How to Use Microsoft SyncToy to Backup Your Data

Microsoft offers a free tool for backing up data called Microsoft SyncToy. SyncToy allows users to use various storage devices to back up vital data on the computer's hard drive. If your computer has ever experienced a "fatal error" or some other form of a computer crash, you know first hand how indispensable such a tool would be to recover lost files.

SyncToy can be downloaded as one of Microsoft's PowerToys. The program can be downloaded from this link.

*Once you have accessed the download page, click Download and save the file to your desktop.
*After you have downloaded the file, locate the installation file setup.msi on your desktop and double-click it to run the installation program. Once you have installed the program, it should be in your All Programs menu.
*Now that you have installed SyncToy, you can begin backing up files to a flash drive, external hard drive or other storage devices

*Connect your storage device to your computer and locate it on My Computer. Take note of the drive's letter for future reference.
*Open SyncToy from the Programs menu and click Create New Folder Pair to start backing up items. The left folder is where your hard drive data is stored. The right folder is the drive letter of the storage media you wish to back up data on.
*Click Browse and find the folder you want to back up on your hard drive. Once you have chosen the file you wish to backup, you have to choose where you want to back it up to.
*Click Browse on the right side folder and select the drive you want to backup the file to. You can create a folder within the storage device by clicking the Make New Folder button and right click the data file you have backed up and select Rename. Type in "Backup" or any other name that will help you later recognize the file as a backup file. Click Next to proceed to the next screen.
*Now you need to select how you want to back up the information. You can choose synchronize, echo, subscribe, contribute, or combine.
=> The synchronize options copies new and updated files both ways, repeating renames and deletes on another folder.
=> The echo options copies files with renames and deletes repeated on the right folder. => The subscribe option copies updated files on the right folder are copied to the left folder.
=> The contribute option copies new and updated files from the left folder to the right folder. This option is almost identical to echo, except for the fact that there are no deletions.
=> The combine option combines both the left and the right folders. Select a backup type and name the folder pair.

Click Finish to complete the backup process.

And you are done!