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General discussion

is there a backup drive that shows a simple file structure?

Mar 17, 2011 2:40AM PDT

I'm currently using Western Digital MyPassport drives for backup, with their proprietary software. This software does not allow one to explore, navigate, copy, etc among the files on the drive -- it forces you to do a "restore" operation using only this software. Is there another product - or another way to configure this backup drive - that enables both automatic incremental backup *and* the ability to explore the drive just like any other drive connected to my desktop? All I want is simplicity, and I can't seem to find it!

Discussion is locked

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Why yes there is!
Mar 17, 2011 2:42AM PDT
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backup software
Mar 18, 2011 1:32PM PDT

I don't think backup software should look like explorer, which is what you are asking. It should have a shell that allows disk storage operations to be performed.

I'm not familiar with WD MyPassport; I use Acronis True Image. I've been happy with this. You have to use their software to inspect the stored backup, but it does look like an explorer view. Your choices are somewhat limited; you can restore to original location, or to a different location which you get to specify. In other words, this is a copy function. It must be outside the file which contains the backup, of course. You aren't allowed to modify the backup itself, only move files out.

True Image allows for scheduled backups which can be total, incremental, or differential. I like this last one as only two files are needed for a restore of the latest info: the original and the last one. It also backs up all the operating system files, so you can re-generate your entire disk to a new one if you have a bad failure.

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any options
Mar 19, 2011 7:20PM PDT

Why you don't use any PGP Software? Leave your image on flash and connect it when you need to place somewhere a backupped file.

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is there a backup drive that shows a simple file structure?
Mar 22, 2011 4:58AM PDT

Try Bitser (http://www.bitser.org) its simple and free and uses an explorer style backup interface. Also allows you to compress and encrypt your backups.

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Here there afmeyers - Did you find a good software?
Mar 9, 2012 12:57AM PST

What you describe is what I would like too! A few years ago Consumer Reports recommended "Second Copy". I have been using it - but I was looking for something better. Have you found anything?