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Thread: Software advice sought

  1. #1
    Master
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    Software advice sought

    Hi... Looking to replace my Synctoys program... I keep all my digital photos in many sub folders on a dedicated external hard drive. I use synctoy to occasionally clone (or sync) all the folders to a a folder on another (emergency) external hard drive and also a third emergency external hard drive. But it's soooooo.. bloody..... slowwwww... It takes many hours to do each one. Can anyone suggest a (preferably free but if not reasonably priced) alternative without getting into RAID technology? Ideally I am looking for something very like synctoy but one that just compares the two drives and copies just any new or altered files across and deletes any files that have been deleted from the source disc. Not sure I've explained that very well, but pleased to hear.

    Rob

  2. #2
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    If you do a "drag and drop" copy of a folder in Windows, it seems to copy across but then invites you to overwrite or ignore any identical files already on the target drive.

    Doesn't help you to delete though, I'm afraid!

    I'll be interested to see what the experts say as it sounds like a useful facility.

  3. #3
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    There's a Wiki page with a heap of possibilities:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compar...ation_software

    Maybe have a look at FreeFileSync:
    https://freefilesync.org/

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Barryboy View Post
    Hi... Looking to replace my Synctoys program... I keep all my digital photos in many sub folders on a dedicated external hard drive. I use synctoy to occasionally clone (or sync) all the folders to a a folder on another (emergency) external hard drive and also a third emergency external hard drive. But it's soooooo.. bloody..... slowwwww... It takes many hours to do each one. Can anyone suggest a (preferably free but if not reasonably priced) alternative without getting into RAID technology? Ideally I am looking for something very like synctoy but one that just compares the two drives and copies just any new or altered files across and deletes any files that have been deleted from the source disc. Not sure I've explained that very well, but pleased to hear.
    What you describe in your last sentence is in essence the functionality of the old Unix command-line utility rsync, which is what I use to back up my own Linux desktop files. So I googled to see if there's a Windows version of some sort. There is apparently, but it would take a bit of setting up: https://itefix.net/cwrsync

  5. #5
    Grand Master MartynJC (UK)'s Avatar
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    built into Windows is the robocopy.exe - you could write a small .bat file to keep everything in sync - the first run will take a long time, but the deltas should be quicker. Use the various switches to suit

    refs:
    https://adamtheautomator.com/robocopy/
    https://www.computerhope.com/robocopy.htm

    I used this extensively at work in another lifetime to maintain complete copies - it even has a 'monitor' option to look out for changes between source and target.

    Martyn
    Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 10th June 2021 at 19:33.
    “ Ford... you're turning into a penguin. Stop it.” HHGTTG

  6. #6
    Master Grandiloquence's Avatar
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    You could try Robocopy via command line. loads of example scripts available with a quick Google.

  7. #7
    Master sish101's Avatar
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    Try this. We use it across all of our sites throughout the world. It's fast and reliable and can be easy or complicated depending on your needs:

    http://www.secondcopy.com/

    Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

  8. #8
    Grand Master wileeeeeey's Avatar
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    Have you thought about a cloud backup in addition to what you've already described?

    BlackBlaze, Crash plan, even Google Drive?

  9. #9
    Craftsman
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    When I used to use Windows on my laptop I always went to this site first to see what they recommend, https://www.techsupportalert.com/bes...on-utility.htm. I used to use Syncback, one of the Honourable Mentions, for folder syncing. My approach is to try a few programs to make sure they work, and check out the ease of use - I like programs that don't require me to read the manual to get it working.

    On Kubuntu I use https://www.howtogeek.com/110138/how...-back-in-time/.

  10. #10
    Sounds like a job for rsync, we use it every day to sync filesystems across the country.
    It's a unix command line thing but I would imagine it works in WSL too.

  11. #11
    A quick question sort of related to this thread, I have a 35mm negative scanner, but its clunky and will take forever to copy all the negatives I have, is there a piece of software that effectively does it for you, just scan and it puts it straight into a folder then waits for the next one?

  12. #12
    Master sish101's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by adrianw View Post
    A quick question sort of related to this thread, I have a 35mm negative scanner, but its clunky and will take forever to copy all the negatives I have, is there a piece of software that effectively does it for you, just scan and it puts it straight into a folder then waits for the next one?
    What make/ model scanner do you have?

    Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by sish101 View Post
    What make/ model scanner do you have?

    Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk
    Ill take a look when i get home

  14. #14
    Craftsman
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    This has been around a few years and may solve your needs. I believe there is a trial version to see if it works for you https://www.silverfast.com/silverfast9/

    Sent from my moto g(7) plus using Tapatalk

  15. #15
    Master
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    Freefilesync is what I use

  16. #16
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    On Linux and macOS use rsync, I believe there is a implementation on windows but as I don’t use it I can’t confirm
    But despite being command line only it’s an extremely robust and reliable syncing tool.

    You could also look at syncthings freeware which is gui based and well regarded
    https://syncthing.net/

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