I'm looking for any easy to use, no strings attached file sync or folder comparison utility.

I just rescued a hard drive and want to integrate the data on it onto the replacement drive which was loaded with data a near complete backup.

The freshly rescued drive has some additional data but the replacement drive also has some new data.

I can handle the small amount manually but I it would be nice to have a small app to help compare when I think I'm done.


I've tried a few freebies that work well but they all came with addware or nagware or something less than ideal.

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a XP/win7 app that is streamlined and dedicated to comparisons and doesn't have ANY nagware?


Thanks in advance for any suggestions.


best regards,
mike

Mike,

Not freeware, but I've used Beyond Compare 2 by Scooter Software for years. It's become one of my desert-island programs. I could survive without it, but I would be miserable and crotchety most of the time. I haven't tried the newer version 3 but I would expect it to be excellent as well.

Here's a link: http://www.scootersoftware.com/

Regards,
Don

Try one of the many ports of UNIX diff. I use MinGW for stuff like this but there are several others.

Thanks to both of you.

I can see that miniGW is a bit to under the hood for me... I need a easy to use Windows GUI. :-)

Scootersoftware looks like what I am interested in. I also looked at UltraCompare last night.

They both cost $50 and the guis seem made for a guy like me.

I sort of focused on finishing my back up so I don't feel that I have time to test drive... so I'm still hoping to learn of people with experience having definitive opinions.

Scootersoftware is on the short list.


Any others?


Thanks again.


best regards,
mike

I've used Secondcopy(.com) for years - easy cheesy.

Edit: not sure about compare function

Microsoft SyncToy -

Officially "unsupported", but it works great, very flexible - and free!!

Been using it for several years -
I use it to compare & backup several combinations of file folders on several PC's between each other, across a network, and to external USB drives.
Use it very effectively on XP, Windows 7 32-bit, and Windows 7 64-bit.
 
Search for it on the Microsoft web site...
 
EDIT
 
This might help:
http://www.pchell.com/support/synctoy.shtml
 
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15155
 
Randy

I just downloaded and tried MS synctoy... It seemed like a great idea but it doesn't have an effective compare GUI... you just tell it synchronize and it does the whole thing for you. 

I want a GUI that lets me consider what's different on each drive in a quick and visual way.

Thanks a bunch for the suggestion.


best regards,
mike

I also use Secondcopy...it's worked great for me for many years.

mike_mccue


I just downloaded and tried MS synctoy... It seemed like a great idea but it doesn't have an effective compare GUI... you just tell it synchronize and it does the whole thing for you. 

I want a GUI that lets me consider what's different on each drive in a quick and visual way.

Thanks a bunch for the suggestion.


best regards,
mike

Click the "Preview" button for your selected backup -
 
It does a time & date comparison for every file in the backup BEFORE you run the backup, and lets you deselect on the fly, if needed.
 

How'd I miss that???

Thanks.

best regards,
mike