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Hello and not sure if this is exacly the right place to ask but i am basically looking for a good pogram to mirror some folders on my pc.

I would like it so when i add/modify/delete a file or something on one disc the action is repeated for the folder on another disc, for example i have my photo album backed up in my onedrive folder on a hdd and would like anything i do to be replicated in the backup folder on an external drive (thats always plugged in of course)

I have seen some older threads asking similar things but the programs are either out dated or dont exacly fit what im after. If there is a way windows does it with programs or commands etc im all ears (and fingers) ready to try some things.

Many thanks everyone

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    Be aware that mirroring is a poor way of doing backups. For example, if a virus deletes (or encrypts) your files, the mirror will also delete/encrypt your backup.
    – Alejandro
    Commented May 30, 2018 at 12:42
  • I would second @Alejandro comment regarding this not being a secure backup method. Apart from my answer, you can also look into 'bash for windows 10' as an option to use *nix type commands for backups.
    – DankyNanky
    Commented May 30, 2018 at 12:58
  • Yeh i understand and it does not have to be just a mirror type backup but just something to help me copy over just whats changed and not the whole entire folder all the time and also so the backups/changes are backed up more frequently. Ill take a look at the things you mentioned, cheers.
    – Chris_S
    Commented May 30, 2018 at 16:20

2 Answers 2

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In recent years I've used FreeFileSync (instead of SyncToy, which is not actively developed any longer), and I thoroughly recommend it. Some of it's features:

  • Synchronize folders on network shares and local drives
  • Synchronize mobile devices via MTP (Android, iPhone, tablet, digital camera)
  • Synchronize cloud storage via SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)
  • Free FTP client: synchronize via FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and FTPS (SSL/TLS)
  • Detect moved and renamed files and folders
  • Manage versions and keep a history of deleted/updated files
  • Compare and synchronize multiple files in parallel
  • Show drive space usage for a directory tree
  • Copy locked files (Volume Shadow Copy Service)
  • Detect conflicts and propagate deletions
  • Compare files by content
  • Configure handling of Symbolic Links
  • Automate sync as a batch job
  • Comprehensive and detailed error reporting
  • Copy NTFS extended attributes (compressed, encrypted, sparse)
  • Copy NTFS security permissions
  • Copy NTFS Alternate Data Streams
  • Copy HFS+ extended attributes and ACLs
  • Support long file paths with more than 260 characters
  • Fail-safe file copy prevents data corruption
  • Expand environment variables like %UserProfile%
  • Use macros %time%, %date%, et al. for recurring backups
  • Access variable drive letters by volume name (USB sticks)
  • Prevent disc space bottlenecks via optimal sync sequence
  • Highly optimized run time performance
  • Include and exclude files via filter
  • Handle daylight saving time changes on FAT/FAT32
  • Case-sensitive synchronization
  • Serialize multiple users accessing the same (network) folder via folder locking
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    I used it too, then moved to Bvckup2. I am too lazy to copy/paste from the seven answers that I already gave extoling this fine software (shadow copy (copying open files) alone is worth the minimal purchase price). Give it a look
    – Mawg
    Commented Aug 29, 2018 at 14:40
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Apart from using Robocopy's flag to perform copy-jobs at intervals, you could use two tools I've had success with.

SyncToy

SyncToy 2.1 is a free application that synchronizes files and folders between locations. Typical uses include sharing files, such as photos, with other computers and creating backup copies of files and folders.

Downloadable here, or you can look for alternative solutions here.

This was developed, and then abandoned by Microsoft - therefore, use at your own risk.

DSyncronize

I have used (and still do) implement this tool. DSyncronize has many powerful options for "mirroring" and backing up UNC paths to other locations.

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    Hey, thanks for the help i will definatly look into that program because im simply fed up of manually copying over all the files everytime i want to backup when its just a few files that may have been changed, added or deleted so just need something that could help me with that, thanks
    – Chris_S
    Commented May 30, 2018 at 16:17

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