Dispatch from the Front May 25, 2023

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Revised 05/27/2023 Back to Contents

Bing Had No Opinion Whether This IS Kosher or Not
My (maybe) Parting Gift To All My Readers: Get SyncToy Now!

Computer Karma's gonna get you
It's gonna wipe out your drive
Better learn to backup all your files
Before all you can do is sit and cry
— With Apologies to Mr. John Lennon

Recently, I have been reading plenty of puff pieces about backing up your Windows Files. Most have some shareware stuff they want you to download, or simply use OneDrive or the Windows Backup Utility. The Windows Backup Utility assumes the backup drive is always mounted. If your backup drive is mounted and active, then it is as at risk of ransomware or other file encryption monster, the same as your root drive.

One of the Best Practices for File Backup is to have more than one Backup dataset. Some experts recommend three different backup schemes for the best insurance against a file loss disaster. Here is that scheme laid out, as described by TechTarget.

The 3-2-1 rule of backup states that organizations should keep three complete copies of their data, two of which are local but on different types of media, with at least one copy stored off site. An organization using the techniques described above should back up to a local on-premises backup storage system, copy that data to another on-premises backup storage system and then replicate that data to another location. (Emphasis is mine.)

OneDrive can certainly be a leg in our three-legged backup stool. Although cloud backup is not immune to ransomware, cloud backup is insurance in case the physical backup drive gets damaged somehow. For in-depth look at OneDrive, try my OneDrive Condundrum page.

SyncToy, now discontinued my Microsoft, remains the single most effective and easy to use Backup Utility to make local backup copies; it's the best ever. What makes SyncToy unique in my opinion is:

✓ Once a completed file backup is made, all subsequent backups copy New and Changed Files only. Shortening backup times.
✓ Your Backed Up dataset contains only the original files preserved in their original folders and in the original file format. There is no compression/expansion of the database when backing up or restoring files.
✓ When you need to restore one or a few files from backup, those individual files can be easily located on the backup drive. They will be in the same folder as the PC's drive.

With SyncToy, you insert your backup drive. Then run SyncToy. Wait a couple of minutes for all of the writing to disk to complete. If the backup drive is a USB hard drive, simply disconnect the USB connector from the PC. Then you have successfully dismounted the drive. Thumb drives require an extra step. This is critical. Yep. The Dispatcher has lost one more than one USB thumb drives due to simple impatience.

If your backup is on a USB thumb drive, use the eject function from File Manager before you yank it out.

1. Open File Manager.
2. Click This PC.
3. Right Click the USB Drive.
4. Then Click Eject.

Your precious backup dataset is safely preserved. Your own personal folder/file schema is intact. When you need to restore files, you will know where they are located.

Even very recent good web articles about SyncToy link to a Microsoft Download Page has now now gone 404. It no longer exists. What's an aspiring Geek to do? Also many pages on SyncToy refer to the Microsoft download page for the dotNet Framework 3.5 needed to make SyncToy work. Yes, before you install SyncToy, the dotNet Framework 3.5 must be running first. However, there is really nothing extra to download here. The application simply needs to be turned on within Windows. Once turned on, if additional downloads are needed from Microsoft, Windows will initiate that download.

1. Type "Windows Features" into the Search Box on the taskbar.
2. Click on the Control Panel Icon that appears to Turn Windows features on or off.

The Windows Features utility will open. The dotNet 3.5 control should be at the top of list. If not, scroll to locate the control. If the control is turned off, then click into the main control to turn them on. That's all you need to here.

After careful retrospection, I have decided that it is better to obtain the The SyncToy installer that can be safely downloaded from Major Geeks, which does offer the 32bit and 64bit installers. I have used that download site safely when in a pinch, but it comes as a ZIP file. On the installer page, I placed a short tutorial on how to handle the ZIP file. Everything you need to extract the files from the downloaded ZIP folder is already in Windows 10 and Windows 11. I have used this exacted file many times with no ill effects whatsoever.

