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Knowledgeable’s Ranking
Execs
Simple, intuitive interfaceFast and efficient with information foldersGranular scheduling all the way down to one-minute intervalsOperates mechanically within the background
Cons
Some default settings trigger operational errors with system foldersDoesn’t assist on-line storage
Our Verdict
Second Copy works nice for information folders, even in community places, and helps granular scheduling proper down to at least one minute intervals between runs.
Greatest Costs Immediately: Second Copy 9.5 backup software program
Second Copy is a $30 file backup/folder sync program that sits in your system tray, performing operations mechanically with out person intervention. If Home windows personal File Historical past or different free choices akin to FBackup aren’t reducing it for you, Second Copy simply may.
Additional studying: See our roundup of the very best Home windows backup software program to study competing merchandise.
What are Second Copy’s options?
Second Copy will copy information from a supply folder to a vacation spot folder (known as Easy Copy); copy new information, then delete information within the vacation spot that don’t exist within the supply (known as Actual Copy, aka mirroring); and one carry out those self same jobs whereas compressing them to a typical Zip file. Community places are supported as each a supply and vacation spot.
This system additionally helps true synchronization, i.e. deleting and including information from/to each directories to match modifications in both. That is analogous to what occurs with on-line providers akin to OneDrive. A Transfer perform is offered which deletes the information from the supply after copying them to the vacation spot.
The Second Copy interface is straightforward and easy, if a bit dated in look. However every part is the place you count on to be. If you recognize something in regards to the course of, you’ll haven’t any drawback acclimating to Second Copy. Even in case you don’t, the best way it steps you thru creating jobs will train you the fundamentals in a rush.
There’s an archiving choice that saves older variations of information in a separate listing plus an choice to overwrite information within the vacation spot, even when they’re newer. In my expertise, you need to be very cautious with the latter as there is likely to be motive to maintain the newer file.
Second Copy defaults to the system tray, working its personal VSS service and scheduler within the background. To see the primary interface the place you possibly can create new jobs, you merely click on on the system tray icon, and voila!
Whereas Second Copy sits within the background, it doesn’t do real-time backup as information change. Nevertheless, it may be scheduled to again up/sync as incessantly as as soon as each minute. That’s pretty much as good as actual time for many customers.
I’ve information scattered about a number of on-line storage providers, and have been in search of a cheaper choice that helps S3-compatible distributors along with Dropbox and the like. Alas, Second Copy just isn’t that program (many aren’t) because it doesn’t assist even the extra frequent providers.
How does Second Copy carry out?
So long as I used to be copying plain information folders, Second Copy labored like a allure — quick and correct. I attempted all of the job variations utilizing inner drives, in addition to NAS-to-NAS and exterior media.
However when making an attempt to repeat the Customers folder, one symbolic hyperlink (a junction) left behind by one other program pointing to a deleted shadow copy halted Second Copy in its tracks.
It appeared this system was looking for the precise shadow copy to drag information from, slightly than merely copy the symbolic hyperlink to the vacation spot folder. Both manner, it shouldn’t halt the backup.
So long as I used to be copying plain information folders, Second Copy labored like a allure — quick and correct.
There’s a repair for this habits, however it entails getting into a “SkipLinkFiles=1” line right into a config file. Not each person is snug altering configurations through a textual content editor, so it’d behoove Centered Programs to make this the default and add it to the record of superior choices.
In fact, no plain file backup/sync program can copy all the Customers listing as Home windows locations unique locks on many information. These can’t be bypassed even for copying, so it’s how a backup/sync program handles these locks that issues.
Most packages merely skip the solely locked information and notice the error. Nevertheless, with Second Copy you could deselect the “Present message field and retry as soon as extra” choice from the Edit > Choices > Copy tab or this system will hit you with 20-second length error popups and grind away with retries. You can too inform Second Copy to skip system information to keep away from this example.
Observe that copying sub-directories akin to Paperwork and Photos from contained in the Customers folder posed no points for Second Copy. I also needs to say that copying your system information and information of their entirety falls below the purview of imaging packages akin to our favourite — R-Drive Picture.
Must you purchase Second Copy?
Whereas I want Second Copy defaulted to avoiding the problems I skilled, they had been fixable, and most customers solely have to again up information folders. For that activity, it’s nigh on good — simple and quick with community assist. Now provided that it supported on-line storage providers….
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