Discussion on:

Product Spotlight: SyncToy 2.1 file synchronization

What do you use to backup your workstations? Do you require more than SyncToy has to offer?

I use a cloud-based service to back up my primary PC (laptop), but I use SyncToy to crossload my MP3 library to my second PC (Ubuntu). It works pretty well, although I usually need to authenticate through network before SyncToy will work. But it beats the heck out of doing it manually.

For Servers I use the inbuilt Win 2008 Backup by for workstations I'm using Oops!Backup.

What's great is that it's all automatic, backs up changes only and fantastically easy to use - so easy that my users can restore themselves without involving me.

A hidden gem.

Oh .. the company is called Altaro - http://www.altaro.com

SyncToy ignores thumbs.db or dekstop.ini files (and other system files?).

Not a problem in itself, but annoying if you're manually checking whether the sync procedure was successful, and the two meant-to-be identical folders don't match.

R.

I like SyncToy, it is fast, relatively "smart", low on system resources, and very easy to use (needed for wife).

But, there are some issues that not even Microsoft has been able to figure out, and those put the true reliability of the backup jobs into question.

I have two directories (music) that are essentially identical; file names, file attributes, change/access/modify dates are the identical for both left and right folders. SyncToy still wants to copy ALL files from left to right - not only the few added or changed files. Been asking MSFT for a long time about this, a lot of back and forth, but still no answer as to why ST behaves in this manner.

It sort of defeates the purpose if there are only two files that are to be copied, but SyncToy wants to copy over 8,000 files...

It has to index everything first to find which changes need to be done... I've not seen it act in the way you've described.
I've got it in place to backup a manager's "My Documents" to a network drive from a laptop.
No hassles with it at all...

Thanks NexS,
I started with that long time ago (indexing from scratch) and it was running perfectly for "years". This "problem" just happened one day w/o any other changes to the system, and massive amounts of data was indicated to be overwritten.
Just weird.
With storage prices going down on a dayly basis, maybe it is time to abandon SyncToy and just do a large amount of "full" multiple incremental copies...

Then make the way! I guess, you could just use Windows' auto-backup doover thingy to set up a scheduled backup to an external disk.
Either way works, I guess. Though, personally, I don't back up at all... I know, I'm an Idiot!

Any folders in the Left will get hidden synctoy files added. Very bad for source control. I've always hated the SourceSave does this, but Synctoy does as well, and they seemingly have no purpose.

SyncToy_2d1ce2a3-e60e-407f-94aa-53dff10f2626.dat


Otherwise, I do use this tool for updating my Laptop before business trips with the latest copies of our development system and installation packages.

I've been using this for a while
http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm
it's free. But you can donate if you like,
I'm not affiliated.
From the site:"Cobian Backup is not an usual backup application: it only copies your files and folders in original or compressed mode to other destination, creating a security copy as a result. So Cobian Backup can be better described as a "Scheduler for security copies". Cobian Backup supports several methods of compression and strong encryption."

I, too, have been using Cobian Backup for our home systems, and would highly recommend it. It's easy to configure, can run as a Windows service, and allows for backup tasks to be scheduled / automated. I have 2 main jobs: 1 that backs up to an external USB HDD, and 1 that connects via FTP to our web site and backs up there.

You can also control the number of historical backups to keep around, as well as configure Cobian to send an E-mail notification with the job log info. For a free program, it is very robust and offers an impressive amount of functionality.

I haven't tried using SyncToy in a while, but never had much luck with it......

We are an enterprise but don't use this for backup. What we use it for is a one-way sync from a central server to some laptops (large quantities of photos). We do use the task scheduler with a wrapper batch file, which I've pasted below. The task sched. is ideal for us because it means there is no service or app always running in the background sucking up resources or threatening the stability of the machine.

The main pain-point for us is management and reporting. We do have a reporting script that attempts to keep track of which laptops have synchronized and it works well enough. Currently we're enhancing the reporting by putting it in MS SQL Reporting services. Would be great to have a way to adjust settings or force syncs in a centralized way...

