Vista - Specific folders - What's the best backup technique?

I'm running Vista x64 Enterprise and finding it fairly infuriating when
attempting to backup specific folders to an attached 320GB external USB hdd..

Firstly this hdd is not acknowledged as a device with removable storage
(even though it clearly is, it's a USB connection..) so that excludes using
the sync center to create a synced duplicate copy on the target external hdd..

I'm now moving to option 2 which is using the fairly uncustomisable backup
functionality.. And lo and behold, it appears I cannot specify a specific
folder to backup to the external hdd..

I've managed to get most of my files organised before I migrated to this new
Vista x64 box, so have music, photos etc in specific directories.. Surely I
should be able to back these complete directories up to the external hdd as I
want too, without having to purchase additional 3rd party software??

I don't mean to sound flippant, but have you tried simply copying the folder/s you want to the external hard disk?

You can use Copy Handler to help make the copying easier, and resumable. Download it here - Copy Handler home page - Home

It's a 32-bit program, so it's shell extension won't work in Vista x64, but the copying functions still work if you enter the source and destination parameters manually.

Thanks dzomlija,

I have used your suggested technique in the past, however as just one of
these directories is almost 100gb, I'm more keen to use a syncing/backup
updating tool, that can look after my backup for me, and not create another
job I have to remember on my list (The host directory is constantly updating
it's content)..

I have used rsync and similar functions in the *nix world before, with great
delight and haven't found a comparable function buried natively within
windows..

I'm really looking for an automated solution here..

I would make a try at getting that thing recognized as removable. Write
caching might be it.

run diskmgmt.msc, and rightclick the drive icon for "policies' tab.
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Mark L. Ferguson

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"Duro" <Duro@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:54AEFB30-7AB3-4BEA-95A6-A2C1B637D91D@xxxxxx

"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
Thanks Mark,

Now I'm starting to get somewhere at least.. In policies this device was set
as optimised for quick removal, with write caching disabled.. I've turned
caching on, however this doesn't seem to fix the problem, so have set this
back to caching off (which I assume is a setting that indicates the device is
optimised as removable?)

I've also got a 4GB usb key drive plugged in, and this is acknowledged as
removable by the system.. I've hunted through policies and this has caching
turned off (optimised for quick removal), and is acknowledged as a removable
device (by sync center and everything else)..

Are there anymore additional suggestions here?

Well, I think that tells you for sure it's a driver problem. Vista drivers a
rare bird for now. I think you should prod the drive maker for an update.
(preferably a cattle prod

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Mark L. Ferguson

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"Duro" <Duro@xxxxxx> wrote in message
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Have you considered using a batch file and then have Task Scheduler automate
if for you?

"Duro" <Duro@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:54AEFB30-7AB3-4BEA-95A6-A2C1B637D91D@xxxxxx

Have you considered using a batch file and then have Task Scheduler automate
if for you?

"Duro" <Duro@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:54AEFB30-7AB3-4BEA-95A6-A2C1B637D91D@xxxxxx

"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
Thanks Mark,

It's going to be quite a challenge to get a Vista x64 driver for this
external hdd, as Vantec (the enclosure manufacturer) don't appear to really
support anything past Win98SE on their fairly old-school website..

An alternative that I've found may actually be the MS Synctoy tool
(http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en)
this would appear to allow me to do what I want, although I do need to locate
and install all the dependencies required for the beta release of the v2.0
beta code..

I'd ideally like to get a stable non-beta release of this tool, however,
beggars can't be choosers!

Have you looked at SyncToy, that comes with Vista?
You can set up pairs of folders to keep synced, and can use Task Scheduler
to automate it.


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"Duro" <Duro@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:54AEFB30-7AB3-4BEA-95A6-A2C1B637D91D@xxxxxx