[SOLVED] Backup/sync whole partitions with Google Drive

[kurapan]

Hi!
Is there anyone that uses google drive to backup their whole computer or whole partitions?
I've tried to do it in google drive app for windows, but it doesn't seem to work. When I try to add the whole partition as a folder to sync, it just doesn't do anything. It keeps loading D forever and when I click Done, it doesn't add it to the list of folders to sync.
Has anyone been able to sync whole partitions with Google's app, or what other alternatives to sync would you recommend?
I've tried CBackup but it doesn't work with Google Workspace accounts. And please don't recommend me to use OneDrive or any other backup storage service because I have unlimited storage on Google Drive as a member of an institution.

Btw it worked fine in Backup and Sync, but I can't make it work in the new Google Drive app.

 

[USAFRet]

oogle drive to backup their whole computer or whole partitions?

Not an answer for you, but a question...

In case of need, how would you recover?

 

[lvt]

Way too expensive if you sum up the money spent each month on Google Drive.

Just buy a good HDD from reputable brand to use as backup media.

 

[kurapan]

Not an answer for you, but a question...

In case of need, how would you recover?

I guess I shouldn't have said the whole computer. I just wanna backup and sync the partition with my personal data such as documents, audio files, photos, etc. So I'm fine with just being able to access it on Google Drive and redownload all backed up directories to a new PC should my current PC fail for example. I just wanted to make Google Drive sync everything in a certain partition so that I don't have to manually add it if I make a new directory.

Way too expensive if you sum up the money spent each month on Google Drive.

Just buy a good HDD from reputable brand to use as backup media.

As I said in my first post, I have a Google Workspace account with unlimited storage as a member of an institution. It's an academic institution and its members can get a Google Workspace with unlimited storage. For free.

 

[USAFRet]

I guess I shouldn't have said the whole computer. I just wanna backup and sync the partition with my personal data such as documents, audio files, photos, etc. So I'm fine with just being able to access it on Google Drive and redownload all backed up directories to a new PC should my current PC fail for example. I just wanted to make Google Drive sync everything in a certain partition so that I don't have to manually add it if I make a new directory.

So, instead of trying to designate the whole 'partition', a few top level folders in this partition.

Then, under those, all your stuff.
And new folders would be included, just like any new files.

disclaimer: I don't use google drive, so I may be very wrong.

 

[kurapan]

So, instead of trying to designate the whole 'partition', a few top level folders in this partition.

Then, under those, all your stuff.
And new folders would be included, just like any new files.

disclaimer: I don't use google drive, so I may be very wrong.

I guess I could add another top level directory above everything. That should hopefully work as a way to deal with it when google drive app can't recognize the whole partition like their old backup and sync app could. Thanks! A simple and straightforward solution. I was kinda blinded by getting irritated that google discontinued the app with which it worked and it doesn't work in the new one.

 

[lvt]

As I said in my first post, I have a Google Workspace account with unlimited storage as a member of an institution. It's an academic institution and its members can get a Google Workspace with unlimited storage. For free.

Ah ok, I see.

So the financial scope is changed, but the technical scope remains the same.

Personally I would use a tool like Macrium Reflect to save the whole partion into a compressed file then have that file copied to Google Drive. The file can be used to restore the partition when needed.

 

[kurapan]

Ah ok, I see.

So the financial scope is changed, but the technical scope remains the same.

Personally I would use a tool like Macrium Reflect to save the whole partion into a compressed file then have that file copied to Google Drive. The file can be used to restore the partition when needed.

That sounds like a good idea too. I've used Macrium in the past when migrating stuff between disks and PCs, but it also has scheduled backups iirc, right?
Thanks for the alternative idea. It might be particularly good if I could directly make the compressed file on a mounted google drive because that wouldn't require any extra space on my physical disk. I might try it out later and then think about what suits my needs better.

 

[Deleted member 14196]

Yeah Post back and let us know if that works because that would be interesting

 

[lvt]

That sounds like a good idea too. I've used Macrium in the past when migrating stuff between disks and PCs, but it also has scheduled backups iirc, right?
Thanks for the alternative idea. It might be particularly good if I could directly make the compressed file on a mounted google drive because that wouldn't require any extra space on my physical disk. I might try it out later and then think about what suits my needs better.

The last version of Macrium Reflect that I use has a backup plan feature, kind of scheduled task.

But I didn't use it with Goggle Drive (my 200GB plan is not enough) so I can't comment about it, it works just right with other medias.

In case that Macrium doesn't work with Google Drive, you can have the partition backed up to a HDD partition first, then use another method to automatically move that file to your Google Drive account.