Windows 10: How do I backup files with Robocopy instead of Synctoy

Discus and support How do I backup files with Robocopy instead of Synctoy in Windows 10 Backup and Restore to solve the problem; I've been using Synctoy for years to backup my files, mainly to save time since we're talking about TBs here. Now, I would like to switch to Robocopy... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Backup and Restore' started by JunJay, Apr 22, 2019.

  1. JunJay Win User

    How do I backup files with Robocopy instead of Synctoy


    I've been using Synctoy for years to backup my files, mainly to save time since we're talking about TBs here.
    Now, I would like to switch to Robocopy because I want to enable the Image Guardian in Macrium Reflect and Robocopy can bypass it, plus I've read around that it's much more reliable than Synctoy and it has more options.
    I searched around and there are guides on how to do it but I'm not sure how to set it up to do the same exact thing my Synctoy currently does.

    Here's a screenshot of my current Synctoy options :


    How do I backup files with Robocopy instead of Synctoy [​IMG]


    I also have a second folder pair, but it has the same options so it was pointless to upload it.
    As for the "Save overwritten files in the Recycle Bin" option, I could do without it, I only use it in case Synctoy crashes or something goes wrong and I lose some files, just as a precaution.

    Can anyone please help me making a script to run Robocopy?

    Thanks in advance *Smile

    :)
     
    JunJay, Apr 22, 2019
    #1

  2. SyncTOy

    IMO and based on my research, SyncToy is very unreliable. In my Windows 10 system, it doesn't sync new files/folders. Moreover, it deletes files and folders in the destination even though I've set it to "Echo", and the source files and folders are intact.
    This is dangerous.

    I switched to the command-line tool Robocopy which supports the /MIR (mirror) argument to create a mirror folder and subfolders, exactly the same as source folder.

    RoboCopy Command-line examples

    robocopy "d:\backup" "F:\WD-Elements\backup" /MIR

    To exclude a file type (example *.bmp) from being Synced:

    robocopy "c:\users\ramesh\Desktop" "F:\WD-Elements\Desktop" /MIR /XF file *.bmp

    Get used to RoboCopy, and you'll certainly love it. It's a fantastic tool. You can save the commands to a .CMD or .BAT file and set it to run from Startup folder or Schedule it, or start manually.

    Robocopy - Help

    https://technet.microsoft.com/en-in/library/cc733145.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396
     
    Ramesh Srinivasan, Apr 22, 2019
    #2
  3. Synctoy alternative

    If it fails again, as it did in my case.. I set it to echo but it wiped out the destination folder although the source was intact). Then I uninstalled SyncToy and used RoboCopy CLI. Simply created a batch file and scheduled it using Task Scheduler.

    To create a mirror (same as Echo in SyncToy), use this RoboCopy command example:

    robocopy "c:\users\username\Desktop" "F:\username-synced\Desktop" /MIR

    robocopy "c:\users\username\documents" "F:\username-synced\documents" /MIR

    That creates a mirror copy of your desktop and documents folder (in my external storage F:\ )
     
    Ramesh Srinivasan, Apr 22, 2019
    #3
  4. How do I backup files with Robocopy instead of Synctoy

    SyncToy backup failures on Windows 10 computer

    Based on my experience, SyncToy is very unreliable. It never worked ever since I upgraded to Windows 10. It either copied the same file over (even if timestamps match), or incorrectly delete the
    items in destination folder
    even though I've set it to "Echo", and the source files and folders are intact. This is dangerous.

    Since then I switched to the command-line tool Robocopy which supports the /MIR (mirror) argument to create a mirror copy
    of folder and subfolders as in the source location.

    RoboCopy Command-line examples

    robocopy "d:\backup" "F:\WD-Elements\backup" /MIR

    To exclude a file type (example *.bmp) from being Synced:

    robocopy "c:\users\ramesh\Desktop" "F:\WD-Elements\Desktop" /MIR /XF file *.bmp

    Get used to RoboCopy, and you'll certainly love it. It's a fantastic tool. You can save the commands to a .CMD or .BAT file and set it to run from Startup folder or Schedule it, or start manually.

    Robocopy - Help

    https://technet.microsoft.com/en-in/library/cc733145.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396
     
    Ramesh Srinivasan, Apr 22, 2019
    #4
Thema:

How do I backup files with Robocopy instead of Synctoy

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