Windows Tools, Help & Guides

Yesterday I showed you how to automatically backup your data from any PC across your home network. If Windows Backup and Restore doesn’t give you enough control (i.e. you also want to have the option to backup to a remote location by IP or you want the files more easily accessible without having to open backup and restore to view them, GFI backup may provide what you need. In this guide, I’ll show you where to get GFI Backup and how to use it to make backups of your data from any PC to any PC on your home network.

This guide is part of the Home Network Setup, Sharing, Streaming, and Backup Series. Learn more about setting up a home network, configuring file sharing and streaming, and performing network backups on the series homepage.

Backup Your Data, Across Your Network, with GFI Backup

I previously reviewed GFI backup and think it’s a great tool, which is why I chose it as an alternative to Windows Backup and Restore.

To backup your data, across your home network, using GFI Backup:

1. Download the latest version of GFI Backup (it’s free.)

2. Open the program and, on the main screen, click Backup.

3. Under the General Tab, type in the details that describe your backup and click Next.

4. Under the Source tab, click the down arrow next to Files/Folders and click Select Files and Folders.

5. Select the files you’d like to back up. Click OK and click Next.

6. Under the Destination tab, select Local Area Network (LAN Folder) and click Browse.

7. Choose your networked PC and pick a shared location (how to set up networked PCs and shared locations.)

8. Under the Options tab, choose whether you want to compress the file (good for saving space but bad for quick access), set encryption (good for security but bad for quick access) and set the backup type–I recommend an incremental backup for speed and space benefits. Click Next.

9. Under the Scheduler tab, set an automatic schedule if needed. Click Next.

10. Under the Events tab, set notification settings (email notifications require you know your smtp server and can authenticate.) I also select Verify Backup, which takes longer but checks the integrity of the backed up data. Click Finish.

11. Now check the source of your backup (i.e. the files on your PC.) In this example, I just have one file, but if you have many, remember what’s there so you can verify the backup manually on the PC (if you set a setting wrong this check can really help.)

12. From GFI’s main menu, click My Tasks.

13. Right click on your backup task and click Start Backup (CTRL+B.)

14. Wait while the backup runs.

You’ll be notified when the backup is successful.

15. Go to the PC that’s storing the backup and verify the files made it over in tact (see step 11.)

That’s it; you’re done. Your data is now backed up, automatically according to your schedule.

What else can you do with your home network? Find out here.

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