The link to the MajorGeeks download SyncToy download page, and installation instructions for SyncToy are on this page. The SyncToy Installation page will open in its own tab. Once extracted, The installer is one single executable that is 3.5 megabytes in size. The installer is zipped, so follow those instructions first. The text and images will walk you through the installation. When the installation is complete, simply close that tab and you will come back here to learn how to setup and run your own file backup with Microsoft SyncToy. Actually, you will have never left.

You agree to indemnify me and hold me blameless for any outcome that may occur from the SyncToy installation.

Although, it is possible to create the destination folders within SyncToy, it is far easier to perform the backup if the folder schema is created beforehand. These will be the folders on the backup drive that SyncToy will save to. I use simple names and add the old school tag, "BAK." This will be a clue that this is the backup dataset. These folders will contain all the subfolders in the source folders..

Before you begin your backup, it is a good idea to make sure you have enough space on the backup drive. There is a very detailed tutorial on how to check the size of any one folder at "The OneDrive Conundrum Solved." Then to launch SyncToy, click the SyncToy icon under "S" in your app list.

Now that SyncToy is installed, you are ready to create and run your new backup routine. Follow exactly the steps below. It's really a piece of cake. You Can't Miss!

Screen 1: Create Your Folder Pairs Click Browse to select a Source Folder: Folder to Backup → Click OK

Browse to select a Destination Folder that will contain the Backup → OK Select how the Backup will affect existing. I suggest Contribute that will only add to the backup set, but make no changes to existing files backed up.

Name your newly created backup folder. I add BAK to tell me the folder is a Backup. To run the first and subsequent Backups, select "All Folders Pairs." If you want to test the Backup Procedure, click Preview. Or, Run All to Backup

A green progress meter will appear. When the backup is finished, click Close.

How much time the initial backup takes will obviously depend on the volume of folders and files you are set to backup One of the real advantages to SyncToy is that subsequent backups will be relatively fast since SyncToy will only backup New and Changed Files. Your backup set can always be added to, as well. Simply repeat the Create New Folder steps above. And don't forget...

Remove or Dismount your backup drive.

If you are one of the lucky few who have my email address or telephone number, feel free to contact me with any questions. Otherwise, as Bing might say, "Happy Backing Up."

