Question Do you use sync software and if so, which one?

Please provide comments and solutions that are helpful to the author of this topic.

BoraMurdar

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Aug 30, 2012
6,598
In the times of ransomware, the best protection is actually prevention. Many malware will try to mess up with your files nowadays so, at least you can do, is to keep a healthy backup copies of your important files and store them offline...disconnected from the internet and your main operating device.

Of course, doing so properly can take a lot of time but with help of synchronization software the time reduces to minimum. In my case, I am using Windows 10 Pro with it's default security products build in > Windows Defender (registry tweaked to detect PUPs), Windows Firewall, Windows Smart Screen, backed up with Zemana AntiMalware for just in case.

But if I ever make a mistake, my OS can be restored from a backup in less than 5min (5GB system image file combined with the speed of my SSD). Other files like music, pictures, documents I store on my external HDD.

Back to the topic, I am using FreeFileSync 8.3 portable edition for making a copies of my important files. http://www.freefilesync.org/download/FreeFileSync_8.3_Windows_Setup.exe . When installing it make sure you opt out the unneeded software as it turns out that :

  • Offers to change the homepage for web browsers installed in the system
  • Offers to change the default search engine for web browsers installed in the system
  • Offers to download or install software or components (such as browser toolbars) that the program does not require to fully function

So, what are the benefits of using synchronization software?
Without it, you would need to manually check what differs Folder A (stored on your machine) from Folder A' (stored on external HDD or USB device). Of course, you can just copy the whole folder from point A-->A' but it could take unneeded time and writes to your HDD (or SSD), especially if folder contains a lot of files and its big in size.

FreeFileSync determines changes in two points (at least). If you have folder named "Photos" on your machine, and the same named folder on other location, it can compare what difference between those two folders are. I use the default algorithm in which program compares the changes in files sizes and file modification times. So if you went with your friends on some party, and took 20 photos, stored them in your Photos folder on your laptop, connect external HDD, turn on FreeFileSync and compare, it will show only new files on the left side that needs to be copied on the right side. And it will not touch any other file as the size and modification times didn't change. There are other comparison algorithms like to check files byte by byte (by content), but it's a lot slower, although it is the most accurate.

Capture.PNG


In the picture above it is shown that the program will compare 3 sets of folders and when you click synchronize (mirror), it will make an exact copy from point A to point A'. In this case from folders stored on my D partition to folders stored on my external HDD marked as F partition.

There are other ways to synchronize folders, like "Two-Way-Sync" where the program will propagate changes in both directions ; "Update" (recommended) where the program will only copy and update the new files from left-right direction and if happens that something has changed on folder stored on your external HDD without existing on your machine, it will not touch those files.

Other program that I found useful is DSynchronize
http://dimio.altervista.org/stats/download.php?id=3

Capture22.PNG


Portable program that weights just as 427KB but very powerful for it's size. It can do the same stuff as his bigger and paid brother can. Mark the checkboxes that suit your needs and you're good to go.

Do you use a Synchronization software and if so which one?

Thank you for reading :)
 

Logethica

Level 13
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Jun 24, 2016
636
Excellent post @BoraMurdar ...
I don't really have anything to Sync.
I only have a few files & pictures on my laptop ,and I copy those straight to a USB.
I really enjoy the process of resetting my system and rebuilding it,and it doesn't take very long as I have had a lot of practice.
I will do this again after I am happy that M$ has patched its botched AU (& all my desired softs have done the same)...
So my complete reset/Installation of the AU looks like it will be in about 7-10 days time.
 

shmu26

Level 85
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Jul 3, 2015
8,150
There is a little program called Boxifier, it keeps the folder of your choice in constant sync with your Dropbox folder. Then, the Dropbox desktop app syncs it to the cloud.
If you want more than one folder to sync, you need the paid version.
 

military

Level 4
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Well-known
Aug 13, 2012
186
FreeFileSync determines changes in two points (at least). If you have folder named "Photos" on your machine, and the same named folder on other location, it can compare what difference between those two folders are.
Just there was a big updating. It will be possible to you interesting.
FreeFileSync 9.1
Fixed crash when getting invalid data after item type check
Fixed copying symlinks pointing to network folders
Support resolving network paths in the NT namespace
Support FTP servers with broken MLST command (Pure-FTPd)
Fixed FTP access error on file names containing special chars
Include raw FTP server response in error message
Quickly check server connection using a single FEAT
Don't change working directory when sending a single FTP command
Support FTP Unix listings missing group name
Support RFC-2640-non-compliant FTP servers having UTF8 disabled
Support FTP servers returning non-routable IP in PASV response
Support IPv6 when establishing FTP connections
Start external application keyboard shortcuts with zero
Download: FreeFileSync
 

broughie

Level 2
Verified
Sep 11, 2013
87
I had backup program fail me years ago & lost many files, ever since used MS Synctoy , has five sync type options is simple & fast. Twice restored all my thousands of photos/ files to new pc's without problem.
 
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It is recommended to have deny write access to sync folders except for only those programs which need access - like office productivity suite programs, video players, etc. Otherwise if your system gets smacked by ransomware and the sync folder gets encrypted, the encrypted files can be synced too and overwrite the good versions. You need to have file or backup version recovery to get out of that one.

You could just manually connect\disconnect an external backup target drive to avoid it as well. There are multiple strategies to prevent encrypted synced folders from wreaking havoc.
 

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