Keep an up-to-date copy of your important folders.

(1) Download Backup. (Requires Java.)
(2) Click "Start" to install Backup. More...
(3) Choose your "work" folder to be backed up.
(4) Enter the "backup" folder to hold the backup copy.
(5) Backup compares the two folders, and lists files that are different.
(6) Click the "Backup" button.
(7) Backup copies selected files from your work folder to the backup folder.

To backup several folders, or individual files, use multiple tabs.

Check "Auto-Backup" to proceed with the default backup without waiting for you to click the Backup button.

When you open Backup, it remembers the folders you were backing up last time.

Scanning and copying files is done in the "background", so you can browse the current display while you wait.

Note: Backup will need your permission to read the sizes of files on your disk. More...

Does Backup do incremental backups or differential backups?

Neither. Backup simply maintains one backup copy of each file in the folders you specify. Whenever you run the program, it updates the collection of backup files by adding any new ones and recopying any changed ones.

So Backup synchronizes two folders?

Yes, except that Backup never modifies your original work folders; it only goes one way. (If the backup location contains an extra file, that file would be deleted, not copied to the work folder.)

Can't I just copy "My Documents" with Windows Explorer?

Sure! For simple backups, burning a backup CD or copying with Windows Explorer works just fine.

But if you do daily backups of 5 or 6 folders, Backup will remember those folders and their corresponding backup locations. And if you backup 200 GB of video over a slow network or USB connection, Backup saves time by only copying the files which are new or changed. You can even schedule Backup to run unattended every night at 2 AM.

How do I schedule an unattended backup?

Once you've run Backup a few times and you're sure that it's doing what you want, there are two ways to take yourself out of the loop.

First, you can check "Auto-Backup". Then all you have to do is start the program. Instead of pausing to let you change the files selected for copying, the backup will start automatically.

Second, you can schedule your operating system to start Backup for you! On Windows XP, use the Scheduled Tasks control panel. On Mac OS X, use MacScheduler.

Why does Java give a "Security Warning" when I install?

Backup needs to access your hard drive (more) Within the backup folder that you specify, Backup writes and deletes files as needed to bring it up-to-date with the contents of your work folder.

LINKS

PC Backup Is a Must Now; This Method Is Simple, Automated
by Walter S. Mossberg

Karen's Replicator is another free backup utility (Windows only).