I’ve a friend with Windows 7 that is using Windows Backup. Their problem is that their backup drive keeps getting fuller and fuller until it runs out of space and the backups start failing. They currently have over 120GB with of data, mostly videos, which keeps growing. I’ve already recommended that they consider the philosophy of “deleting ruthlessly” to reduce the amount, but, alas, they cannot. They’re getting a larger backup drive but that will just defer the problem. I should also mention that the cloud isn’t much of an option. Their access to the cloud is at Starbucks, the library, or my house.
Does Windows Backup age out old versions and somehow trim them out of the backed up repositories? In other words, can it be told to keep only the most recent five changes to a file and to automatically delete from the backup any older copies? Or can it be setup to do a full backup once per month with incremental in between and to keep the current series plus the previous months backups and automatically delete anything older than that?
Or can you recommends a backup app, preferably free (they’re in the starving artist category), that would meet this need? Please bear in mind that they are not especially computer literate. A set (by me) and forget solution is preferred. They really only need a data and settings backup. I make a full image of their computer now and again for them as I’m the one that usually is adding or removing software.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Brian (Accidental IT)
