When your hard disk starts to feel overstuffed, your first option is to tidy up your personal data folders, deleting files you no longer need and archiving others to external storage devices or to the cloud. (Don't forget the Downloads folder, and be sure to empty the Recycle Bin after your housekeeping is complete.)
But that's only the first step in claiming back free disk space. Some of the biggest disk hogs are files that Windows keeps on hand even after a successful update. Old Windows Update files can use multiple gigabytes of space, and a semi-annual feature update can keep tens of gigabytes of old Windows files on hand for weeks to enable recovery features.
You can't recover this disk space using File Explorer. Instead, if you're confident you don't need those old files, you need to use one of two built-in system tools. Run Disk Cleanup Manager (Cleanmgr.exe) as an administrator. Select the Windows Update Cleanup and Previous Windows Installation(s) categories and click OK to free their space. In Windows 10, open Settings > System > Storage, expand the categories under your system (C:) drive and then click Temporary Files. Select either of those same two categories and then click Remove Files to reclaim their space.
Google Drive, iCloud, EaseUS Todo Backup (to NAS), GoodSync, Cloud Station Backup from Synology (to NAS), Dropbox Pro (and Synology Cloud Sync client on my NAS to copy all Dropbox content), iDrive ... (2TB/US$52/year. 5TB/US$75/year), Backblaze, Mozy (=Carbonite), Carbonite
Start > search for "Recovery Drive" > Back up system files to the recovery drive > insert empty USB drive > be very patient while USB recovery drive is being created
When needed (i.e. system emergency) > insert USB recovery USB > press a key (often Esc, F2, or Delete) when the computer is starting up > Troubleshoot > Start-up Repair
"Recover from a drive: reinstalls Windows from scratch (with of your applications and data completely wiped!!!!!).
Preparation for Backup
Empty the Recycle Bin
Delete the browser's Temporary Internet Files
MSIE > Tools (menu) > Internet Options > General (tab) > Browsing history - Delete (button)
System Restore applet should be slimmed down
Right-click on My Computer > Properties > System Restore (tab)
The company retains each version of your file for 30 days, though you can increase that if you pay a little more. Backblaze also offers strong encryption.
Note that while Backblaze backs up all user files on your computer, it can't be used for disk imaging. For creating and backing up a fully bootable backup, try Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office or iDrive.
In the Schedule tab, backups are set by default to occur continuously. In other words, Backblaze watches for file changes and updates the stored version in real-time.
CrashPlan/Code42 - Home Plan - unlimited online (=cloud) data backup for $59/year
Carbonite (online backup) - Wikipedia - "due to bandwidth restrictions for uploading data, which limit upload to 2 Mbps for the first 200 GB but then to only 100 Kbps once 200 GB had been exceeded, the backup was not unlimited"
Warning! - Carbonite's Internet connection (when backing up to Carbonite) is very slow. Carbonite thinks 30GB/week upload is fast.
By my calculation (using 60Mbps download speed and 3Mbps upload speed, 3Mbps=0.3MBps): 0.3MB*60seconds*60minutes*24hours*7days = 181440MB/week = 181.4GB/week
Obviously, download speeds (= restoring your backup files) is much faster, perhaps four times faster). This still doesn't seem fast to me.
Warning! - There are limits to the types of files that will be backed up. Database files will not be backed up (because of data loss when decrypting). Video files must be manually selected.
Warning - Confusion! - "If you choose not to restore additional backed up data and proceed to resume your backup, any data not restored will be removed from your backup within 30 days." This seems to be saying that if you restore just one or a few files (from your online Carbonite backup), then all of your other backed up files (on Carbonite) will be removed. Really??
Warning! - Carbonite really slowed down the speed of my system (a Dell Precision T7500 workstation with 12GB RAM).
"If you move a backed up file to a different location/folder on your internal hard drives, your computer will recognize the file as brand new. Carbonite will also see this as a new file and try to back it up. Consequently, the file will be considered "missing" from the old location, and any versions that were previously backed up from this file at the original location will also be removed from your backup in 30 days." If you forget to mark the files/folders for backup (again), then they won't be backed up.
Also, it is impossible to keep backups of files/folders that are not part of a current backup set.
Mirror Image - included in HomePlus Plan - unlimited online (=cloud) backup for $99/year
Requires a dedicated external USB drive. MirrorImage will format the drive and keep the data in a hidden file. This external drive can not be used for anything else.
Unlike some others who have complained on various sites, I did not experience any problem when I asked to cancel the account and get a refund. I was asked why I wanted to cancel. I also received an online survey about why I cancelled. The refund was issued promptly.
Duplicati takes a little getting used to, but it's worth taking the time to figure it out. The tool is flexible enough to back up your files to any cloud service and secure enough that no unauthorized parties—including your cloud provider—will have access to your uploaded data.
Free version will not back up files and folders. See: Macrium Software | Home Edition - Perpetual licence: single PC - US$70, 4 PCs $US140 - only 12 months support
File History (=FileHistory) - configure an external storage location, specify what you want to back up, and then turn the feature on. To get started, go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup. Under the Back Up Using File History heading, click Add a Drive to select an external drive, such as a USB hard drive. (You can't use the same drive as the one on which your files are stored.)
If you'd prefer to back up to a network location, you'll need to use the old-style Control Panel: Go to System and Security > File History > Select Drive, and click Add Network Location to enter the full UNC path of the shared folder you want to use.
By default, every document folder in your personal profile is included. Click More Options to add or remove folders from this list.
By default, backups of changed files happen once per hour. On the More Options page, you can change that interval and adjust how long Windows keeps your backed-up files available.