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Gerald Reiff

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Bing Had No Opinion Whether This IS Kosher or Not My (maybe) Parting Gift To All My Readers: Get SyncToy Now!
Computer Karma's gonna get you It's gonna wipe out your drive Better learn to backup all your files Before all you can do is sit and cry *— With Apologies to Mr. John Lennon*
Recently, I have been reading plenty of puff pieces about backing up your Windows Files. Most have some shareware stuff they want you to download, or simply use OneDrive or the Windows Backup Utility. The Windows Backup Utility assumes the backup drive is always mounted. If your backup drive is mounted and active, then it is as at risk of ransomware or other file encryption monster, the same as your root drive. One of the Best Practices for File Backup is to have more than one Backup dataset. Some experts recommend three different backup schemes for the best insurance against a file loss disaster. Here is that scheme laid out, as described by TechTarget. The 3-2-1 rule of backup states that organizations should keep three complete copies of their data, two of which are local but on different types of media, with at least one copy stored off site. An organization using the techniques described above should back up to a local on-premises backup storage system, copy that data to another on-premises backup storage system and then replicate that data to another location. (Emphasis is mine.) OneDrive can certainly be a leg in our three-legged backup stool. Although cloud backup is not immune to ransomware, cloud backup is insurance in case the physical backup drive gets damaged somehow. For in-depth look at OneDrive, try my OneDrive Condundrum page. SyncToy, now discontinued my Microsoft, remains the single most effective and easy to use Backup Utility to make local backup copies; it's the best ever. What makes SyncToy unique in my opinion is: ✓ Once a completed file backup is made, all subsequent backups copy New and Changed Files only. Shortening backup times. ✓ Your Backed Up dataset contains only the original files preserved in their original folders and in the original file format. There is no compression/expansion of the database when backing up or restoring files. ✓ When you need to restore one or a few files from backup, those individual files can be easily located on the backup drive. They will be in the same folder as the PC's drive. With SyncToy, you insert your backup drive. Then run SyncToy. Wait a couple of minutes for all of the writing to disk to complete. If the backup drive is a USB hard drive, simply disconnect the USB connector from the PC. Then you have successfully dismounted the drive. Thumb drives require an extra step. This is critical. Yep. The Dispatcher has lost one more than one USB thumb drives due to simple impatience. If your backup is on a USB thumb drive, use the eject function from File Manager before you yank it out. 1. Open File Manager. 2. Click This PC. 3. Right Click the USB Drive. 4. Then Click Eject. Your precious backup dataset is safely preserved. Your own personal folder/file schema is intact. When you need to restore files, you will know where they are located. Even very recent good web articles about SyncToy link to a Microsoft Download Page has now now gone 404. It no longer exists. What's an aspiring Geek to do? Also many pages on SyncToy refer to the Microsoft download page for the dotNet Framework 3.5 needed to make SyncToy work. Yes, before you install SyncToy, the dotNet Framework 3.5 must be running first. However, there is really nothing extra to download here. The application simply needs to be turned on within Windows. Once turned on, if additional downloads are needed from Microsoft, Windows will initiate that download. 1. Type "Windows Features" into the Search Box on the taskbar. 2. Click on the Control Panel Icon that appears to Turn Windows features on or off. The Windows Features utility will open. The dotNet 3.5 control should be at the top of list. If not, scroll to locate the control. If the control is turned off, then click into the main control to turn them on. That's all you need to here. After careful retrospection, I have decided that it is better to obtain the The SyncToy installer that can be safely downloaded from Major Geeks, which does offer the 32bit and 64bit installers. I have used that download site safely when in a pinch, but it comes as a ZIP file. On the installer page, I placed a short tutorial on how to handle the ZIP file. Everything you need to extract the files from the downloaded ZIP folder is already in Windows 10 and Windows 11. I have used this exacted file many times with no ill effects whatsoever. The link to the MajorGeeks download SyncToy download page, and installation instructions for SyncToy are on this page. The SyncToy Installation page will open in its own tab. Once extracted, The installer is one single executable that is 3.5 megabytes in size. The installer is zipped, so follow those instructions first. The text and images will walk you through the installation. When the installation is complete, simply close that tab and you will come back here to learn how to setup and run your own file backup with Microsoft SyncToy. Actually, you will have never left. You agree to indemnify me and hold me blameless for any outcome that may occur from the SyncToy installation. Although, it is possible to create the destination folders within SyncToy, it is far easier to perform the backup if the folder schema is created beforehand. These will be the folders on the backup drive that SyncToy will save to. I use simple names and add the old school tag, "BAK." This will be a clue that this is the backup dataset. These folders will contain all the subfolders in the source folders.. Before you begin your backup, it is a good idea to make sure you have enough space on the backup drive. There is a very detailed tutorial on how to check the size of any one folder at "The OneDrive Conundrum Solved." Then to launch SyncToy, click the SyncToy icon under "S" in your app list. Now that SyncToy is installed, you are ready to create and run your new backup routine. Follow exactly the steps below. It's really a piece of cake. You Can't Miss!
Screen 1: Create Your Folder Pairs	Click Browse to select a Source Folder: Folder to Backup → Click OK

Browse to select a Destination Folder that will contain the Backup → OK	Select how the Backup will affect existing. I suggest Contribute that will only add to the backup set, but make no changes to existing files backed up.

Name your newly created backup folder. I add BAK to tell me the folder is a Backup.	To run the first and subsequent Backups, select "All Folders Pairs." If you want to test the Backup Procedure, click Preview. Or, Run All to Backup

A green progress meter will appear.	When the backup is finished, click Close.

How much time the initial backup takes will obviously depend on the volume of folders and files you are set to backup One of the real advantages to SyncToy is that subsequent backups will be relatively fast since SyncToy will only backup New and Changed Files. Your backup set can always be added to, as well. Simply repeat the Create New Folder steps above. And don't forget...
Remove or Dismount your backup drive.
If you are one of the lucky few who have my email address or telephone number, feel free to contact me with any questions. Otherwise, as Bing might say, "Happy Backing Up."




¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Gerald Reiff