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Microsoft Powertools: SyncToy, A Quick and Simple Backup Solution

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Preferred

I recently came across a neat backup synchronization tool provided free by Microsoft as part of their PowerTools set of utilities for Windows XP.

For those not aware of Microsoft's PowerTools, I invite you to check out Microsoft Power Toys For Windows XP.
 Microsoft PowerToys: SyncToy
After my traumatic episode during the summer in which I lost my main system drives and discovered I had missed backup up some critical folders, I probably overreacted, but I ended up with redundant network (NAS) drives using RAID hardware mirroring.   I also have high end backup software to regularly schedule backups without my intervention and to spread the backups over several backup devices. .  

However, there are still times when I just needed to keep a duplicate folder to which I could more frequently, but irregularly copy important folders that I was updated through the day, so if something happened where I lost or mistakenly changed data in between regularly scheduled backups, I could access the "immediate" backup folder that would also have deleted/lost files. 

SyncToy is my solution.  It allows you to create "Folder Pairs", whereby you designate the "From" and the "To" data folders anywhere on you computer or network.    You can create as many Folder Pairs as desired, which automatically included all sub-folders (you can select sub-folders if necessary).  After identifying a Folder Pair, you also have to specify one of  5 types of actions to be carried out between the two sets of folders:

  • Synchronize: New and updated files are copied both ways. Renames and deletes on either side are repeated on the other.
  • Echo: New and updated files are copied left to right. Renames and deletes on the left are repeated on the right.
  • Subscribe: Updated files on the right are copied to the left if the file name already exists on the left.
  • Contribute: New and updated files are copied left to right. Renames on the left are repeated on the right. No deletions.
  • Combine: New and updated files are copied both ways. Nothing happens to renamed and deleted files.

For my purpose, I usually select the "Contribute" action, since I do not want to loose files I deleted.  I then "save" the Folder Pair and it's ready to be executed (run).

I have defined many Folder Pairs. I am then able to select a Folder Pair and run the synchronization of the designated data areas based on how I defined the Folder Pair.  I also have the option of running more than one Folder Pair at a time.

While it SyncToy does not allow you to schedule the running of Folder Pairs, it does tell you how you can use Window XP's or Vista's System Task Scheduler to set up a system schedule.

The response of SyncToy is fairly good and it serves a need if you have specific folders for which you need to maintain an easily accessible backup.  And you can't beat the price!
 
 
 
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Copyright 2007 by Lawrence Yerkes. All Rights Reserved.

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