plug-and-auto-backup external hard drive?

[Your PCMD]

Yup some residential backup software does this...such as EaseUS
https://www.easeus.com/backup-utility/automatically-backup-usb-drive-when-plugged-in.html

A few others also....

The problem with that is that if you want to plug in a USB drive (be it stick or HDD) other than to backup your files, you can't. So a friend brings you a USB drive with some pictures to see, you go to plug it in, oh wait, damn, cannot view them until the backup is done. This would get annoying real quick.

 

[Mr. Ingram's Computer Repair & Shoppe]

The problem with that is that if you want to plug in a USB drive (be it stick or HDD) other than to backup your files, you can't. So a friend brings you a USB drive with some pictures to see, you go to plug it in, oh wait, damn, cannot view them until the backup is done. This would get annoying real quick.

With Veeam, I tried this in multiple scenarios.

Items used:

• Laptop with veeam installed with "backup when drive is plugged in" active.
• Backup external hard drive setup with veeam.
• USB stick I have some software on for diag.

Things I tried:

1. Just plugging in backup drive - data started auto-backing up.
2. plugging in diag usb - Windows just opened it like a every other computer does.
3. plugging in diag usb then backup drive - got the diag usb explorer window and then my data started backing up to backup drive.
4. plugging in backup drive then diag usb - data started backing up and usb explorer window popped up.

it all seemed to work. Should I test something else?
Also, I changed the setting back so if you unplug the backup drive and plug it back in within 2 hours of completing a backup, it does NOT backup again. you have to wait 2 hours before itll auto-backup.

 

[Your PCMD]

Veeam is so bloated IMO. I would not recommend it for a regular consumer. I have not used EaseUS in over a year so I am going off of the issues I had over a year ago trying to do "plug-n-play" backup.

 

[GTP]

I was going to try Veeam but quit because of all the personal information they wanted during registration, just to get a license to try it. With all the data breaches these days, the less personal info I have to provide just to try a bloody product the better.

@Larry Sabo Just use real fake logins. These generated logins are as real as true ones but made up. Even the avatars are fake.
Try this or this.

 

[Your PCMD]

real fake logins

thats too funny buddy!

 

[cyabro]

I was going to try Veeam but quit because of all the personal information they wanted during registration, just to get a license to try it. With all the data breaches these days, the less personal info I have to provide just to try a bloody product the better.

Yea just put some crap into the form as you get the download link on the next page, you don’t have to get it by email.
Then keep the installer for whenever you need it.
You don’t need a license for the free version.
When it prompts you on first run to install a license just say no and you never get asked again.

 

[timeshifter]

Another tip about Veeam. It seems to take a long time to install. Plan accordingly.

 

[Mr. Ingram's Computer Repair & Shoppe]

Another tip about Veeam. It seems to take a long time to install. Plan accordingly.

+1 this.

 

[Larry Sabo]

I didn't find it took particularly long to install. I note in the EULA it's for use on computers you own, not customers' computers. Wouldn't want to have to go through all those shenanigans on each customer computer.

 

[NJW]

The problem with that is that if you want to plug in a USB drive (be it stick or HDD) other than to backup your files, you can't.

FUD! EaseUS identifies the USB device that was set up for the backup event. It only fires when the same USB device is plugged in.

Of course, it means that you have to have a dedicated backup drive, but that's a Good Thing.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Does take them to remember to do it each month.

This. Been in this business almost 20 years. Nobody does this. You want automatic backups then get a cloud-based backup.

 

[Your PCMD]

You want automatic backups then get a cloud-based backup.

This I agree with entirely. I have moved so many clients to cloud backup that it's not even funny. I cannot begin to remember how many clients I've gone to about their backup drive/s only to find out its either completely full and stopped backing up or the drive is actually dead or the last backup was done a year ago. Cloud backup is essential now-a-days and is truly set it and forget it and dead simple for clients.

 

[nlinecomputers]

I find it just doesn't happen. They do it for a couple of months and then it gets forgotten.

 

[Your PCMD]

I find it just doesn't happen. They do it for a couple of months and then it gets forgotten.

Indeed. It seems after that time, everything else is more important than their data. That is, until they lose it and want it back.