Windows Vista Backup Software...

I am looking to find some sort of backup software that will automatically backup specific folders on my computer to an external HD, say once a week. I know this is possible and I know there are a ton of programs...I'm just not sure which to choose. (free is always better )

I just want the program to backup the files that have changed or the new files added each week also. I assume most programs are smart enough that I don't have to be here to click "Ignore" for files that are already backed up that haven't changed right?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks NBR!


edit: OS- Vista Ultimate x64

 

you dont have vista ultimate by chance do you?

 

Yes, I do have Vista Ultimate. Sorry I should have put that in the first post.

 

ok then your all set lol vista ultimate has a free backup utility. you have two options you can do a complete pc backup and you can also do a file backup. the complete pc backup is like making a copy of your hd, while the file backup just backups the files. i have mine set up for a weekly file backup, anything at all that changes on my pc during the week will be backed up each Friday. All you have to do is type backup in the start menu and click back up and restore center. once the box pops up its pretty self explanatory, just select the option you want and you can change the settings for how often and what time you want the back up to run. To restore the files just open the backup and restore center click restore and search the drive for the file you want to restore.

 

I could find this out just by playing with it, but are the Vista backup files in a proprietary format, or are they the actual files? I just switched from XP to Vista. In XP, I never used the backup function because created a "Windows Backup" file on the backup disk rather than just transfer files over.

If Vista's individual file backup works like XP's, Karen's Replicator is a great choice. It's a freeware backup program. You select the folders you want to backup, and it syncs them with an external drive or (I think) a network drive. No proprietary formats, just the files themselves, with lots of nice backup features.

 

they are actual files. All your files are on the external hard drive in zip files so if you wanted to you could go in there manually and retrieve them, but its annoying because there in folders like this. G:\JESSE-PC\Backup Set 2008-12-25 124911\Backup Files 2009-01-31 010004

but once you get in there the are actual files ziped up. restoring them through windows backup couldnt be easier though, just go to the destination of the file and click restore.

i have a windows backup as well but i prefer the file backup because to backup the changes i make every week only takes a few minutes compared to re backing up my whole pc because i got some email and my outlook pst changed a few mb.

 

Ok so I'm thinking about just using that Karens Replicator program.

Basically I just want to back up all of my music (90gigs worth) to my external HD. There will only be a few additions each week and maybe some changes to the tags. I'd kill somebody if I lost it. I also would like to be able to take my external to a friends computer and just copy over files without having to unzip all sorts of stuff.


Does that sound right?

 

That sounds like the File Backup indeed.
I'm a fan/user of the Complete PC Backup, though, and make one on a weekly basis. Given the frequency with which I tinker around with my system, this is a necessity.

 

Karen's Replicator will be perfect for you.

 

if you didn't have vista ultimate and would like something more user friendly then you could try this backup software Backup Dwarf.