Best way to back up projects

I am using Sonar X1 PE and was wondering what is the best way to backup projects. The way I do my back up right now is I go to C:\Cakewalk Projects and then copy the folder project to my external Hard drive. I'm sure there is a better way of doing this. Right now my projects are around 5GB each and so it takes time to copy and paste the projects into my external hard drive. Thanks

I heard that there is a specific save type (not.cwp) file type that is used to backup projects.

I use Synkron (free) to backup my projects folder to a folder on another internal hard drive. Synkron takes care of synchronizing the two folders and only updates new files or ones that have changed. I use it for everthing and backup everyday, also to flashcards and usb sticks for smaller stuff like email and documents.

Funny how files are now so big you need another hard drive for backup. I've yet to try to backup to my bluray burner which can go to 50gb.

I recently installed a "backups" hard drive. Cost about $80. I don't leave the DAW powered on 24x7, so for me, I know the top-level folders where projects and audio exist, so every day or two I just drag those folders over to the backup drive, and (when prompted) select "over-write". It is kind of manual, but I don't work on Sonar every day of the week, so it works for me. Might not be the "best way", but that will probably vary by user anyway.

The way you are doing it is just fine. You can also open the window for each drive side by side and drag and drop the folder. So what if it takes a few minutes. Go make a cup of coffee. 

If you use automatic backup apps just make sure it's not set to backup "on the fly" as this uses a lot of resources. Personally I use Acronis to do incremental backups of all my data once per day on shutdown. 

In my 20+ years of daily pc usage I have never had a system break on me causing data loss. I still wouldn't go a full week without a backup, unless I hadn't done anything during that time.

I have a bunch of small projects, mostly just tests, if I go to C:\Cakewalk Projects, and delete the folder, will it delete the audio as well, because now, I'm not using an external, so want to clean up a little. Will this completely get rid of said projects? Or what do you suggest to remove small projects you no longer want? Thanks!

Lots of choices - same end result.  Some sort of either automated backup, or some sort of manual routine - doesn't matter, as long as you end up backing things up and rolling off old stuff.

When I was on Windows 7, I used the built-in Windows Backup to run every Monday morning at 3 AM, and it would take incremental backups.

Once I month I would also do a complete backup separately.

With Windows 8, they have changed the backup philosophy, and I haven't set mine up yet, although I will be doing that this evening.  In Windows 8 it no longer backs up all of the system stuff, just data, with the thinking that you would have the OS installation disc to reload that.  There may be more choices there, but that is what I have interpreted thus far in my understanding of this new thinking they have with Windows 8.  (none of this applies to your situation yet, so I will leave my post at that).

Bob Bone