best automated file back up software?

I was trying to find a software that automatically backed up files as they were created in like ms word or excel, and also something that would back up any new files on a flash drive when i connect to laptop.

thanks in advange

 

Microsoft Office Word 2003 does have an option to create automatic backup copies of a document that you are working on. As a matter of fact, this option is available at least back to Office XP.

To set this option, open Word and from the menu, select Tools \ Options

In the Options dialog box, select the Save tab and check the box next to Always create backup copy under Save options. Click OK to save the setting.

Word will now create and save a backup copy of the document each time you save the document. Each backup copy replaces the previous backup copy. Word applies the .wbk filename extension to all backup copies, and it saves them in the same folder as your original document. When you select this option, Word disables the Allow fast saves check box, because Word can create backup copies only when it performs a full save.

If you are using Office 2007 the same thing can be done clicking Office Button > Options > Advanced > Save

Enable Always create backup copy.

Same thing will be available in Excel as well !!

 

that information was valuable to me, but I am also looking for something that will back it up without saving it first.

 

You can think of activating auto-save in Office 2007 (Not sure whether 2003 has that feature). Set the time to 10 mins. or so. But that cause a 2-3 second freezing of the application while it saves the document

 

You can download "Synctoy" from Microsoft (not automated)....or check out "Sync Center" in Vista...not sure what this is all about, but just discovered it today..this may provide the automation you are looking for. Unfortunately it won't let me set up any relationships (I think because I don't have a flash drive connected right now).

 

There's a hardware+software solution. Something like BounceBack might be what you're looking for.

 

There used to be an Iomega program which was free with Jaz/Zip drives etc. It was called Quik Sync 3. It watches specified folders and backs up the contents to any specified location. You can set it to only up date changed files or update all files. Also it can keep multiple revisions of files too which was good. I don't think Iomega still support it but if you have an old Iomega drive check their utilities disk as it's on there.

There's a free back up program called JaBack http://www.hiteksoftware.com/jaba/ I've not used it (as I still use my old copy of QuikSync but it looks like it can monitor folders and back them up to any specified location based on a schedule.

*edit Iomega latest back up software is EMC Retrospect http://www.iomega.com/direct/produc...SORTMENT<>ast_id=26890319&bmUID=1193738895214 it's a job to say if it can back up to any device or just Iomega ones.

 

Quik Sync 3 sounds like exactly what I was looking for, it monitors a folder you specify and backs up the file the second it is created?

 

I called Iomega and they pointed me to a free program on their site called "Iomega Automatic Backup Pro" and it will copy a file over from a specific directory the second it is created. The only negative is that if you save a file in Word while the doc is still opened, it copies it but its 0kb.

The great thing is I can have the program monitor my AutoSave directory, and I have autosave set to every 1 minute, and it makes a backup to a seperate drive. Pretty cool... I wish it could save files while they are still open.

 

it sounds good.. I have a feeling that quicksync has that problem too, I'm very rarely "in" a file for more than an hour so I have QuikSync set to scan every 2hours. Also due to the file sizes I'm working on it did cause my computer (with my old processor I've not tried it on my new one) to slow down if I set it to run too often.

 

I am setting this up on my sisters laptop, the other day she lost homework she was working on and she had to redo and it took over 5 hours to do. So I have to set up something that will run in the background and backup immediatly to avoid that problem again.

 

Good that this Iomega thing worked for u....But I still think for Office documents auto-save and auto-backup should do the job for u...!!

 

Get her in the habit of saving often. That's a key thing for anyone using a computer to learn. You only have to lose your work like this once or twice to realize that you need to take responsibility for your own work. Autosave will help you if she refuses to do that, and is probably a good idea anyway. Almost all tools will have a problem with open files.

Your sig indicates you have Vista Business, and I'm not sure what she has. Vista business already has "Previous Versions" built-in, so there is a backup of the files made very often, and you can retrieve them if you need it.

There's only so much you can do on the technical end. Asking someone to save often (it can be quick, just ctrl-s), is not beyond the realm of reasonable.

 

Guys, the software I was using does not work in vista. Does anyone know of any software for vista that will automatically monitor a folder and copy it to a different folder.

 

How about a simple .bat or .cmd file with an XCOPY command in it?

 

I just heard about deltacopy. I have not used it but I've used rsync before (on which this is based), and it works very well.

For general backup, Vista has a built-in backup and restore center.

 

I found a program called Memeo autobackup that works in vista and monitors a folder. Thanks for the suggestions