trying to make sure i attempt to backup as best i possibly can

idgat said:

No. Not the best way. If you move (relocate) the user system folders (whether with/out contents), the ​image restore of the OS/system drive will fail, because those folders are an integral part of the Windows installation

I don't think so: I have relocated my user folders, and just done a MR restore to an old image (to sort out iTunes), then a restore back to this morning's build - it restored perfectly (AFAICT). You would get problems if you:
1. moved the folders (and data) off the system drive, then
2. created an image of just the system drive (#1) in that state (so no user data would be saved), then
3. re-located the folders (and data) back to their original position, and finally
4. restored image #1 - you would then have lost your user data.

You really have to try quite hard to mess it up!

Backing up to Standard Hard Drive in External Enclosure, USB 3.1 Enclosure, but should be i would think compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports on my Desktop here, Do have a secondary enclosure to try with the drive that is USB 3.0, though already tried it once, and it was still very slow

Drive backing up to inside the external is Seagate 8TB SMR ST8000DM004

Can swap internal 4TB WD Black Drive with WD Black 1TB for Media storage, and such, and just backup to the 4TB CMR drive if it makes any difference.

If nothing else, i'll just continue gathering drives, backing up what files i need, and proceed with clean system install in the coming day, and hopefully after that works a bit better