Wrapper Script (needs powershell too):
@ECHO off

SET SyncToy="C:\Program Files\SyncToy 2.1\SyncToyCmd.exe"
SET Name=NUL

:End
ECHO.Done

Like someone else mentioned, I use it to synchronize files between a desktop and laptop computer before and after a trip. But I also use virtual machines for testing and have a VPN connection to a company's corporate network, so this tool has come to be very useful.

Its command-line parameter support is not difficult, so scheduling a task for automated file-level backups is quite straight-forward.

As has been posted before on Tech Republic, read Help | Learn how to schedule Synctoy.

Not a gazillion options, but you get what you pay for.

All current versions of Windows include a task scheduler, so I don't see that as an issue.

Here's a bigger problem. Synctoy does not work properly when synchronizing to multiple USB drives. I have 5 external drives, one labeled for each day of the week, that I connect on the proper day. Synctoy is unable to function correctly in this scenario.

I've been using XXCopy and Karen's PowerTools' Replicator depending upon my specific need.

I use it to sync folders from user pc's as a cheapo method of backing up certain files. Like the back end of our payroll program that resides on ONE machine that is critical to our business that one Moro... user that couldn't find their way out of a paper... wont let the back up program run like its supposed to because they keep shutting the computer off no matter how many *(&^%$ times i tell her not to.


yes I use it and like it, it does schedule sort of.

I used to use SyncToy on my notebook to sync my work files on my notebook and desktop PCs, but it frankly created more problems than it solved. It wouldn't always copy all the files -- work files, not hidden files or system files or .db or .ini files -- and all too often, I would have recreate the sync jobs, so I now use the paid versions of AllWay Sync (http://allwaysync.com/)and GoodSync (http://www.goodsync.com/). They're only US$20 and they do a much better job. They also both offer free upgrades forever. While the USB drive I use for syncing the files serves as a partial backup of the important work files that I sync, I have a separate backup USB HDD that automatically does its thing about 5 times a day.

I have 4 desktop computers (downstairs, upstairs, garage, workshop) that are perpetually connected to a Windows Home Server and have two laptops that are connected sporadically. I have been using SyncToy since version 1.4 to sync connector computers to the Windows Home Server. During this time, I have been searching for a better product that will sync, not only to a central storage, but to each other. If I am in the shop and make a change to a drawing, I want that change to immediately be applied to all computers on the network automatically when I close the application. If I add some pictures to the "Pictures" sub-folder in "All Documents" from the downstairs computer, I want those pictures to automatically be sent to all the other computers on the network immediately after I close that application. WHS, would need to be included in this sync process, but would not have to be.

Can anyone recommend a sync program that can perform this task?

edit: grammar

it's kind of funny you edited your post for grammar, then misspelled it.

Guilty as charged.

If all the devices are online, try Dropbox.

While SyncToy doesn't have native support for scheduling, Windows comes with everything you need to schedule automated backups using SyncToy. This article on MyDigitalLife.info provides all the necessary details:
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/01/01/schedule-synctoy-to-run-and-automatically-and-repetitively/

Thank you for the link to run scheduler in Vista and XP. At the risk of sounding foolish, are the steps the same for Win 7? I am running Win 7 at home (as I am able) to try and migrate work programs, test them for bugs, and setup a home/small business network with backup. I read these articles and appreciate the positive input and technical expertise of the writers. It is like having a dedicated R&D panel for my small business. Kudos gentlemen!

The steps in the article for Vista are basically the same as they are for Win 7.

I've recently used this as a replacement for Windows Offline Files as I have experienced no end to the complications and road blocks with using offline files.
There was a batch file I've plugged into the Startup folder in a user's profile which runs a specified folder pair.
Sure, it's a little messy, but not as messy as changing group policies to allow scheduled tasks.
So in one respect, no good for business users that want a complete package, but hey! It's a pretty good freebee!

The version of synctoy that I tried had a big flaw - it sent the log, which details every file syncronised, to the event log. Each event log entry has a limited maximum size and so if backing up lots of files then synctoy fails when the event log runs out of room. I met this problem which was compounded by a lack of error message. I use Syncbak in preference to this product.

Synctoy not copying new and updated files from left (laptop) to right being Home PC where both are on Windows 7. Can some one suggest any fixes?

How does SyncToy know what to do in the RIGHT folder when I rename a file in the LEFT folder (or vice versa) ?
Thanks,
Dan