My new backup is a mess

[lostsoul62]

I have a WD USB3 1T External H.D. that I use as a backup. I don't know if I should use the software that came with it or use (Acronis True Image Home 2010) My Data Drive is D:\ and my backup is E:\ When I change things in my Data Drive it backs it up but after a while I end up with 50 gigs of change and redundant data and it looks like a mess. It sounds to me that a mirror drive might be a lot better than a backup? Then when I want to delete some of the data on my Backup it won't let me and tells me that it isn't there. I always backup up manually which always works and now when I am using a backup all I have is a mess.

 

[Nanobyte]

You did not say what software you are actually using. Have you read the Help or manual for whatever it is, or checked how it is backing up? If it is set for a complete backup each time, you will have a lot of data.

Best strategy is usually incremental backups that keeps earlier copies of files. That way, only new files are added; old files that have been revised have the revision added plus the old copy is kept. The latest file version is not always the one you want.

The problem with a mirror is that if you change a file and then realize it was a bad move, it's too late. The earlier good version is gone.

There are many ways to backup. You can use a hybrid strategy where you create a mirror and a separate set of important backups. I use what I described in my 2nd para and also have a short-term backup for the current projects.