Software for merging several backup HDDs

Discussion in 'General Software' started by Ishtim, Mar 22, 2013.

  1. Ishtim

    Ishtim Super Moderator

    :wave: What do you/would you recommend to merge files from several backup hard drives?

    I have 3 machines each with a 2nd HDD I use for non-OS storage. I would like to merge ALL files and get rid of duplicate copies and send to one (external) HDD, but each drive is on a different PC.

    TIA,
    Ishtim :arp:
     
  2. Chai

    Chai Administrator Staff Member

    The question is, how would you know which version you would like to keep, and which you would not need it anymore?
     
  3. Max_87

    Max_87 huehuehue

  4. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

    A cheap (well, free) way would be to use SyncBack Free and "back up" all your hard disk drives into a single hard disk drive.

    SyncBack Free can detect duplicates and you can set it to either ignore or replace according to whether the files are larger and/or newer.
     
  5. Ishtim

    Ishtim Super Moderator

    Thanks for everyones input! :hug:
    Free is certainly hard to beat! I am merging mostly photos so which "version" may/may not be an issue, perhaps the software is smart enough to see the IMG_001.jpg (700KB, taken on 10/10/10 is different than one that has same name and is different size and different create date. Almost sounds like a Linux shell homework problem that I have no free time to do. :boohoo:
    :think: Maybe I should setup test case and see just how risky this seems. In the past I'd just zip the files on the drive but I have gotten lazy :oops: and even my 500GB drives are >80% probably half of which is diplicate stuff from old backups.
     
  6. Chai

    Chai Administrator Staff Member

    Personally, I'm using Syncback as well, it's free and it works.
     
  7. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

    SyncBank Free will only attempt to filter duplicates when merging folders with identical names.

    You can set up multiple profiles for different folders, and even simulate the back up and merging process, before actually doing it. :thumb:
     
  8. Falcone

    Falcone Official Mascot Creator

    I use Synctoy
     
  9. Dashken

    Dashken Administrator!

    SyncBack Free too! :D
     

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