$0F folder - Do not delete the $0F folder. ($0F Dollar-Zero-F is not the same as $OF Dollar-LetterO-F)
Windows 10 backup appears to offer two options: 'File History (Windows 10)' and 'Backup and Restore (Windows 7)'. 'Backup & Restore' is not recommended by Leo.
File History only backs up Libraries, Desktop, Contacts, Favorites ??
Files are saved in the "Sync from desktop" folder in the destination drive.
To include a folder in the FileHistory backup, just add the the Windows "Documents" Library. (Windows File Explore)
NTBackUp for Windows-XP-Pro - Windows XP Pro backup utility. XP Pro comes with a backup utility, but it's not installed by default in XP Home. Launch your installation disc and browse to the VALUEADD folder, MSFT folder, and NTBACKUP folder. Once installed, you can choose to back up your entire hard drive or just files and folders you select. The easy-to-use wizard walks you through it.
Network drives and folders synchronised with a cloud storage are two very different things. Since iCloud Drive has its own file history mechanism, it's possible that Windows implicitely exclude the folder from any backup (if so, there's probably a way to change this behavior). Also I can see a potential problem when backing up these folders: if sync-on-demand is enabled, any remote change of a file would trigger the local backup and hence the download of the file. Which makes the on-demand feature useless.
CrashPlan for Small Business subscription pricing is based per device, so each month you are billed for the number of active devices in your organization.
When you remove a computer from your account, the Code42 app stops backing up its files and permanently removes all its backed-up files. If you want to back up the computer again later, you must restart your backup.
Removing a computer from your account deletes all of its backed-up files. This is permanent and cannot be reversed. Any previously stored backup information is deleted.
Open CrashPlan | Double click the CrashPlan logo in the upper right |
Type: getlogs 999999(You must replace the 999999 with your current support request number) | Press enter CrashPlan will automatically zip up your log files and attach them to a ticket (i.e. send the zip automatically to CrashPlan support).
backup_files.log.0
Managing the account
Options (in the Code42 tray menu) > "Manage account on the web..." (this is a link at the bottom of the page) > Sign In > Devices > Active > Select the device > Edit (in the little gear menu at the top right of the screen) > Backup Sets (tab) > etc.
Manage account on the Web: Devices > Active > PC-Name > Gear icon (top right) > Edit > Specify days/times the backup will run > Save
Ctrl+Shift+C
Double-click the CrashPlan logo in the upper-right corner (if you are using the older or Home version of CrashPlan app)
Enter the following command, using a value appropriate for the size of your backup selection (for example, 1536 for a 1.5 TB selection): java mx 5120, restart
(1536=1.5GB, 2048=2GB,
5120=5GB) The CrashPlan app closes
Open the CrashPlan app and sign in
java mx
(This will tell you the current Code42/CrashPlan memory allocation.)
(If you are using the older or Home version of CrashPlan app) - To see how much memory CrashPlan currently has allocated, open up "CrashPlan for me", then double-click the icon in the top right of the application. A help/command window should open. In the line available, enter the following: java mx then press Enter. This will give you the current memory allocation. Just keep in mind this is pretty much the ONLY setting that doesn't get retained upon a reinstallation or an adoption, so if you ever need to reinstall CrashPlan or if you get a new device and adopt, you will need to enter this in again.
If you have backed up 1TB (to CrashPlan), then 1.5GB of RAM is adequate. For 1.5TB, you should allocate 2GB of system memory (RAM).
In one-way file synchronization, also called mirroring, updated files are copied from a 'source' location to one or more 'target' locations, but no files are copied back to the source location.
In two-way file synchronization, updated files are copied in both directions (bi-directional), usually with the purpose of keeping the two locations identical to each other.
What you don’t want is something like (Dropbox ...) Dropbox, Google Drive, or Sync.com. Those are all great ways to share and sync documents, but they aren’t good for backups. When you change a file on your computer, those changes are then synced to Dropbox. That means if a file becomes corrupted, the corruption is then sent to Dropbox and cascades through all your backups. That’s not what you want. A good backup never changes. You copy the file to the backup and then it’s never touched again.
Unfortunately it only has very basic filters, no auto sync feature, and no direct support for FTP.
Caution! FreeFileSync is bundled with unwanted components. Users are advised to take special notice of the options available during install to avoid these extras.
One gotcha - Save your sync folders before you run a sync or it drops them when done.
Beware FreeFileSync!!! Still loads malware. I declined additional software at installation but it still loaded different files - Smartbar, Vosteram, Getnow, Snapdo, Quickshare, changed all browser settings and registry.
Installation of the malware OpenCandy.
The program ships with adware. Mystartsearch was offered during test installations and the only option to skip it was to switch from Basic (Recommended) to Advanced and remove the checkmark from the Install Mystartsearch box there before clicking Next.
Easily backup, synchronize (both directions), or restore your files to another drive, FTP server, ZIP file, networked drive, or removable media.
It is possible to define detailed compare options that determine whether files are equal or not based no parameters that you can adjust in the settings.
It is the only program supporting compression and encryption of files, and ftp servers. Another interesting and unique feature it offers is a performance estimation for the profile highlighting settings that may slow down the profile.
"Paying for Paragon backup software for four years and when needed the back files on another disc were ‘incomplete’ when I used their customer service they wanted a lot more money just to discuss the issue. Total waste of a drive, money my time So much for the guaranteed customer support." - A comment posted on What's the Most Frustrating PC Problem You've Solved? - HowToGeek.com
Carbonite Online Backup
CrashPlan (a Code42 company) - Automatic Online Backup for Home, Business and Enterprise - unlimited online (=cloud) data backup
© Patrick J. Kidd - Contact ©