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Newbie questions about backup and syncing

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I currently backup my desktop (Windows) computer to an external hard drive using WD (Western Digital) SmartWare. It backs up fine, including all the thousands of temp files created, but doesn't remove those temp files from the external hard drive when they are automatically removed from the computer. So I have to do that via a bat file.

I'll soon be getting a new laptop to replace my tower desktop computer and want to get it started right. I'd like to backup to the external hard drive but also have it sync to the laptop so that when any files on the laptop are deleted, moved, or renamed, that is automatically done to the external hard drive. Is that what Acronis software does?

I'd also like to  backup (sync, as above) to the cloud. Would Acronis software do that?

What Acronis produce do you recommend for me?

All comments appreciated!

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Acronis 2017 should do all those for you.  I personally don't use the sync feature in Acronis, but 2017 has a sync feature that can be done to a local location (another share, NAS, etc) as well as the cloud.  I"m not sure if you can have one synch job that synch's to 2 different locations though.  This is from the user guide:

What you can and cannot synchronize

Personally, I use the built in Windows "robocopy" feature for synching.  It's command line, but you can make a small .bat script to synch whenever you want and manually run the bat script or create a Windows scheduled task to run the synch at specific times of the day, week, etc.  

One cool feature of Acronis, is you can also create a pre and/or post task within your backup to call on a .bat script so you can technically continue to use yoru synch script, or a robocopy script in addition to the backup to make it all happen at once.  Or, create a backup job and a synch job separately - there are some options that make either and/or both possible.

Acronis software has a free 30 day trial. You can install and test it out for your own use.  Also, they have a 30 day no questions ask return policy.  If you like the trial and want to get the full features (mostly limitations with the bootable rescue media in the trial), you can purchase the software and give it the full workout for 30 days - you need to be sure to cancel or ask for a refund before that 30 days though.  Ultimately, it's pretty risk free to give it a shot.  

HOWEVER, I'd recommend taking a backup before installing - just in case (as I would before installing any major softtware product).  Windows backup image, or something, just to be on the safe side (in case you want to return to an exact point in time prior to Acronis being installed... should you want to remove the trial or whatever reason). 

 

Hello Malcolm,

Acronis True Image 2014 used to have what you are asking about: real-time synchronization with external drives, NAS devices and the Cloud storage - all at the same time. Starting from 2015 version onwards the possibility of syncing files with external drives and other local devices was removed. It is now possible only to sync with Acronis Cloud storage, and between different computers in local network, but not within the same computer where the software is installed.

Regards,

Slava

Thanks for the valuable (if disappoiinting) information. It seems like Acronis won't do what I want done, so I'll have to look elsewhere.