| Microsoft's SyncToy and a large capacity flash drive | | | | and click on it to highlight it. If this is a new flash drive, |
| can be used as a system to back up your valuable | | | | you'll have to create a folder to match the one you |
| computer files. Here's how to use these tools to | | | | are backing up from C: drive. |
| perform a quick and easy backup. | | | | 9. Click the Make New Folder button. (Make sure the |
| | | | new folder is on the flash drive.) Give the new folder |
| 1. Download the SyncToy Powertoy from the | | | | the same name as the folder you chose to backup |
| Microsoft website (Go to and search for Synctoy). | | | | from the C drive. (In this scenario, that would be My |
| Install it and create a shortcut for it on your desktop. | | | | Documents). |
| 2. Buy a large capacity flash drive (I'd recommend an 8 | | | | 10. Click Ok, then Ok again. Click Next. |
| GB capacity). I just bought one at a large office supply | | | | 11. Now click the circle next to Echo and click Next. |
| store for $35. Plug the flash drive into one of your | | | | 12. On the next dialog box, name the folder pair (i.e, My |
| computer's USB ports. Windows should recognize it | | | | Documents Backup) and click Finish. |
| and load it as a separate drive. | | | | 13. You'll see your folder pair listed on the left side of |
| 3. Open Windows Explorer by right clicking on the | | | | the dialog box. |
| Start button and left clicking on Explore. Verify that the | | | | 14. Repeat these steps for all the folders you want to |
| flash drive has set itself up as a separate drive letter. | | | | back up. |
| (D, E or F, etc..) Remember the drive letter, as we will | | | | 15. When you are done, you can run a preview, or just |
| use it later. | | | | run the back up. The first time you run it, it will take a |
| 4. Now start SyncToy. The first time you run the | | | | long time because all the files you chose to back up |
| SyncToy program, it will ask you if you want to | | | | have to be written to the flash drive. But after that, on |
| participate in the Microsoft Customer Experience | | | | the subsequent runs, the SyncToy backup procedure |
| Improvement Program. I click No and OK, because I | | | | is very fast because it only writes the files and folders |
| think the question is silly to ask when I haven't used the | | | | that have changed, instead of writing the entire backup |
| program yet. | | | | set over again. Don't forget to take your backup with |
| 5. The next screen will be the Welcome page. At this | | | | you when you leave your office or home! |
| point, you are going to set up the folders you want to | | | | IMPORTANT NOTE: If you create multiple pairs of |
| back up. You will be "echoing" files from your C: drive | | | | folders, make sure you choose All Folder pairs when |
| to the flash drive, which might be D: drive or E: or F: | | | | you run your backup. Otherwise, it will only back up the |
| drive. Click on "Create New Folder Pair". | | | | files in the first pair. |
| 6. The left folders will be the folders that are on your | | | | Also, if you unplug the flash drive, and then plug it back |
| C: drive. The right folders will be folders that you | | | | in, it may set it self up on a new drive letter. (For |
| create on the flash drive. Each folder pair will be set up | | | | instance, it may become F: drive instead of the |
| as a separate sequence. | | | | previous E: drive). If it does this, Synctoy will stop |
| 7. Click the Browse button for the first left side folder. | | | | working because destination drive changed to the new |
| On the Browse for folder dialog box, find the first | | | | drive letter. You can either force the flash drive to the |
| folder on your C: drive that you want to back up. I | | | | previous drive letter using Windows Disk Management, |
| chose My Documents. Note: My "My Documents" | | | | or reset all of your synctoy folders to the new drive |
| folder is very large, and I'll bet yours is too. Make sure | | | | letter. (If you go the Disk Management route, be very |
| your flash drive is large enough capacity to hold all | | | | careful, and make sure you only change the flash drive |
| your digital pictures and the other files you have stored | | | | letter, not your C: drive!) |
| in My Documents. | | | | So that's a basic SyncToy/flash drive back up tutorial. I |
| 8. Click Next. Now click the Browse button for the | | | | hope it helps you keep your data backed up |
| Right side folder. Navigate to your Flash drive letter | | | | consistently. |