There are many backup concepts and implementations (which I will not embark upon here), but one of the easiest to use is File Replication.

If you suffer a failure, there's lots to do to getting things back to normal.
Getting your data back to where you were before the nightmare can be
a long and frustrating exercise.

My favorite Sync tool is Allway Sync.

The tool allows you to define Files or Folders to be sync'd and an option to
sync both ways (where the backup file might be modified on the target system)
or only one-way (which is my laptop usage).

The FREE version has a trigger to limit the amount of data being sync'd and
suggestions you purchase a license to solve the problem. My solution is
1) be highly selective in what is backed-up
2) perform backups manually and limit the frequency (1/week or 1/month)

I backup a just few folders and my email.
Not everything in My Documents is significant, so I select subdirectries
and exclude a whole raft of stuff. Any new files in the selected subdirs will
automatically be included in the next Sync.

As for email, it's just a matter of knowing where to look for the inbox
The data is located inside the Profiles (see attached).

If I suffer a failure and after getting the system running again,
I can just reverse the direction and restore all that precious data

Attached Images

	Allway-Sync-control.jpg (64.2 KB, 12 views)
	TBird-Email-Location.jpg (28.4 KB, 15 views)

Good thread, will concider using this for my next backups.

Regards,

Korrupt

Good review, thanks jobeard. Good[Sync is very similar, but has an additional feature called "Analyze" which shows you exactly what you are about to sync or backup. Free and Paid versions. Free one has similar restrictions.

Allway Sync has: Analyze, Analyze All, Sync, and Sync All

A newer version can be installed on a thumb drive and used ANYWHERE,
as it does not require registry entries to operate correctly

Portability is a great feature. I cannot find it as a special version.

Allway Sync 'n' Go 8.3.1 - portable edition of Allway Sync to install on USB stick or external HDD. See other Allway Sync editions.

DOWNLOAD

Platform: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008
Size of file: 3639 Kb

The portable edition is intended for installation on removable device.

- It runs from USB disk or external HDD.
- No installation on the client computer is required.
- Works even if software installation is prohibited by administrator.
- When the removable device is pulled out the sync software is removed from PC.


see this

Thanks for the full presentation of this useful utility jobeard, I shall follow your recommendation. Your additional advice is also appreciated.

I also consider portable software advantageous, because my PC is already overcrowded with installed programs. Furthermore, installed software can eventually slow down the PC and cause instability, something that has just actually happened to me (from Acronis True Image) and fortunately I found solution thru this board. Finally, portable software can be removed without traces or loose registry entries.

I’ve chosen the latest version Allway Sync 'n' Go 9.1.7, which I’ll “install” on my external HDD. It appears this is the best choice when you mainly synchronize between internal and external drives as in my case.

Info & download: http://allwaysync.com/ngo.html