Solved FreeFileSync vs RoboCopy

Haydon · Jul 4, 2023

In terms of having a user data backup on an external medium/SSD, how do the two compare?

RoboCopy works with source and destination disks that are both BitLockered (I use it that way) Can FreeFileSync do the same?

Where do I come from? Like some of us here, I see only some need for disk imaging and more need for user data backup.

A couple of Wikipedia articles:

File synchronization - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Comparison of file synchronization software - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

TM21 · Jul 4, 2023

You missed me! So far I've written 21,249 words in 99 threads on that topic. Well, something like that anyway.

So let me understand...... you want to back up all your data files to someplace other than your main HD, and easily be able to keep that update file, UP TO DATE! Did I get that right?

Using what's already available in Windows, I do that quickly and easily, in just seconds actually.
I just wrote a very simple DOS Batch file, incorporating "XCOPY" and I've told it to backup any file that's not already in the Backup folder.
Of course, the first time I ran it, all my data files got backed up, and that took several minutes. But on subsequent backups, only files that are new or have been updated, like a spreadsheet, are copied. That backup will take only a few seconds, and all I had to do was click on the shortcut to the Batch File. Click! Click! Job done!

I didn't have to buy anything, download anything, install anything or set up anything.

I probably shouldn't do this, but here's just one line from my Backup.bat program.

XCOPY /D /S /C /I /H /R /y /J "D:\My Docs\." "E:\My Docs\"

In the above example, all my data files are actually IN folders on my D: drive (Second partition of my main SSD), and E: is my 128 GB USB Flash Drive.
I can, and do, ALSO backup my data files to a 1TB HD inside my Desktop PC, using a separate batch file.
Although, it's possible to do them both from just one batch file. I just elected to keep them separate.

Y'all have a great day now, Y'hear?
TM

antspants · Jul 6, 2023

I really couldn’t tell you anything about FreeStyleSync/RealTimeSync using Bitlocker, but what I can tell you is that I think FreeStyleSync is one of the greatest lifesaving free softwares available. I like it so much I donate regularly.

FYI ( From FreeStyleSync)
Search found 26 matches: Bitlocker

jpeattie · Aug 12, 2023

" I think FreeStyleSync is one of the greatest lifesaving free softwares available"
AGREE !!!!!

antspants · Aug 12, 2023

Ha! I actually meant Free*FileSync. I should learn to proof read.

hsehestedt · Aug 12, 2023

I use both extensively, so I feel well prepared to compare...

I'll start right off by saying that I too am a huge fan of FreeFileSync. There are a few things that it does exceptionally well.

First, it's really good for removable media. One of the problems with removable media is that the drive letter assigned is subject to change. So, rather than use a drive letter, you can specify the removable media using the volume GUID. The volume GUID will always be the same on a particular machine. However, being removable media, you might take that drive to another computer. There it will have a different volume GUID. So, FreeFileSync offers yet another option: Specify the drive by the volume label. Robocopy can do none of this.

Next up, suppose you manage a set of folders where you frequently rename files or move file from one folder to another. Robocopy doesn't handle this very gracefully. As a very simple example, suppose I have a source folder that has a file called "Win 11 ISO Image.iso" and I mirror that to a destination folder on another drive. Now, I rename that file to "Win 11 22H2 ISO Image.iso". Robocopy has no clue that this is the same file so next time you do a replication it has to copy the whole file over again. Since this is several GB, it could take a little while. FreeFileSysnc knows that the file was simply renamed and so it will simply rename the file on the destination almost instantly. It goes a step further in that it can even figure out if you moved a file to another folder. I recently restructured a bunch of folders holding about 7 TB (yes, TB, not GB) of data. Robocopy would have taken many, many hours to handle this. FreeFileSync did it in mere seconds.

You also get better monitoring of progress with FreeFileSync and a whole lot more.

On the other hand, if I have to script file operations it's so easy with Robocopy. Also, my code can be portable because everyone has Robocopy on their system. In particular, I have a program that I've written that includes an extensive amount of file copying / moving, etc. I call Robocopy from within the program to make my life easy because Robocopy has a wealth of options available.

Haydon · Aug 12, 2023

@hsehestedt Does FreeFileSync work with BitLocker?

hsehestedt · Aug 12, 2023

Yes. I use BitLocker on all my drives, and FreeFileSync works flawlessly with them.

FreeFileSync works at the file level, not block level. So, no special support for BitLocker is needed because that is handled automatically by the OS. Think of it like this:

Imagine another program such as Notepad. If you open a text document on a BitLocker drive, you don't need to do anything special. When you access the file, the system automatically decrypts the file and hands it to Notepad. It's the same thing for FileSync. So long as you have unlocked the drive, the file system handles all those encryption and decryption details for you on the fly and automatically.

Hope this helps!

Haydon · Aug 13, 2023

Thanks to all who responded and a special thanks to @hsehestedt

I will mark this thread 'Solved'

glasskuter · Aug 13, 2023

@hsehestedt provides such helpful insight and of such detailed quality and testing, he should be given special guru status on reputation alone.

hsehestedt · Aug 13, 2023

glasskuter said:
@hsehestedt provides such helpful insight and of such detailed quality and testing, he should be given special guru status on reputation alone.

You are just way too kind! But I feel like that applies to so many persons here - including you!

I hate social media. I really do. But these forums are very different. We have so many people here who just want to help others to get the most out of this thing called Windows that we all love so much (well, we love it most of the time). It's a great place to interact with others and leave all the stupid politics and ugliness of the world behind.

Thanks again for the kind words, glasskuter!

FirasKing Air · Aug 16, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
XCOPY /D /S /C /I /H /R /y /J "D:\My Docs\." "E:\My Docs\"

I'm going to use this
Thank you

Falok · Aug 19, 2023

FreeFileSync is primarily a file sync tool that focuses on comparing and syncing files and folders between different locations. It does not offer the same functionality as RoboCopy for working with BitLocker-encrypted disks. RoboCopy can handle various advanced copying scenarios, including working with BitLocker-encrypted disks.
And when it comes to user data backup, using an external medium/SSD and tools like RoboCopy or FreeFileSync can be an effective approach. You can use RoboCopy to create a mirror backup of your important files and folders from your encrypted disk to the external medium. Similarly, FreeFileSync can help you keep your files synchronized between your source and destination disks.

antspants · Aug 19, 2023

Falok said:
FreeFileSync is primarily a file sync tool that focuses on comparing and syncing files and folders between different locations. It does not offer the same functionality as RoboCopy for working with BitLocker-encrypted disks.

It may not have the same functionality but FFS can still work with BLF’s

hsehestedt · Aug 19, 2023

BitLocker has zero effect on the ability of a utility like FreeFileSync to operate. Any file that FFS reads is decrypted by BL on the fly, therefore BL is a non-issue.

Solved FreeFileSync vs RoboCopy

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