Robocopy

[Stompin at the Savoy]

I know a lot of people are, like me, keeping a lot of music files (and possibly other files containing discography information or booklets) on hard drives, sd cards, etc and backing these music and data files up to other hard drives, etc.   This can be a very time-consuming process if you have to copy entire directory structures to a blank backup.  But if you are regularly backing up a directory structure to a backup, you can automate the process and only copy things that have changed (and delete things that have been deleted, etc) on a PC with a built-in program called ROBOCOPY.  This runs from a PC command line (DOS box).   It can save you amazing amounts of time and avoid user errors in backing up.

Basic syntax:

ROBOCOPY source destination /MIR     

Sample:

ROBOCOPY "C:\Users\User Name\Desktop\mosaic and other booklets" "E:\mosaic and other booklets" /MIR

For syntax and more options at the command line type:

ROBOCOPY /?

[mjzee]

I use a similar program for the Mac called SuperDuper!  All graphical interface, no command lines needed.  https://shirt-pocket.com

[sonnymax]

Don't most backup apps include this feature? I know the two that I use do (Carbon Copy Cloner, Synology's USB copy). 

[JSngry]

I have a sentimental fondness for command line prompts. They're the piano scales and arpeggios of computers. Every true computer virtuoso that I've known knows how to play those lines.

For the record, I am not a computer virtuoso, I am very reliant on graphic interfaces. But I am fully aware that I am reaping the benefits of people who have written code.

[Stompin at the Savoy]

Yes this is very old school.  I used it many years ago in commercial settings.  I like the simplicity of it and the fact that it is free and already present on any Windows system.  If you are afraid to use the command line like this, first go into notepad and compose your command then copy it to the command line.  You can find the proper address of each library by right clicking and getting properties on it in Windows Explorer.  Create a couple of test directories, put some files in one and do a Robocopy to the other and make a test first.