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Question

Free realtime drive synchronization software

Oct 22, 2012 2:47PM PDT

Is there any free software for WinXP that will detect changes to a hard drive (new file or folder, deletion, rename, change to a file, etc.) as they occur and update a mirror drive (local: on the same computer) to reflect those changes?

Thank you.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
I'm sure but it's a shame it's such a bad idea.
Oct 22, 2012 3:22PM PDT

This would be like a software RAID 1 and suffer all the bad reasons why I don't like RAID 1. A virus would change files and instantly you lose both copies.

-> If you think it over GOODSYNC and SYNCBACK are a better idea.
Bob

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Good point
Oct 22, 2012 4:30PM PDT

And I'll definitely consider it.

In the meantime, just to keep my options open, I'd still like to know about the software I was (and maybe still am) looking for.

The question is, Bob, if a drive fails, what do you do about the changes that took place after the last time GOODSYNC or SYNCBACK was run?

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The answer is
Oct 25, 2012 1:14AM PDT

Those changes are ones that I didn't care enough about to perform my sync. So no loss.

RAID 1 was a good idea on paper but does not replace backups. As the drive fails I've seen it corrupt the mirrored drive so your prospective software that does the same will fail just like I've seen RAID 1.

Since I've yet to have a drive fail on me in decades all this seems to be for those that drop laptops or such. Maybe there is more to this story but at least you know the problem.
Bob

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Our experiences are different
Oct 25, 2012 1:15PM PDT

I've had at least 3 drives fail on me that I can remember.

As for changes since last sync (or backup), I've frequently found that they weren't saved simply because I hadn't gotten around to doing another backup or forgotten to - not because they weren't important.

Thanks for your reply.

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Then why not schedule that sync?
Oct 26, 2012 2:56AM PDT

I didn't note this because it's been in Windows for over a decade.
Bob

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That's an idea
Oct 30, 2012 10:22AM PDT

It didn't occur to me because I've never used Windows' scheduler. I'll give it a whirl.

Thanks again, Bob.

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Answer
You might like this Window 8 feature.
Oct 22, 2012 4:53PM PDT
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Win8
Oct 22, 2012 5:07PM PDT

No plans to downgrade to it.