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unrinoceronteFlag for United States of America

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Backup 3 different computers

Hi, The question is at the End, but first i will explain my situation:

- I need to backup 3 different computers (All Windows XP) with an external Harddrive. I do not need to do continuous backups, but lets say that once a week i need to back all 3 of them. All three are on different places. One in the house, other in office, other in another house.

I can only use 1 of these 2 External Harddrives (the other will be used for other purpose), and they come with their own Backup software:

A) Seagate Freeagent Goflex 2TB (Backup: Seagate Dashboard by MEMEO)
http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/products/external/external-hard-drive/desktop-hard-drive/#tTabContentReviews

B) Western Digital My Book Essential 2TB (Backup: WD SmartWare Software)
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=240

So the QUESTION is:
Which of this 2 External Harddrives and included Backup Software will be able to do the Backup of these 3 different Computers?

I already bought these 2 External Harddrives from amazon, i have not received them yet, but i want to know these so i can decide what to do as soon as they arrive. The thing is that there is little information on their website refered to the Backup Software, and if it is licensed for just one computer, or i can use it on more?

If none of this work, please let me know and i will open another Question asking for FREE alternative Backup software that i could use with this drives.

Please give me your opinions. The more the best!  

Thank you in advance.
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Aaron Tomosky
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Do you need an image backup of the drive or just backing up files?
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Patmac951
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@ AARONTOMOSKY:  I just need backiing up files.

@Patmac951: Interesting idea about GOTOMYPC. Thats something i can do as soon as i get a little more time to understand it and try it out. And it will definetely save me a lot of time and money.
The computers are just separate computers that do not share any kind of network, nor information... I can open a NEW question after my Drives arrive.

But, besides doing it over the internet as you sugest, What i had in mind was that i was going to be Physically on those 3 different locations, and just connect the External Drive directly to each computer and do the Backup. I know your idea is way more useful, but for now, i would like to know how to do it on the way i mentioned.

  Is it possible?, and is it possible with those included softwares? Which model will work better for this purpose?

Thanks


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You will have a Disk with sufficient space. You are also like to travel each location. So why not you just install the Shadow protect on each machine and do the backup. It is secure and in case you lost your PC easy to restore in few min. Even if you need the files you can get them easily. Let me know if you want to know more about the shadow protect.
ntbackup is a backup tool that is available on the XP workstations.

The main issue you omitted is how long you will be waiting for the backup to complete?
It would defeat the purpose if you leave the external while it is doing the backup, in the event of worst thing happens, both will be destroyed.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ntbackup_command.mspx?mfr=true

If you have XP home, here are the instruction to get NTbackup on them
http://www.ntbackup.us/Articles/install-ntbackup-xp-home.htm
Thank you all for your input. I like pretty much the 2 options of SYNCBACK and GO TO MYPC, i will try them both and see what works best for me.

As for NTbackup, is good that is already on windows, altough i am not very comfortable typing operations from command prompt. I prefer Visual interfaces... But thanks also for the suggestion.

And as for the Shadow project, here i opened another question:

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/27040567/More-about-the-Shadow-Project-for-Backup.html

Thank you!
It is Shadow Protect not the project, I replied for that question also. Check the question. I believe its best product and fit in your current requirement.