Windows 7 How to create Mirror Copy of data disk (>200GB) for Backup

[DaveBrock]

Hi,

I want to create a Mirror Copy of my data disk (all files within their folder structures) to a USB external drive, to use this as a manual backup, that I can manually browse (using Windows Explorer) at a later date, and view files as needed, and simply copy individual files back if required.


I am not concerned with saving disk space.


Should I simply use Windows Explorer to copy and paste to the external USB Hard Drive? Are there any downsides of using this method?


In the past I have been using a tool ADCS to create copies of my data disk (folders and files), and have only noticed that it does not seem to be copying all the files across.


I also have Acronis True Image 2014, but this seems to create a backup that I can’t simply browse… and would have to later ‘restore’ that backup in order to be able to browse the files within it.


In the past I have sometimes deleted a file… and simply wanted to browse it’s contents (in a backup disk) to see whether to restore it or not.


Any advice appreciated. I am using Windows 7 Professional.


Dave

 

[kemical]

Hi Dave,
personally I save my backups to my second HDD and don't really use any apps but here is a list of the latest and greatest as well as what they do:
The best software to backup and secure your files

 

[DaveBrock]

Thanks Kemical,
When you say you 'save' your backups to your second HDD... do you mean you simply 'copy' the files using Windows Explorer?

Best Wishes,
Dave

 

[Neemobeer]

You can do backups with Easeus. They have a backup explorer utility that allows you to view/copy single files.
EaseUS Todo Backup - How to Use Image Tool

 

[kemical]

Thanks Kemical,
When you say you 'save' your backups to your second HDD... do you mean you simply 'copy' the files using Windows Explorer?

Best Wishes,
Dave

Basically yes..

 

[Neemobeer]

Real men don't make backups. j/k

 

[nmsuk]

No but real men who don't do cry a lot.

 

[kemical]

I've shed many a tear lol..

 

[patcooke]

Jesus and Satan were having an ongoing argument about who was better on his computer. They had been going at it for days, and God was tired of hearing all of the bickering.

Finally God said, "Cool it. I am going to set up a test that will run two hours and I will judge who does the better job."

So Satan and Jesus sat down at the keyboards and typed away. They moused. They did spreadsheets. They wrote reports. They sent faxes. They sent e-mail. They sent out e-mail with attachments. They downloaded. They did some genealogy reports. They made cards. They did every known job. But ten minutes before their time was up, lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, thunder rolled, the rain poured and, of course, the electricity went off.

Satan stared at his blank screen and screamed every curse word known in the underworld. Jesus just sighed. The electricity finally flickered back on and each of them restarted their computers.

Satan started searching frantically, screaming "It's gone! It's all gone! I lost everything when the power went out!"

Meanwhile, Jesus quietly started printing out all of his files from the past two hours. Satan observed this and became irate.

"Wait! He cheated, how did he do it?"

God shrugged and said, "Jesus saves."